The film Mastram attempts to answer this question through a fictionalized biography, imagining the man behind the notorious pen name. The film introduces us to Rajaram (played brilliantly by Rahul Bagga), a polite, well-meaning, and ambitious writer living in the picturesque valleys of Shimla. Rajaram is the antithesis of what one would imagine Mastram to be. He is soft-spoken, respectful, and deeply in love with his wife, Renu (Tara-Alisha Berry). He dreams of becoming a respected litterateur, a writer of serious novels that critics would applaud.
However, the reality of the publishing industry hits him hard. Publishers reject his manuscripts, calling them "dry" and lacking "masala" (spice). They tell him that while his writing is technically sound, it doesn’t sell. In a moment of desperation and financial strain, Rajaram is advised to write something that appeals to the masses—something "spicy." Mastram Movie 2013
The narrative arc of the film is compelling because it deals with the duality of Rajaram’s life. By day, he is the loving husband working at a bank, living a simple life. By night (and in secret), he is Mastram, churning out stories that society publicly condemns but privately consumes. The central conflict of the movie is not just about writing erotica; it is about the cost of secret success. Rajaram gains money and a strange sort of fame, but he loses his peace of mind. He cannot claim the credit. He has to watch as people in his social circle mock Mastram, unaware that they are mocking him. He has to endure the guilt of hiding his true profession from his wife. The film Mastram attempts to answer this question
The genius of Mastram lay in his accessibility. He wrote about desires that people dared not speak of, in a language they spoke every day. Yet, the man behind the mask remained a mystery. Was he a singular person? A collective of ghostwriters? A bored government employee? He is soft-spoken, respectful, and deeply in love
In the vast landscape of Indian cinema, there exists a distinct dichotomy between mainstream "masala" entertainers and the gritty, often controversial realm of indie films. Bridging this gap in 2014 was a film that arrived shrouded in intrigue, curiosity, and a heavy dose of scandal: Mastram .