Agra

The intent to explore themes regarding sexual repression, absence of space and privacy in a congested middle-class household, and the cycle of abuse and toxic behaviors affecting every family member is laudable.

However, the execution here falls short of the sophistication needed to truly address these complex issues.

The narrative suffers from a noticeable lack of rhythm and cohesion, further exacerbated by purposeless edit and underdeveloped character write ups.

Whilst you can visually comprehend the pain and struggles these characters endure, their emotional weight; the sheer exhaustion and frustration remains elusive.

It never quite resonates, lingering just beneath the surface instead of breaking through to create deeper connections.

Agra is a decent watch from Kanu Behl. It is not a mainstream film and deals with a dysfunctional family living in a congested two-story house, exploring their respective desires for personal space. The underlying theme revolves around sexual repression in all the characters. Shot in crowded spaces with excellent camerawork and sound design (I loved the old songs playing on the radio), the movie is engaging throughout. The acting is top-notch from all the cast members, with special mention to debutant Mohit Agarwal and Priyanka Bose, who both nailed their performances. Depicting the psychological angle of sexual repression through the character of Mala, played by Ruhani Sharma, worked very well. Overall, Agra is a brave attempt by Kanu Behl.

It is one of the rare Indian films that tears off every layer of sugar-coating and shows the ugly, suffocating truth of life inside poor and middle-class households. Kanu Behl turns a tiny house into a battlefield of frustration, loneliness, and slow emotional collapse something millions live every day but never talk about.

At the heart of the film is Guru, a young man trapped in a house that feels more like a cage. His environment is a perfect symbol of India's struggling middle-class:

no space, no privacy, no freedom, and definitely no room for dreams.

The film shows how poverty and middle-class pressure don't just limit your lifestyle-they eat away your mind. Guru's mental health isn't shown through dramatic breakdowns; it's shown through quiet suffocation, daily humiliation, and the constant pressure of living with unfulfilled desires.

Why the film hits so hard: Crowded homes as emotional prisons In many Indian families, everyone lives on top of each other-physically and mentally. The film exposes how this destroys communication, respect, and sanity.

Economic pressure turning into emotional violence When money is always short, love becomes short too. Every argument feels heavier. Every silence feels louder.

Mental health ignored, mocked, or misunderstood The film captures how society expects people to "just adjust," even when they're breaking inside.

Raw performances that show real human cracks Mohit Agarwal's portrayal of Guru isn't dramatic-it's painfully believable. His loneliness is the loneliness of thousands of Indian youths.

Unfiltered cinematography The camera doesn't beautify anything. It shows the dirt, the walls, the sweat, the tension-everything people hide from outsiders.

Agra doesn't offer hope or comfort. It offers truth.

A truth many know, few accept, and almost nobody discusses-how poverty, cramped homes, and family pressure silently damage mental health in India.

Agra left me shaken in the best way. Kanu Behl's vision is fearless, the performances are raw - but what truly stood out for me was the editing. The way each cut deepens Guru's psyche is just brilliant. As someone who loves storytelling, I felt every transition, every silence, every unraveling. Hats off to the editors for shaping chaos into such haunting beauty. This film doesn't let you escape.

Agra has a fantastic opening for a film that aims to talk about things that is rarely talked about in India. An incel, living with a family where the guardian has brought in his lover to stay with his wife and children, is at the centre of the story. He is sexually repressed and is unable to focus on his life's progress. The film unravels slowly, taking its own sweet time to meander through a few scenes to show what it really means to be a involuntary celibate in a crowded city like Agra that is also known for a mental hospital. There is a lot of nudity and violence here and I'm not sure what to make of the former but I'm certain this is going to ruffle a few feathers if and when it premieres theatrically. Terrific performances make this a must-watch.

(Watched its India premiere at the 2023 MAMI Mumbai Film Festival.)