Changing Mindset
Film: Thappad
Release: 28.02.2019
Writer: Anubhav Sinha, Mrunmayee Lagoo
Director: Anubhav Sinha
Cast: Tapsee Pannu, Pavail Gulati, Kumud
Mishra, Ratna Pathak Shah, Tanvi Azmi, Dia Mirza
Ratings: 4 stars
Every
time there is marital abuse, the husband invariably has a justification for his
action and this has continued for centuries. Lord Ram had justification for
making Sita walk the fire path. He was the emperor and could not let down his
subjects. In another century, king Dharamraj had justification for summoning
Draupadi into the court. He was committed to Duryodhan and therefore helpless.
Corporate executive Vikram/ Pavail Gulati in Anubhav Sinha written-directed Thappad
has justification for slapping his wife Amrita/ Tapsee Pannu, he is under
pressure, stressed out, angry and frustrated!
The
question is does Amrita have the right to interfere in her husband’s
professional altercation, was it appropriate for her to have trespassed at that
moment or should Amrita have waited till the tempers cooled down? Is logic
possible in moment of rage, probably not, besides is Amrita in any way
disconnected from any dream or dilemma of Vikram? I don’t think so and in which
case, how can Amrita keep out of the brewing storm? In a marital relationship who
determines the boundary lines of private space and when does this change?
Ammu/Amrita
represents the archetypal homemaker whose follies are familiar, she is devoted
and she is efficient and most important, she is soaked in the fragrance of her
husband’s dreams.
Mrunmayee
Lagoo and Anubhav Sinha written Thappad tells the story of an impulsive
slap and the varied reactions it triggers among people around the protagonist
couple – Amrita’s parents/ Kumud Mishra- Ratna Pathak Shah are devastated,
Vikram’s family, colleagues are concerned, their advocates/ Ram Kapoor and Sarao
reflective, the house maid/ Ohlyan discovers she is not the only victim and
Amrita’s 13-year-old students asks her mother/ Diya Mirza if her dad has ever
hit her?
Disturbing
questions, domestic abuse is rampant across class and age and we have over the
decades watched innumerable films addressing the issue but Thappad is the
most significant because it emphasizes on woman’s need for self-respect and even
a single slap is unpardonable!
Superbly narrated
with effective dialogues, believable characterizations, touching interpersonal
relationships, soothing music, lyrics, real sets and sparkling performances
from the ensemble cast there is not a false chord in the film where the message
is the hero that to change society we need to change perspective to marriage,
alter as individuals, as family because in the end it is about happiness, about
self-respect.
When Lord Ram
sends Sita to exile for the second time, it is Ram’s mother Kaushalya who
breaks down and post Draupadi’s disrobing in the court it is Duryodhan’s mother
Gandhari who is outraged by the audacity. In Anubhav Sinha’s Thappad too
it is Vikram’s mother/ Tanve Azmi who bids an emotional farewell to her
daughter-in-law, a terrific scene superbly performed by both Tapsee Pannu and
Tanve Azmi that leaves you teary eyed.
Thappad is not a film that can be restricted to gender
boundaries, it is a mindset that needs to be changed. In the 2016 released Pink
Tapsee Pannu said ‘No is no’ and in 2020 Tapasee says ‘Not even one slap will
be pardoned’.
Director Anubhav
Sinha take a bow for three significant films in a row 2018/Mulk 2019/Article
15 and 2020/Thappad. Congratulations to the entire team of Thappad,
a must watch film for all men/ women/ young/ old even kids and I’m tempted to
add one slap for those who don’t watch it!!
I rate the
courageous Thappad with 4 stars.
Bhawana Somaaya
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