Thappad Reviews

Thappad is the story of a single slap. A blow to the cheek that Vikram, angry, frustrated, a little drunk, inflicts on his wife Amrita who is attempting to steer him away from an escalating conflict.

Im going with four out of five for Thappad. Its a hard subject to pull off, but Anubhav Sinha achieves it with first-rate storytelling. The best films inspire dialogue, they set you thinking; they can even lead to change.

Just a film? No. Anubhav Sinha’s Thappad, as pointed as Mulk and Article 15 but markedly less dramatic, cuts close to the bone. It is likely to reverberate beyond the darkened movie halls where it plays.

‘Thappad’ is not just a film aimlessly ranting about borderline domestic violence; it brings to light the years of conditioning that a woman is subjected to by her own family and society that she lives in.

But there is not a shred of doubt that Sinha has made an important, crucial film, which shows up centuries of male entitlement for what it is.

On the whole, Thappad is a well-written and well-made film with some great performances. It will be loved by the womenfolk, the elite, the classes and the multiplex-frequenting audiences in the big cities mainly.

“Iss baar kamaunga tujhe,” says Vikram in the last scene. The camera pans out with visuals of two cars driving away in opposite directions. Even though it might appear a bit wishful, we thought it was apt.

It's only so little to 'talk' about what Taapsee Pannu does because you really need to see it to feel it.

The bloated runtime of 141 minutes packs in many necessary truths, especially about the pernicious nature of patriarchy and the manner in which women enable discrimination.

There is a fine line between making a film on a real story and making one that tells a real story. Taapsee Pannu starrer Thappad firmly falls in the latter category.