Chhapaak Movie Review: Deepika Delivers A National Award Worthy Performance In This Film That Will Move You To Tears
I am a small town girl, from a place which probably 90% of won't recognize if I name it. When I was a teenager, I have been stalked, several times. A schoolmate if mine would do so, because he loved me. Another time, this man, who was easily around 7-10 years older to me, and was a neighbor, would follow me around, to school and to tuition. I was alarmed, so a friend of mine would accompany me. This guy reached and talked to him ultimately, because I wouldn't even listen to his calls. He finally gave up and stopped stalking him. When I told my mother, she said it's okay to stalk, how else would he be able to convey his feelings (blame Bollywood for this; my mother is actually a highly educated lady who works as a professor). While I sat and watched Chhapaak today at a press show, I was numb. This could have happened to me as well. Worse, this can still happen to me.
As a reviewer, this one paragraph of personal account is totally unnecessary, but if you are a woman, this isn't something impossible. But when I step out at night, people around me are concerned about sexual predators. But what about these men, for whom we don't ask for stricter laws.
Okay, enough with the personal outburst really. Let me just actually begin this review by saying that Chhapaak is film that would overwhelm you and compel you to think. This is a film that made me sit tightly into my seat and watch the plight of not just one acid attack survivor but acid attack survivors in general.
The film is brilliant, with almost no flaw to be pointed out, or maybe I was so into it that I couldn't see one. The film makes you go through the pain. Be it Deepika's layered performance or Meghna Gulzar 's direction, I could feel the pain as I progressed through the film.
Meghna Gulzar's craft is something that we have known and felt through each of her films. She has outdone herself with Chhapaak and that is a big deal after she delivered Raazi . She keeps that humane touch, those moments that sends shiver down your spine and those that want you to jump in joy. Right from when Malti sees herself for the first time or when a child looks at her and screams to the part where she and another survivor are getting happy about the support they have received on social media and Malti goes on to read that someone empathize with acid attack survivors because 'woh bhoot jaise dikhte hai', the scenes would give you goosebumps. These scenes can have an essay written on them. Like in the last one, the calm tone in Malti's voice, because she had faced it for years, and the hesitation in the other girl because she was attacked recently is so spot on.
Deepika gives a National Award deserving performance for this one. She is layered and shows immense range. What I felt a little off was when she played a school girl in love. Those blushing at times looked a little over the top, but the experience wasn't hampered. She pulls up and her performance is brilliant!
Vikrant Massey is just as amazing. Right from his body language to his expression, he is someone who deserves more films to show his talent. He is a treat to watch. The other characters are great as well and help the film become what it is.
But the real shout-out goes to the four sheroes who are a part of the film. They are spontaneous, natural, camera friendly and better actors without any formal training than many who get a lead role in films.
Everything in Chhapaak needs a mention, be it the music, the title track, the lyrics penned by Gulzar, the prosthetics, the editing, the cinematography or the dialogues. Everything is in sync.
The film is an eye opener. It deserves to be seen. Harden your heart and go for this one. This would possibly be one of the best films of not just the year but maybe of the decade.