Chhapaak
2020
Director: Meghana Gulzar
Cast: Deepika Padukone, Vikram Massey

Meghana Gulzar’s last two films Talwar (delving into the high-profile Aarushi Talwar-murder case) and Raazi (based on the book-‘Calling Sehmat’, a true Indo-Pak spy-story) were truly brilliant, and they both got their deserved dues from the critics as well as the cine-goers.

For Chhapaak, Meghana chooses yet another interesting real-life story as the fulcrum. This movie is inspired by the trials and tribulations of the acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal. When she was 19, Laxmi suffered an acid attack from a jilted lover. Undeterred, she braved multiple surgeries, joined an NGO for acid attack survivors and filed a Public Interest Litigation against the public sale of acid. Chhapaak uses this same template for its protagonist’s story.

So how does this new film fare?

Verdict

Acid attack is a heinous crime where the perpetrator throws a corrosive liquid (usually a strong acid like sulphuric or nitric acid) on the victim’s body, mainly targeting the face, resulting in serious chemical burns leading to disfigurement, disability and even death. More than the physical aftermath, the deep emotional trauma and the social stigmatization are the things that torture the victims the most.  

All over the world, 80% acid attack victims are females, often attacked because of rejecting the male perpetrator’s romantic or sexual advances. In a patriarchic Indian culture, acid attacks have almost become some form of unholy, brutal, and sadistic statements against the women’s emancipation!

Chhapaak targets the issue of acid attacks; shows the plight of survivors; addresses the social work done to help; charts the legal battle going on to get a ban on acid-sale, throws in a police investigation nabbing the attackers and even tries giving a positive spin. Unfortunately, the storyline and the characters somehow fail to stir the emotions. The film almost feels dry, distant and detached. The emotional complexities of the characters are not explored, giving them a cardboard feel. Meghana Gulzar’s back-and-forth narrative style, too, makes the on-screen proceedings a tad confusing.

Deepika’s central performance cannot rise above the inherent weaknesses of the film. If she is largely ineffective as the acid attack survivor, then she is totally awkward and unconvincing as the teenage school-student. Vikram Massey as the grouchy NGO operator and the rest of the supporting cast, too, do not do much to spark off interest in the dull on-screen proceedings.

Chhapaak does highlight an important social, and legal issue, but thanks to its weak cinematic structure, it fails to make a strong, meaningful impact.

Rating

2 stars