Kasba(1991)
Kasba (English: The Town) is a 1991 Indian Hindi-language drama film written and directed by Kumar Shahani. The lead cast includes Navjot Hansra, Manohar Singh, K.K. Raina, and Shatrughan Sinha. The story is set in a small Indian town where a crooked businessman named Maniram sells black market goods and spoiled food to make money. His younger son is mentally disabled and married to a poor girl named Tara, who rebels against Maniram's control. The film is based on Anton Chekhov's short story 'In the Ravine'. It won four National Film Awards, including Best Cinematography for Basu. The movie is known for its slow, realistic pace and strong performances. It was produced by Doordarshan and the National Film Development Corporation of India. The runtime is 121 minutes.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Epicon, Plex
- Theatrical Release
- 1 January 1991
- Director
- Kumar Shahani
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 2h 1m
- Rating
- 3.2/10
Storyline
Maniram is a greedy businessman who controls a small town through corruption. He forces his mentally disabled son to marry a poor girl named Tara. Tara wants freedom and fights Maniram for land he stole. She must overcome his power and her unhappy marriage to build her own life.
“Greed destroys everything it touches”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Kasba
Cast reunions in this film: Manohar Singh & K.K. Raina (2 films together), and Manohar Singh & Mita Vashisht (2 films together).
Trivia
- The film is based on a short story by Russian author Anton Chekhov, specifically 'In the Ravine'.
- It was the only Hindi film directed by Kumar Shahani, who was known for his avant-garde work in parallel cinema.
- The movie was shot on location in a small town in Himachal Pradesh to capture authentic rural settings.
- Actress Mita Vashisht, who played Tejo, received critical praise for her intense and layered performance.
- The film had a very limited theatrical release and struggled at the box office despite its artistic acclaim.
- It features a minimalist soundtrack, with music composed by Vanraj Bhatia, focusing on ambient sounds.
- Kumar Shahani cast non-professional actors from the local area in several supporting roles for realism.