Thappad Movie Review
A dear friend recommended me to not to miss movie “Thappad.” I normally prefer to watch intense movies in theatre as watching movie sitting at home doesn’t make us focus on small communications & we just are able to grasp overall content of the movie & we don’t sync with emotions of the characters in the movie then.
Thappad is a story of Amrita whose perfect life (on paper) gets devastated when Vikram, her husband slaps her once at a party when she tries to resolve the verbal tussle between Vikram & his associate. She is stunned & unable to digest this insult.
Director Anubhav Sinha (the same of movie Mulk, Article 15) questions us the movie watchers of what Amrita should do, like everyone around her suggests, let it go and move on or let her conscience take a call on it. It shouldn’t have happened, but “ab ho gaya na?” her husband Vikram says. Her mother-in-law, with whom she has a beautiful relationship, says: “Thoda bardaasht karna seekhna chahiye auraton ko.”
Amrita’s mom is distraught to know that she is considering divorce. Her brother claims it as “one small episode” and thinks “it’s silly” that she’s taking it so far. Her neighbor, a widow (Dia Mirza) says: “Rishte banane mein utni effort nahin lagti jitna nibhane mein lagti hai.” Even her lawyer suggests her to go back and make it work.
This film is not about domestic violence but it’s about centuries of society’s conditioning that it’s always a woman who must adjust, or compromise for the sake of family.
The movie plot makes us wonder and asks us a question repeatedly that: “Isn’t she taking it too far?” or “Surely she doesn’t need to make such a big deal of it?”Let me be candid, I was in a situation where I was leaning towards answering it as Yes.
There are no easy answers to this. The husband Vikram is not a villain. Vikram is selfish, unintentionally conditioned to put himself and his own pride before his wife, but he’s not a bad guy at all. He’s just like every other ordinary Indian man like most of us.
Then I was dragged towards changing my view again looking at Vikram & his lawyers approach towards this incidence. I don’t know if the Director really wished to take this turn.
This movie poses some very relevant questions that are rarely addressed in our society when it comes to totally biased marital norms. It makes to think seriously on how sexism is unintentionally common, normal & accepted behavior in our homes.
One moment where Amrita points out that the sacrifice of every woman who chooses to be a homemaker can be understood from the simple fact that no little girl when asked what she wants to grow up to be says ‘housewife’.
When my partner/spouse slap me, it’s not a blow only on my body but it’s on the respect and love. Amrita could have slapped Vikram when he asked her to slap him and equal the scores, and then come back with him. But she didn’t. Because it was more about lack of respect and love.
She just didn’t want to be with him anymore. She did not feel respected. She did not feel happy. She did not feel valued. Slap wasn’t the reason of her divorce. Slap made her realized her value in Vikram’s life.
“Thappad” talks about treating your spouse with respect, care, dignity and love which forms the base of healthy relationship.
Movie ends with Vikarm’s heartfelt confession “Jab mai uss ghar mai jaata tha, woh ghar lagta hi nahi tha Amu, ghar toh tere se tha. Wapis aa gaya mai. Zero se start karunga wapis. Kamaunga tujhe.” Vikram realizes his mistake, sincerely apologizes and then says he will win her love again. He did not ask her to move on and forget the slap.
‘Thappad’ strikes on the masculine mentality of our society. Its must watch a movie with a mother, father, husband, wife, kids, brother, sister, lover, girlfriend or boyfriend.
Author: Rahul Khare
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