#Thappad
: A good film asks questions, makes one introspect and challenges one to have
conversation around the topic. In that sense Anubhav Sinha, post his comeback,
is making one film after another, that are putting uncomfortable questions out
in the open. If Mulk was about Islamophobia and Article 15 was about a deep-rooted
caste system, his latest offering Thappad is about the privileges men enjoy in
this country in the name of patriarchy.
When
was the last time we felt uncomfortable watching the female member in the
family managing entire household as well as their career and yet being frowned
upon for making the smallest mistakes , while the men get away with everything by pretending to be
busy with their career. When was the last time we felt guilty for raising our
voices against the females in our home. That is how privileged we have been and
that is how we have been brought up in a patriarchal society. And that is why
Sinha’s Thappad makes us introspect. It may be “Just a Slap”. It may be inadvertent;
it may be the first time, but none of us have any right to raise our hand. Sinha’s
film is more about the entitled mindset that we, the Indian men possess than
about domestic violence.
The
writing is extremely smart and nuanced, probably the best in recent times. It
brings out the male privilege and gender insensitivity beautifully without sounding
shrill. Vikram, the night after slapping Amruta, comes to her and tells her that he was stressed and
then goes on to explain his problems in office , how he had worked hard and yet
had been denied the opportunity he deserved. The conversations between Vikram
and Amrita has been written beautifully. Vikram , while talking about his job,
tells Amrita that he doesn’t want to stay and work in a place where he is not valued
and how one must put his foot down in life and how he has invested so much in
the job. And all this while he remains oblivious of the fact that Amrita is
also going through the exact same emotion as far as their marriage is concerned.
He thinks it was just a slap and he even tries to make up for it by taking her
out for dinner and buying her gift. It goes to a point where one starts identifying
with Vikram and even goes to the extent of believing that probably Amruta is
stretching it too far. Because that’s what we have learnt while growing up. Because
we have seen our mothers, grandmothers or sisters adjusting at every step and
accepting the behaviours they shouldn’t be. And that has become normal for us.
Not for once have we questioned it. And that is where Thappad forces you to go
back and introspect. Sinha, through the story of Amrita, actually exposes the
story of almost every household. Vikram isnt evil. He is just like you and I , an entitled Indian Male.
The
other interesting aspect of Thappad is the performances of each of its cast and
the brilliant direction. Be it Kumud Mishra , as the supportive father or Pavel
Gulati as the husband or Tanvi Azmi as mother in law and Ratna Pathak Shah as
the mother , each one of them have played their part to perfection. Taapsee
Pannu, as the vulnerable yet strong Amrita has done a phenomenal job.
Thappad’s
triumph lies in the fact that it affects one deeply. It beautifully explores
how we normalize patriarchy and exposes a myopic mindset. I will go out with 4
out of 5 for this terrific film. If
you are one among us ,an entitled Indian Man, then do yourself a favour ,go and
watch Thappad. And then go back ,look into the mirror and introspect. If the
realisation comes ,which I m sure will, if you have your heart in the right
place ,then go ,say sorry and if necessary reboot that life and all that you
have learnt by watching the men around while growing up.
