'Agra' review: Kanu Behl's unconventional film makes you uncomfortable
What's the story
After a successful festival run, Kanu Behl's psychological drama Agra (2023) was released in select Indian theaters on Friday. Behl, who has previously helmed Titli and Despatch, among others, has a lot to say about suppressed sexual desires, misogyny, and patriarchy. Uncomfortable, deeply suffocating, and stuffy, the film is anchored by Mohit Agarwal's committed performance, but loses itself toward the end.
Plot
Focuses on a sexually repressed young man
Agra tells the story of Guru, a 25-year-old call center employee battling extreme sexual desires. He lives with his mother, father, and father's second wife in a squalid home in Agra, and the family members frequently battle over the house. The film explores Guru's unfulfilled desires, problematic patriarchal gaze, and his incessant need for control over property and women.
#1
We spend a lot of time with the lead, Guru
Guru is a deeply frustrated man, for whom sex is likely an achievement and women are a conquerable territory. Early on, a fiery clash between him and his mother, played by Vibha Chibber, exposes his psyche: he has no respect for anyone, least of all women. Agra is fictional, but it feels so unrestrained that it can be anyone's story.
#2
A feeling of darkness and decay dominates the movie
An overwhelming sense of claustrophobia never leaves Agra. Away from the Taj Mahal and the historic monuments that define the city, we are placed in dingy, dirty, dark lanes. Guru is seldom out; when we meet him, he's mostly in the washroom, masturbating, or in his cramped room that has likely never been touched by natural light. There's no escape, literal or figurative.
#3
The performances leave no room for complaint
Both Agarwal and Priyanka Bose (Love Sex Aur Dhoka), who plays Priti, a cyber cafe owner, are electric on-screen. She enters the film much later, but her character instantly feels believable and real. Agra is raw, rugged, and unflinching, and Behl dares us to confront reality, leaving us squirming in our seats.
#4
However, it also feels rushed and disjointed
Despite its throbbing energy and grittiness, the movie isn't without its flaws. The third act feels extremely convenient and rushed, and the final scene raises more questions than it answers. Rahul Roy, who plays Guru's morally decayed father, is wasted in an enticing but ultimately underwritten role. Additionally, the graphic, overlong, frequent sex scenes feel unnecessary after a point.
Verdict
A flawed but inventive film; 3/5 stars
In Agra, Behl isn't afraid to ask tough questions or address disturbing topics. The house gradually becomes a character in itself, and with its dilapidated condition, it mirrors its broken, desolate inhabitants. Despite the undercooked characters and a fragmented feel, Agra is a distinctive film that dissects dysfunctional Indian families, masculinity, and patriarchy. 3/5 stars.