Unfortunately Nandita Das's sophomore directorial venture Manto serves neither as a primer on the (in)famous author, nor offers any deeper insight to those familiar with his oeuvre.

Das's respectful biopic is elegantly directed and features terrific performances. But it's a slog recounting Manto's ordeals.

"Manto" is elegant and old school, epic without losing sight of the personal.

Nandita Das makes her Manto a stirring, sensitive portrait of a tortured genius from an era seemingly long past yet tragically mirroring our troubled present.