Laapataa Ladies

Wow! This is one of the rare movies that actually made me cry. Tears were rolling down my cheek by the end of the movie. The three leading actors did phenomenal work but my favourite was Nitanshi Goel as Phool. Her innocence was enough to make me fall in love with her and root for her throughout the film.

The scene where Phool gets her first salary is just so heartwarming! From being this naive young girl in a completely unfamiliar place to finding her strength and becoming financially independent, her journey was beautiful. The film is wonderfully developed, and it works as a true dramedy, a positive one at that, where we are shown there is something good out of everything. You feel for the characters since the beginning and celebrate their success. Sparsh Srivastava as Deepak is so lovable and Pratibha as Jaya is witty. The bonding all the characters manage to develop is lovely. The way Phool calls out to Deepak and they both hug each other while crying, it's best scene in the whole film ! The scene where Deepak secretly holds Phool's hand and she looks at him and then after a point, lets go off her ghunghat while they keep holding hands had me with butterflies in my stomach !!! Lovely film !!

Today, I went to the theatre to experience Kiran Rao's new movie, "Laapataa Ladies." I was stunned when I watched the movie. The performances, storytelling, humor, and social messages were outstanding. Initially, I wasn't very interested in seeing her new movie, considering Kiran Rao had directed only one movie in her career, "Dhobi Ghat." However, knowing that she is Aamir Khan's ex-wife and has been a co-director, writer, and producer of many good films, I decided to give it a try.

Let's talk about the movie. The cast is entirely new; actors and actresses are all new faces to me. But they gave their best in the movie, especially Pratibha Ranta and Ravi Kishan. The social message part of the movie was really good, highlighting how women were treated like servants or slaves. They showed various issues, including agricultural problems, that exist in India.

The movie is set in the 20s era when mobile phones were just introduced in India, and the only game was the snake game on Nokia mobiles, so there was no internet, no Gen Z, and no adult scenes. It was a purely cinematic experience. The girl who stole my heart is Nitanshi Goel. She is so cute, man. I loved her. She is now added to my crush list.

Anyway, you should watch this movie if you want to see some good wholesome social drama. This movie will absolutely win your heart. I give this movie 4.5/5. Lastly, I want to share something that happened in the theatre. A guy who was working at INOX, where I watched the movie, asked me, "Sir, boi ta kemon laaglo ar etake apni koto star deben out of 5." I told him the same rating that I gave in this review.

#laapataladies #womensupportingwomen #IWD2024 #MustWatch

Interestingly, the reviews of the film by leading dailies prove the very point that the film attempts to make... about the invisibility of women, and their lack of agency .

Here it is .. The TOI says it's a story of two husbands who lose their wives, Filmibeat also called it a story of two young husbands, Business Standard calls it the story of a husband who loses his wife , ABP Live comments on the laughter it evokes, The Indian Express says "it is struggling to stay afloat" ( so not true 😃) .

Only a handful got it right ! Filmfare, The Hindu, and a few others.

And this is the very premise of the film.

Based on an award winning story written by Biplab Goswami, Kiran Rao returns to direction after 14 years with this delightfully thought provoking social commentary on women's empowerment . And wow, does she deliver !

The story is set in a fictitious village in a state called Nirmal Pradesh, reflective of any state in the cow belt of India. It revolves around Phool, and Jaya two women who are on their way to their new marital homes, and due to identical veils, Phool's husband mistakenly brings Jaya home, instead of Phool.

Phool realised late at the last stop that she has been deserted, and Jaya knowingly accompanies the wrong husband to his home. When both husbands realise that one's wife is "wrong" and the others wife is missing, starts the journey of finding them and returning them to their rightful homes . Phool is a shy, simple village girl, with no exposure to the world at large, and does not know either the address of her village or the address of her husband's home. .

Jaya is a girl who is a brilliant student and top ranked amongst 200 students , but has been forced to marry a man who has reportedly killed off his first wife due to dowry.

Both women experience freedom, a sense of agency , and in the process they find themselves . In 5 days, they undergo a life altering journey of self discovery, and confidence.

The veil of the two brides is metaphoric in nature ... and the Lifting the veils of social ills like patriarchy, education, lack of power, no freedom of choice, apart from the more obvious ills of lack of education, dowry. Very very masterfully, the story starts being told through the eyes of the men ( the husbands , the policeman) and soon shifts gears towards the actual story of the women . If they had not got lost, they would probably never have found their voice, their confidence and their will. Three vital skills needed to live a life of control and happiness .

A special mention needs to be made of the character Manju Maai who runs a tea stall at the station where Phool gets lost. She unexpectedly plays the reluctant catalyst in the transformation of Phool .. and their scenes and dialogues leave you hanging on your each word. Masked, layered and simple all the same time ! She aids Phool to look within and question everything, of why just being obedient and skilled at housework is not "good upbringing" . She is also the person who introduces Phool to the thrill of earning an income, however meagre is might have been.

Women's empowerment is such a loosely used term, seldom portrayed in its real sense at the grassroots level. What does empowerment mean to a woman ? Only a woman can tell ! It's different for each woman, as it's different for Jaya and Phool. But the sisterhood between the two when they come face to face in the end makes you want to stand up and dance and weep with joy!

Nitanshi Goel as Phool, Pratibha Ranta as Jaya , Sparsh Srivastava as Deepak, Chaya Kadam as Manju Maai, Ravi Kishan as the police inspector have given spectacular performances.

But the real Hero is the Story itself and the nuanced and skilful direction by Kiran Rao. Take a bow !! This gem is not to be missed . Films like this come once in a blue moon . Savour every minute every dialogue . It's definitely the breakout film of this year !

Breaking Barriers with Wit and Grit. Laapataa Ladies is a cinematic gem that shines a light on the timeless struggle against patriarchy, skillfully set against a rural backdrop. Directed with finesse and fueled by stellar performances, this film is a compelling blend of humor & sarcasm, delivering a poignant message. It's a film that entertains, educates, and inspires, leaving a lasting impact on its audience long after the credits roll.

From its intriguing premise to its captivating sequence of events, the screenplay keeps audiences hooked from start to finish. The dialogue is sharp, witty, and hits all the right notes, seamlessly weaving humor into its commentary on societal norms. The direction is uncomplicated yet captivating, making the narrative easy to follow while still leaving room for thought-provoking moments.

What truly elevates the film are its star performers. Sparsh Shrivastava delivers praiseworthy performances. Nitanshi Goel delivers a memorable performance. Pratibha Ranta shines as a woman determined to break free from the shackles of patriarchy. Her portrayal is confident, drawing audiences into her character's journey. Ravi Kishan and Chhaya Kadam steal the show with their standout performance.

Such a beautiful way of story telling. Humour with a message hidden in it. Amir Khan productions should be a school for aspiring film makers. The way the characters are portrayed strike a chord with the societal norms. Ravi Kishan who is playing the cop is the soul of the film. Other actors too have played their part very well. The set up in the 90s is wonderfully displayed on the screen. Characters listening radios, cyber cafe etc etc. The movie sends a strong message for woman empowerment and the upliftment of women in the society. The women still being considered as some sort of slave in the society when artificial Intelligence is surpassing human intelligence.