Film Review

Film :Parched (2015)

Submitted by: Fida Sherin V K

Submitted to: Ms.Renima K P

opinions, and critiques of various films. They help viewers make informed decisions about

which movies to watch and offer valuable perspectives on the art of filmmaking. Film reviews

serve as a bridge between filmmakers and audiences, offering a platform for critical analysis and

discussion. They help shape public opinion, influence box office performance, and contribute to

the overall discourse surrounding cinema. In the early days of cinema, reviews were primarily

published in newspapers and magazines by critics. These critics played a significant role in

shaping the way films were perceived and appreciated by the public. With the advent of the

internet, platforms like Letterboxd have revolutionized film criticism by allowing enthusiasts to

share their perspectives through short-form reviews. Today, Film reviews can be found across

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When it comes to writing film reviews, the language used can vary depending on the

audience and the purpose of the review. Casual filme reviews are typically found in blogs, social

media posts, or informal websites where reviewers share their personal opinions with a broader

audience. The language here is more conversational, relatable, and often includes colloquial

expressions or slang. The language used in a film review can also be influenced by the genre of

the film being reviewed.

Here I’m going to review the movie “parched”, directed by Leena Yadav, which was

released in 2015. The film explores the lives of four women in a rural Indian village who break

free from the constraints of society and traditional norms. In this context, aims of this film

review to evaluate the significance of a film and delve into the psychological theories that

underpin its narrative.

Parched” is a highly acclaimed Indian film directed and written by Leena Yadav and

produced by Ajay Devgn, Aseem Bajaj, Gulab Singh Tanward and Rohan Jagdale. The movie

sheds light on themes such as gender inequality, female empowerment, friendship, and the quest

for freedom amidst a conservative and oppressive environment. Released in 2015, “Parched”

received critical acclaim for its poignant storytelling, powerful performances, and its portrayal of

the challenges faced by women in traditional societies. The film follows the journey of Rani

(played by Tannishtha Chatterjee), Lajjo (played by Radhika Apte), Bijli (played by Surveen

Chawla), and Janaki (played by Lehar Khan) as they confront their own demons and strive to

break free from the shackles of their circumstances. Through their interconnected stories,

“Parched” offers a raw and unfiltered look at the struggles faced by women in a patriarchal

society, highlighting their resilience, courage, and unwavering spirit. As the narrative unfolds,

viewers are taken on an emotional rollercoaster that explores themes of love, friendship, betrayal,

and self-discovery.
 The movie begins with Rani and Lajjo visiting another village to meet Janki and her

family. Rani is a widow trying to get her son married, It portrays Rani’s selfless act of providing

a dowry for her son’s marriage despite being a widow herself. At 32 years old, she has lived half

her life as a widow. In order to ensure that her son can marry Janaki Rani sacrifices her own

future financial security. This act highlights the societal pressure on women to secure good

marriages for their sons through substantial dowries.Gulab, on the other hand, is shown to be

involved with a group of young men in the village who fear change and are more interested in

vices like prostitution and alcohol. Their primary concern seems to be maintaining traditions and

living up to their fathers’ legacies rather than embracing progress or supporting their wives’

education and access to resources. Lajjo is in an abusive marriage, desperately wishes for a child

but can't conceive and is battered nightly by her alcoholic husband Manoj (Mahesh Balraj). Lajjo

is also a skilled seamstress, and she and Rani, along with other women, work for a local

entrepreneur Kishan (Sumeet Vyas) and are saving for the village to finally get a satellite and

television—their first real connection to the outside world. Bijli is a dancer who faces stigma for

her profession, who performs erotic dances nightly to cheering crowds of men, and also

entertains clients made weak by desire and Janaki is a child bride trapped in a loveless marriage.

During, at the Grama Panchayat, the village participates in solving local issues. The first

issue is of a girl named Champa who ran away from her husband and tried to return to her

parents. The Panchayat forces her to return despite her revelation that her husband's male family

members all rape her. Kishan and his wife try intervening but are ridiculed for their progressive

opinions.

The men in the conservative and patriarchal village frequently visit Bijli, who has been

refusing offers for sex work more often. This refusal angers her boss, who threatens to replace
her with a younger girl named Rekha (Tanya Sachdeva). Gulab’s discontent with his marriage

worsens his already present anger issues and disrespectful behavior towards women. Janki

becomes a victim of Gulab’s repeated physical abuse and sexual assaults. Under pressure from a

pimp, Gulab and his companions unleash their frustration on Kishan. Initially, they destroy his

handicraft products, and later they violently assault him, leading Kishan and his wife to flee the

village.

The women live in a tightly controlled world, hemmed in by tradition, but in their private

spaces they talk about love, sex and their dreams for the future. Life seems like an unending

cycle of hardship punctuated by small bits of happiness. But it all breaks down. On the day of her

son's marriage, Rani discovers that Janaki's hair has been cut off, dishonoring her in the village.

Manoj's brutality towards Lajjo grows more fierce. Bijli seems breezily liberated, but can't come

up with a way to free herself that doesn't require a man. These women are thirsty for everything:

for passion, for love, for sex, for freedom. These conflicts keep the film consistently surprising.

In the movie, the final scenes take place during a festival that commemorates a lord and a

goddess defeating evil forces with truth. The festival involves burning effigies of villains and is

shown alongside scenes of liberation for Rani, Lajjo, and Bijli. Even Yadav, who struggles to

comprehend why these women accept their difficult lives, cannot bear to leave them in that

world. She sets them free. Whether that's a failure of imagination on her part or a success

depends on our point of view.

The performances by the lead actresses are commendable, bringing depth and emotion to

their respective roles. Tannishtha Chatterjee delivers a powerful portrayal of Rani’s resilience

and inner strength. Radhika Apte shines in depicting Lajjo’s vulnerability and determination.

Surveen Chawla adds charisma to Bijli’s character with her spirited performance. Russel
Carpenter beautifully captures the essence of rural India and intimating moments of the

characters.The background score compliments the narrative, adding to the emotional impact of

the scenes. The music was composed by Hitesh Sonik. The soundtrack captures the essence of

the film’s emotional depth and add another layer to the story telling.

Theoretical explanation

There are a lot of psychological theories behind the movie. Cognitive dissonance theory is

one of them. The theory by Leon Festinger postulates that individuals experience discomfort

when holding two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values. In "Parched," the women

experience cognitive dissonance as they navigate their desires for autonomy and happiness

against the backdrop of their oppressive societal roles. This internal conflict is a driving force

behind their actions and decisions throughout the film.

The second theory behind the movie was the Social identity theory. Social Identity Theory,

proposed by Henri Tajfel and John Turner, posits that individuals derive a significant part of their

self-concept from their membership in social groups. This theory suggests that people categorize

themselves into in-groups (groups they belong to) and out-groups (groups they do not belong to),

leading to social identification and comparison between groups. In the movie “Parched,” the

female characters’ identities are intricately linked to their roles within a patriarchal society. The

women in the film find themselves defined by societal expectations, norms, and traditions that

dictate their behavior, choices, and relationships. Their identities are shaped by their roles as

daughters, wives, and mothers, reinforcing the hierarchical structure of the community.

The movie also illustrates the "Triangular theory of love" proposed by psychologist Robert

Sternberg, which suggests that all types of love consist of one or more of the components of

intimacy, passion, and commitment. Based on this theory, Sternberg identified seven types of
love: Liking, Infatuated love, Empty love, Companionate love, Factuous love, Romantic love

and consummate love. The infatuated love can be seen between Lajjo and her husband, as her

husband has no intimacy and commitment towards her, but only passion. This type of love can

also be seen between Janaki and Gulab. Companionate love can be seen between the three

friends Rani, Lajjo, and Bijli, as they have a strong trust and commitment in their bond. Bijli's

relationship with the man in the local fort can include as Romantic love. As well as Janaki's love

story with her boyfriend was not well explained in the movie, but we can assume that their love

was a kind of consummate love. This is because her boyfriend waited for her even after her

marriage and helped her with her studies by buying and delivering books to her in-laws' home.

Their love seemed to include intimacy, passion, and commitment.

In the context of "Parched," the bystander effect can be seen in the villagers' passive

acceptance of domestic violence and misogyny. The community's silence and inaction contribute

to the perpetuation of abuse, showcasing the detrimental impact of collective inaction in the face

of injustice.

Conclusion

Parched” is vibrantly alive, full of color and light and movement and music. There is sex

in this movie, and there is dancing, and there are vibrant fabrics and foods and fire. It's a dry

place, but one ringed with beauty. The film explores themes such as forced child marriages,

financial difficulties, spousal abuse, and societal expectations placed on women. The characters

are portrayed realistically, showcasing their pain, resilience, and pursuit of happiness amidst

adversity. Moreover, it’s a multifaceted exploration of the psychological and social dynamics of

oppression in a patriarchal society.

Hall, E. J. (2003). The bystander effect. Health physics, 85(1), 31-35.

Harmon-Jones, E., & Mills, J. (2019). An introduction to cognitive dissonance theory and an

overview of current perspectives on the theory.

Hogg, M. A. (2016). Social identity theory (pp. 3-17). Springer International Publishing.

Pentheny, J. R. (2015). The Influence of Movie Reviews on Consumers.

Sternberg, R. J. (1986). A triangular theory of love. Psychological review, 93(2), 119.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/parched-2016

https://www.filmibeat.com/bollywood/movies/parched/cast-crew.html#cast

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/parched-2016