Movie Review: Thappad (A tight slap on the face of the patriarchal society)

 

"That one slap reminded me of all the unfair things which I had undergone, ignoring"

This is the punchline of Anubhav Sinha's movie, Thappad (2020). It shows Amrita (Ammu), a certified classical dancer who gets married to a fiercely ambitious, affluent young man— Vikram and chooses to be a typical housewife rather than pursuing her career. Right from waking up in the morning to going to bed at night, she makes herself available for all the becks and calls of her husband and takes good care of her mother-in-law. As a couple, they share the dream of relocating to London as a part of Vikram's promotion. This aspiration grows gradually into an obsession in Vikram's mind which nobody visibly notices. 

On the day of the announcement of his promotion, he throws a party for their family members, neighbours and office acquaintances. Ammu, in her high spirits,  arranges that in a grand way and is having a gala time with her loved ones. 

It's by then, that Vikram is informed that the promotion contract has been compromised for his boss's relative, a less deserving junior. It fuels Vikram's suppressed anger and he starts fighting with the senior official, blaming the move to be a cheap corporate politics. 

When everybody stands petrified seeing the scene, Ammu steps in to pull him aside and gets slapped by him in front of everyone at the party. When Vikram hardly realises what he has done, Ammu is shattered into pieces. 

That one slap reminds her of all the thousand incidents in which she has been mistreated. It leads to an epiphany that the love between them is not mutual and her husband is brutally self-centred. Having understood this she leaves for her parents' house. Vikram, being a go-getter asks her right away to return home with him. When she says what she feels, he even brushes aside her feelings by telling her that it was just a casual slap. 

The plot is taken forward when Ammu files for divorce. And it's not surprising that everyone questions her, "Is a single slap, a big deal?" and says casually that a woman has to endure all these to keep her home united. 

But, with the slap-fueled firmness, Ammu gives her cathartic speech which lets her mother-in-law admit that it is the mothers' mistake— they always fail to teach their sons that they have no right to raise their hands against their wives, and it's not women's duty to let go of all the mistreatments submissively under the pretext of strengthening the family.

The movie ends with Ammu and Vikram parting their ways— Ammu, a mother-to-be, with the hope to provide a good future for her baby; Vikram, having understood the adversity caused by his obsession leaves with the hope that he would start everything afresh (this time minus ego) with Ammu. 

Thappad (2020) stands out to be unique in many ways— perfect direction and screenplay which mildly touch upon the everlasting societal problems like male chauvinism, domestic violence and their aftermath; effective dialogues which have a strong impact on the audience; 

picturesque cinematography which renders beautiful visual narrative; soulful music which blends perfect melancholy with the scenes whenever it's needed; interlinked plotlines and characterization which portray the minor characters who thrive or who are stuck in various webs of love and marriage—The successful lawyer who continues to be in her loveless marital life; The maidservant who is thrashed brutally by her husband; a widow with a teenage daughter who still loves her dead husband and Ammu's parents who are the epitomes of nuptial love. Ammu's father, being a protective, loving dad supports her all through her decisions and is devasted to see his daughter being slapped in front of people. His unbiased advice and support keep Ammu going throughout the movie. 

All these characters are unique and haven't failed to leave behind their impact on the audience. They replicate the women in multitude (irrespective of the name and fame they have earned in society) who are silently suffering the mental, psychological and physical violence against them. Their smile is just a facade they put up to hide their agonies. 

The movie, on the whole, is a unique portrayal of a  clichéd social issue. It reminded me of William Goldings' saying about women— "Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater. If you give her sperm, she will give you a baby. If you give her a house, she will give you a home. If you give her groceries, she will give you a meal. If you give her a smile, she will give you her heart. She multiples and enlarges whatever is given to her. So if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit!"