The authenticity lies on the shoulders of sound effects and cinematography. There are more wide/landscape shots that allow the viewer to blend in with the gravity of the place and the moving shots are slow, as the lives and movements of a small diary enterprise may seem. The song “Mero Gaam Katha Parey,” manages to capture the angst and struggle that one might relate to the geography and economy of the place. It is when this song is last played, and Girish Karnad is about to leave Manthan, that I felt a wave of benevolence as well as an intolerance towards the tragedy of the film. The story of Bindu (Smita Patil) and Dr Rao (Karnad) feels personal. One experiences the hurt along with them.
The performances are impressive. Naseeruddin Shah, in a special appearance, makes a rousing impact, especially since his role doesn’t align itself as good or bad. However, the charm of the film lies in its interwoven storytelling, that choses to shift focus from femininity, to fidelity, to casteism, to corruption, and doesn’t rely on one prominent conflict to appeal to the audience. Through this, the director has been successful in displaying a fair reflection of the modern society. In fact, the awareness of systemic issues is sufficient to the extent that even in the 21st century, the ideas of the film stay relevant.