'Masaan' inspired by reality: Neeraj Ghaywan

"Masaan" has been appreciated on the international circuit for framing the truths of life of a small town with shackles of society on screen. Film's director Neeraj Ghaywan says for his directorial debut he took inspiration from real life.

"My cinema is often influenced by Satyajit Ray, Shekhar Kapur, but for this film I would say that Dardenne brothers ( Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne) from Belgium helped me deeply in constructing the story. As the brothers duo also talk about working class and modern crisis in their projects," Ghaywan said at an event here on Wednesday.

"The inspiration is the ghats. The stories are very real so reality inspired us," he added.

The film, set in Varanasi, take audiences to the dark side of Indian society through the lives of two women and how their life coincides at some point. There are ghats, scenic locales with river in the backdrop as the movie moves forward with a holy sense.

The director talked about his experience while making the film at the inaugural ceremony of sixth edition of Jagran Film Festival here, which was opened by "Masaan".

While on one hand, the director touches upon issue of MMS Scandal in the film, Ghaywan has also talked about caste segmentation of the society by narrating a love story where a girl falls for a man from a lower caste, who burns dead bodies for a living.

Produced by Drishyam Films, Phantom Films, Macassar Productions and Sikhya Entertainment, "Masaan" stars Sanjay Mishra and Richa Chadha in the lead along with newcomers Shweta Tripathi and Vicky Kaushal, all of whom were present at the screening.

"Masaan" will hit Indian theatres on July 24.