Archive · 14 Nov 2025
Filmmaker Kanu Behl Critiques Toxic Masculinity in 'Agra'
Director Kanu Behl made a movie called 'Agra' that looks at a really difficult part of life called toxic masculinity.
It's about a young man, Guru, who lives with his family and struggles with strong feelings and pressures, both physically and sexually.
The movie shows how repression can lead to bad situations.
It features complicated relationships between fathers and sons, and the women in the family also face difficult circumstances.
Behl uses sex in the movie as a way to show both fantasy and a desperate search for freedom.
Some people feel the movie is a bit too long and makes you feel trapped, like you can't breathe.
It also doesn't really explain why it's called 'Agra' because the setting could be any town.
Despite some criticisms, the film explores intense themes and the acting is noted.
Filmmaker Kanu Behl's film 'Agra' delves into toxic masculinity and repressed sexuality.
The movie portrays twisted father-son dynamics and the bleak consequences of societal and personal repression.
'Agra' premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival and has now received a limited release.
Critics note the film's claustrophobic atmosphere and pacing, with some suggesting it lingers too long on scenes.
The film's title, 'Agra,' is not clearly connected to the depicted settings or narrative.
- Who
- Filmmaker Kanu Behl, actors Mohit Agarwal, Rahul Roy, Vibha Chibber, Sonal Jha, Priyanka Bose
- What
- A review of Kanu Behl's film 'Agra,' which explores themes of toxic masculinity, repressed sexuality, and twisted family dynamics within a bleak and claustrophobic setting.
- When
- Premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, with a limited release this week.
- Where
- The film is set in a crowded small town in North India, though its specific connection to Agra is not elaborated.
- Why
- To examine the unlovely world created by toxic masculinity and the consequences of repression.
Filmmaker Kanu Behl's Artistic Vision
Potential Criticisms of the Film's Execution
Thematic Depth and Execution
Filmmaker Kanu Behl's Artistic Vision
Kanu Behl crafts a bleak, claustrophobic portrait of toxic masculinity, exploring twisted father-son dynamics and repressed sexuality in a way that is challenging and cannot be dismissed.
Potential Criticisms of the Film's Execution
The film's pacing is criticized for lingering on scenes longer than necessary, contributing to an excessive sense of claustrophobia and bleakness that delays breathing spaces, potentially hindering the narrative flow.
Title Significance
Filmmaker Kanu Behl's Artistic Vision
The film uses sex as both fantasy and liberation within constrained environments, offering a unique exploration of the male psyche.
Potential Criticisms of the Film's Execution
The film's title, 'Agra,' remains unexplained, and the settings could be any crowded small town in North India, lacking a specific connection to the location.
- Film Title
- Agra
- Director
- Kanu Behl
- Screenwriting
- Kanu Behl and Atika Chohan
- World Premiere
- 2023 Cannes Film Festival
- Themes Explored
- Toxic masculinity, repressed sexuality, family dynamics, societal fractures, bleakness, claustrophobia
- Key Cast
- Mohit Agarwal, Rahul Roy, Vibha Chibber, Sonal Jha, Priyanka Bose, Ruhani Sharma, Aanchal Goswami, Sudhir Gulyani
- Film Rating
- Two and a half stars
Sources
Director Kanu Behl Says "Not Just Anurag Kashyap Is Done" With Netflix, "Most Directors Are"
Agra struggles to find screens ahead of India release, director Kanu Behl calls out multiplex chains: ‘The space for anything other than mindless cinema…’
Director Kanu Behl Accuses Multiplex Chains Of Shutting Out His Film Agra: "We're Being Denied Shows Because Of So-Called Big Blockbusters"
Kanu Behl says his film Agra isnt getting shows in theatres
