A Journey to Kasi(2023)
Telugu127 mins
Jack Weber, a post-doctoral student on Hindu Vedantic Doctrine, meets a prostitute Swetha and eventually develops feelings for her. They set out on a journey to Kasi. In a parallel story, Sambaiah, an old man, requests his son Sivananda to take him on a pilgrimage to Kasi. What happens to the family of Sivananda? How is Swetha connected to Kasi?
Director:Munikishna
Mood:
emotionalupliftingdark
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Amazon Prime Video, Plex
- Theatrical Release
- 6 January 2023
- Director
- Munikishna
- Language
- Telugu
- Runtime
- 2h 7m
Storyline
A young religious scholar falls for a sex worker, and the two decide to travel to the holy city of Kasi. At the same time, an elderly man asks his son to take him on the same pilgrimage. The story explores what happens to the son's family and reveals the woman's mysterious connection to the sacred destination.
“Two journeys to Kasi. One secret connects them all.”
Film Details
127Minutes
TeluguLanguage
Release Date6 January 2023
Parental Guide
Violence
Mild
Language
Low
Sex / Nudity
Mild
Drugs
Mild
Intensity
Mild
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Mood
emotionalupliftingdark
Themes
identityfamilylovespirituality
Toneserious
Pacingslow-burn
Complexityrequires-attention
Audiencearthouse
Best Withalone
Violence1
Emotion5
Humor1
Rewatchability3
Cast & Crew
#1
M
MunikishnaDirector
→Trivia
- The film was shot in real locations across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, including the pilgrimage routes to Varanasi.
- Director Munikishna also wrote the screenplay, drawing from his own interest in spiritual journeys and family dynamics.
- The character of Sambaiah was played by veteran Telugu theatre actor Chalapathi Rao, known for his roles in social dramas.
- The movie's soundtrack features a rare use of traditional Carnatic instruments alongside contemporary background scores.
- It had a limited theatrical release, primarily targeting niche audiences in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
- The parallel storylines were inspired by real-life accounts of families undertaking pilgrimages to Kasi (Varanasi).
- The film's climax was shot in Varanasi itself, capturing authentic scenes at the ghats of the Ganges River.