Parched (2015) User Reviews (55)

Highly Realistic and Vulgar but Quality Art Cinema.

[SAMTHEBESTEST · 8/10 · 21 September 2016]

PARCHED REVIEW - I was never interested to watch this film, in fact i never heard about this Film before but suddenly some leak news made waves on social media and i had to download film and watch. And now after watching it i'm speechless, i don't have words to appreciate Film but still i am going to write few words so that Real Cinema Lovers won't miss a gem.

Acting - Powerpacked ! The film looks so realistic and its characters looks so real that we actually feel their Pain, Happiness and everything. Surely Best Performance of all Actresses in Film especially Radhika Apte shows her Standard actually raises it and Surween Chawla shines in Bindass Attitude.

Screenplay - Marvellous ! It never looked stretched or bored despite being Realistic and Social msg film. Some crispy and vulgar scenes to entertain masses are also there. Classes have everything to taste.

Music - Not Impressive ! But Background Score definitely works as shiner for some Serious and Meaningful scenes.

Dialogues - Hilarious ! Few will make you laugh, few will make you think and some might harass you due to its Vulgarity.

Cinematography - Fantastic ! We see Completely Realistic and real Village in Film and credit goes to Cinematographer. Even some scenes which have not been shot in Village/Set (Caves/Sand) looks Real and are eye pleasing.

Direction - Speechless ! Yes you read it right, i don't know who was Leena Yadav but now i will remember this name forever just because of this 1 Masterpiece. Direction is Highly Realistic so does its Vulgar so you have to prepare yourself to watch this Film not as a Regular Bollywood Film but as a Highly Realistic Art Cinema. Full Marks to Director and 1 Salute from me.

Final Words - Almost a Masterpiece ! Hats Off, Kudos and Salute to makers for making a Film like Parched in India. You need guts to make Art Film in Bollywood which is actually surviving on Useless Commercial Masala Entertainers but Ajay Devgn had guts and he tried it and he Won it. I watched Unrated Version so you might miss some Vulgar and Sex scenes due to Censore Cuts. Few changes would have made this Film a Masterpiece but i think it fell short and became a Classic. Quality Cinema Lovers should not miss Parched at any cost. I'm going with 8/10 Stars, Go for it to have some memorable and Realistic Cinematic Experience.

Parched Is bold and beautiful ... Don't Miss It !!!

[ketgup83 · 8/10 · 23 September 2016]

There comes a time in life when you stuck up in a wrong place and feel suffocated. You feel like breaking the barrier and seek freedom as you have one life to live and it is you who can take the control of your destiny. Who do you listen to you – Brain or Heart ?

Parched (extremely thirsty) tells the story of three women in the rural village of Rajasthan – Rani (played by Tannishtha Chatterjee), a 32 year old widower, who is under the burden of home loan she took to marry off her son, Lajjo (played by Radhika Apte) who is beaten up mercilessly by her husband as she cannot conceive and Bijli (played by Surveen Chawla) who is a dancer and prostitute but has her own share of glitch by men in her life.

It is a good comeback for the director Leena Yadav, who gave couple of flops in form "Shabd" and "Teen Patti". The subject of "Parched" is definitely bold with nude scenes, abusive language and violence but I guess she was trying to make it more real. The highlight of "Parched" is defining each female protagonist character appropriately, the issue of women equality still existing in the Northern part of India and how these central characters overcoming the challenges to live their own life. Hats off to Leena Yadav for a fantastic effort and keeping the audience on their toes. Screenplay is crispy with beautiful cinematography capturing the princely state of Rajasthan. Art direction is outstanding along with nice background score. Full marks to the editor for completing the drama within two hours. On the flip side, the second half loses the grip to some extent but the climax showing the dusshera scene shot simultaneously with Lajjo's husband burning in fire is brilliant. I loved the scene where Surveen Chawla vents out her anger that why all the abuses ends with a female f..k but why can't it be male f..k.

"Parched" belongs to queens of desert – Tannishtha Chatterjee, Radhika Apte and Surveen Chawla. Tannishtha Chatterjee plays a sensible and matured widow character with aplomb. The brilliant actress has been in town for some time and this film will be an icing on cake for her. Radhika Apte is just growing well with each film. This will be her second brilliant performance this year after spellbinding act in "Phobia". I was completely taken aback with Surveen Chawla's performance. The gorgeous actress is mean, straight-forwarded but extremely compassionate for her friends. Watch for her as she has the perfect looks and talent to carry it forward. Rest of the star cast did justice to their role.

On the whole, "Parched" is electrifying and enigmatic. Another beautiful tale of women empowerment and equality after last week's "Pink".

Remarkable Stories, Fascinating Women

[Blue-Grotto · 8/10 · 27 March 2016]

There is only one thing that makes a woman glow, even amid the vibrant colors, sparkling jewelry, moonlight swims, romances, comfort of friends, wind in her hair and lights of a fair at night. It has to do with her repressed dreams. In a desert landscape where the status quo vastly favors men, she thirsts in more ways than one. Everyone, men and women, are in a hurry to grow and glow, yet they often fail to be human first. A single mom, abused wife, erotic dancer, child-bride and newly arrived immigrant attempt to rise above their fears and kindle joy in their lives.

Academy Award winning cinematographer Russell Carpenter (Titanic) brings beautiful images to bear in support of the characters and their poignant stories. The remarkable stories of common women take the spotlight. While the stories are pieced together a little awkwardly and the acting is a bit shaky, the stories of these fascinating women are wonderful to witness. They are not predictable. Each is enthralling. Seen at the 2016 Miami International Film Festival.

Edgy and Intriguing

[arcassia · 10/10 · 20 June 2016]

A very raw look at gender norms in rural Indian society, PARCHED takes an unapologetic stance that women should choose their own destinies. The four women, and their intersecting stories, are engaging and intriguing. And there are both good and bad male figures in their lives. But this is no feel-good Bollywood romcom either, it's a very real and heartfelt look at life. The film keeps the viewer on the edge of his or her seat, wondering where the story is going next, because the twists in the plot are far from predictable. I would highly recommend it to anyone with a taste for edgy and eye-opening cinema. My rating? 10 out of 10.

Brave, intelligent and utterly human

[sankaribhriain · 10/10 · 14 October 2016]

It's fantastic to see a realistic, well-rounded and empathetic portrayal of Indian women. It really is wonderful to see a film centred on the relationships between the female characters from this culture so far from many of us. We learn about the expectations put on them and the hypocrisy of a patriarchal society they're learning to free themselves from. There were no paragons of virtue or other exhausted stereotypes here but real women surviving together with much humour and warmth alongside just as much cruelty and fear. What a joy to have something so raw come from the home of Bollywood. I felt emotionally drained but triumphant at the end of this movie. Bravo, bravo, bravo. Everyone involved should be proud.

There are some moments that take the film deep into your heart.

[adityakripalani · 7/10 · 9 September 2018]

It's a slow burn as a film. And then without you realising it the film has suddenly entered your heart. And makes its place there. Moments in each woman's story are suddenly so evocative. And moments between them as women. So much woman power. Beautifully shot. Beautifully enacted. Beautifully directed.

Must watch real time movie

[official-nitinjain · 9/10 · 27 August 2016]

Kudos to director and whole team for making this excellent and eye opener movie Although I am from India and particularly North and frequently hear news stories of khaap panchayat wrongdoings etc. but still it's shocking to me to imagine things are still such bad in most rural parts when other part of globe is advancing to it peak. Neena Yadav and its crew have done wonderful job to bring extreme reality and low thinking of this men dominated rotten society The four women who set themselves free in different ways to bring story to happy ending does try to cover all roles of women they play in society to have maximum impact and also bring ray of hope to change things and move towards good. I remember last movie which I watched similar to this was Matrobhoomi which shake me from inside and compelled me to share thoughts and join to some movement to uplift present state of women's plight . Everyone should be allowed to choose their life as they want and things should never be forced on each other.

No end in sight, but there's assorted light

[sesht · 28 September 2016]

Kudos to Ajay Devgn for deciding to distribute this; otherwise, it was apparently lying in the cans for a bit.

Watching the trailer made me expect something like the Bollywood version of Ridley Scott's iconic nouveau cult-classic, 'Thelma & Louise', & while the main titles kinda resembled that, the tale thereafter, stays grounded, & rooted in 1/2 locations in close proximity. A road movie this is not. I confess I was disappointed initially, but the material is strong enough for me to overcome that initial sense of having felt let down.

The characters though, on paper, are caricatures of what one would expect in such a milieu, & it's a testament to the writing & directing talent of both Leena Yadav & Supratik Sen, that the content (along with the performances) rise above the predictability inherent in the material. While is this a move up or sorts for Leena, this is a major step-down, imho, for Supratik, whose 'Kaminey' & 'Kai Po Che' (from all accounts) were much superior, from both a writing & structural standpoint, when compared to this one.

Many are calling this Apte's best performance to-date, & from my understanding, she, apparently has the toughest role. I have to disagree, since that would make light of what the writing/directing team were trying to accomplish (and, in my opinion, have pulled off). Which is, ensuring that all the 3 main leads are given plum roles, casting strong actresses in each of those roles, & ensuring they perform to the best of their respective ability. Tannishtta Chatterjee, Radhika Apte, Suveen Chawla, and, in my own perception, Lehar Khan, have been perfectly cast in characters that challenge their abilities, & each one of them has risen to the occasion, performing magnificently, both on their own, and, this is very important, while playing off each other's performances.

Each & every scene where each of these characters is in the company of 1/more of the other, is a treat to behold, from observing great thespians interact. This is one of the best ensembles assembled, in recent memory.

Surveen Chawla, as one third of the leads, has been typecast in her role, but is fantastic, to stay the least. She needs to display various layers in her performance, evolving/devolving over time & events, & is more than up to the task. This, to her, is definitely as companion-piece to her performance in Anurag Kashyap's masterpiece, 'Ugly'.

Performance-wise, I also felt that there were strong supporting turns from Nancy Nisa Beso, Sumeet Vyas, Sayani Gupta (her post panchayat sequence is gut-wrenching, not just because of what is said, but from the look her characters gets from her previously- skeptical mother), Mahesh Balraj, Chandan Anand, Devendra & Daddi Pandey.

Adil Hussain, on the other hand, seemed miscast to me, though the sequence he's a part of is beautiful (though the local censors have had their way with it, & many other sequences), though it actually ought to be creepy & weird as hell.

This definitely makes for a stronger entry on writer/director Leena Yadav's résumé, compared to her earlier works, 'Shabd' & 'Teen Patti' (21). In fact, it might be a little unfair to compare this work to her earlier works, since this is perhaps miles ahead of either of those, deeper, & richer, not just in terms of content, but also in terms of characterization.

The cinematography by Russell Carpenter (Ant-man, 21 - on which Leena's 'Teen Patti' was based, Titanic, True Lies, The Negotiator, Hard Target…) captures the on-location choices & work magnificently, & I've read a few reviews mentioning that his lensing keeps the audience at an arm's length, & that, in my perception, is grossly unfair. I felt caught up on all the action inherent in the flick, even the ones that were calculated to remain clichéed.

The score, courtesy Hitesh Sonik, who also scored the background for great works such as Omkara, Hunterr, Paanch & Kaminey, among others, also is some of the best I've got to listen to in a while.

The climax, & the finale, is mostly wishful thinking, & reminds us that this is a film after all, but, imho, is a much-needed respite from the all-pervasive darkness that inhabits our leading ladies' lives. Dare I hope for a sequel?

No point watching it at the local cinema, though I did. Instead, I'd try watching a version that retained the makers' original vision + execution intact.

Nice

[sharmikrish · 7/10 · 21 November 2023]

The movie was nice screen play and it was good .

The movie reveals between the ordinary women who face difficulties in their own place .

The movie had a good screen play , it was good webough to see wit family members and friends. The movie had set an example to many countries how to treat women in the country . It was a perfect example to stay strong womanhood even though how others treat us . It was perfect to play good in the movie with crew played really wel . It was perfect entertainment which happens in Rajasthan . The people who received their respect in their daily lives . The movie was good .

Excellent Movie ! A must watch for Bollywood Fans.

[sameer-61184 · 9/10 · 20 August 2016]

Well Done, Leena and all girls, very good movie an eye opening for our general audience who has taboo on women freedom. Girls have every right to fulfil their dreams in our society. Thank god movies like that are trying to change its face, its a rough and hard road ahead. Thats actually a embarrassing face of most Indian men. Very good script and dialogue, new actors have done well. Director Leena Yadav , Hats off to you. Plz make more movies like this which can help the society.This movie covers the really basics of India rural lifestyle of women, shown women's true spirit, which is a much needed in this time. Radhika Apte has done very well, trying to break the shell of bollywood, which is always under redtape, if try to show homosexuality or women freedom.Overall movie is a good coverage of so many troubled factors which are ignored in mostly high yield production movies. This might not be a big hit in India but a good mile stone for all cast & crew.

Women

[rameshwarsinghcharan · 6/10 · 5 June 2020]

Just about village culture of gujrat and rajasthan Specific on women and life How they survive

A very bold, sensitive & watchable female-centric film!

[inforaza · 8/10 · 29 September 2016]

Parched is a sensitive – but very watchable – female-centric film which explores the lives of 3 Rajasthani village ladies who live in a sexually repressed, patriarchal & abusive society. The film explores their frustrations over not having normal lives and the desire to live life on their terms.

The title "Parched" refers to the lives of the 3 ladies which is as "parched" as the arid desert they are living on.

MERITS of Parched

1 – A very sensible & sensitive story that is well-executed (you will NEVER feel bored unless you're a MCP moron)

2 – The build-up and pacing of the film is just perfect

3 – The dialogues (in Rajasthani accent) are well-written, incisive, witty and puts the message across pointedly

3 – Parched is bold and does not shy away from bit of nudity and abusive words (which is necessary keeping in mind the rustic nature of the characters)

4 – All the 3 actresses (Radhika Apta, Surveen Chawla & Tannishtha Chatterjee) have acted convincingly with the right expressions, accent and dialogue delivery.

You will love to see the uninhibited and friendly interactions between them (esp., the sexual banters). Surveen's totally bindass & uninhibited character is a treat to watch!

5 – Brilliant cinematography by Russell Carpenter ("Titanic" fame)

6 - For MCP's out there, you will be taught a lesson - "Pehlae Insaan baanna seekh uske baad Mard." (told by Tannishtha to her son Gulab)

7 - Loved hearing the background music.

DEMERITS of Parched

1 – Tannishtha regularly talking to an unknown man calling himself "Shahrukh Khan" does not make any sense. That man plays no real role in her life (or in the film).

2 – The ending is a touch "escapist" in which it is shown that the ladies decide to live the village and go to the city to start a new life. (It'd have been intelligent to show them living lives on their own terms - and in the village itself)

3 – Kishan is shown as a nice,decent man. But, unfortunately, his good-natured attitude is not properly used in the film.

I'd have been happy if he were shown to understand the predicament of the 3 ladies and did some good for them. But no!

4 – I cannot understand the outburst of Surveen Chawla towards Chandan Anand ("Rajesh") when he told her about his plans to take her to the city for more profitable prostitution. Surveen accused him of wanting to be a pimp and take advantage of her.

Fact is, Surveen is already a prostitute and does not give any indication of hating the trade. So her outburst is totally misplaced!

PS:

1 - Radhika Apte is really flowering into a serious actress. I just love the films she is choosing to act in. They all are very meaningful & watchable ones.

Wishing her all the best for the future!

2 - After celebrating Pink we are celebrating Parched!

When was the last time we saw 2 great female-centric movies in a single year? When?

As a man, I'd love to see such female-centric films more and more.

Burned by Society, Thirsty for Life

[danielefanin-17409 · 6/10 · 10 July 2020]

Premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2015, Parched, the third feature film of Indian director Leena Yadav, has been worldwide well received by critics but has struggled to perform at the box office in India, where it mostly gained attention for its explicit sexual scenes than for its content, though abroad it has encountered also a good response from the general public as a film dedicated to the struggle of women in an hostile and archaic society.

Even if at times the narrative tends to be too simple and indulging in some sort of characters' Manicheism, the film deserves to be seen for its honest storytelling of the unbearable hardship of four women and for some moment of beautiful filmography.

In a remote village in Rajasthan, the lives of Rani, a widow, Bijli, a dancer turned prostitute, Lajjo, a childless wife and Janaki, a child bride, are emotionally intertwined and clouded by the violence and savage beatings of the men that cross their existences, pushing them back every time they try to raise their heads. The characters are written to depict not only the general difficulties of women in male-dominated, archaic societies that are not unfortunately limited to rural and traditional India, as the daily news remind all of us far too often, but also to radicalise even more their hopeless, futureless marginality and lack of voice.

Subtly playing with the double meaning of the title, the four women' souls are, in different ways, dried out by the remoteness of their location and the unbearable pressure of an archaic society where a woman that reads makes a bad wife, where beating and raping is the norm, remissively and painfully accepted by the victims, but also thirsty for a life that they know they deserve and can exist. Relying on the deeply rooted friendship and intimacy, even physical, that bond their spirits and bodies together, whether matured through the years or, like for the child bride, for the memories of their past stories, they find the courage, in the end, to affirm their values as human beings, cutting ties with the men that oppress them, purifying their lives with the fire that burns the beating husband and the escape from prostitution, in an ending that, while reminiscent of Thelma and Louise, is illuminated by a ray of hope represented by their decision of which road to take at a fork and the reunion of an emancipated Janaki with her school sweetheart.

A courageous film that is well directed and able to nicely blend Hollywood and Bollywood aspects of filmmaking, Parched involves the viewers, of all genders, as the struggle for basic human recognition surpasses the man/woman juxtaposition, as hinted by the sternness and rejection of the village towards the foreign-looking wife of the local textile entrepreneur, and becomes a gender-blind human fight for humanity. A beautiful cinematography supplements the occasional script's psychological shortcuts and the frequent bipolar over-romanticising of some of the characters that are, however, well played by most of the cast, amongst which excel Tannishtha Chatterjee in the role of Rani and Radhika Apte as her friend Lajjo.

Notwithstanding some shortcomings, Parched has a value that deserves to be appreciated not only for its much needed feminist activism and sociological angle but also as a well-crafted film.

Typical agenda of Stereotyping on India by Cherry picking isolated incidents

[frankdahiya23 · 1/10 · 30 January 2016]

This is the work of Typical NGOs in India who try their best to show the country as worst place. How many Indian women took refugee in other countries by the way?

Typical agenda of Stereotyping on India by Cherry picking isolated incidents and over-blasting it beyond fiction and painting whole society. Over the years western mass media and their proxy foot soldiers do this. This is not the real picture of Rural India but few people have no shame in lying. Western Hypocrisy at best. In 2000 years 266 popes, none women and none black and portrays a country like India and it's culture as anti women and evil who have even women God.

Load of nonsense.

Raw Visualization of 20% of Indian Society... But As a Film, its Cinematic Gem of Art-Cult Drama..

[krrishnatra-pandit47 · 10/10 · 23 August 2016]

I watched parched.... Mind blowing... True cinema... Masterpiece without any taam-jhaam non bollywood clichés... 20-30% of rural India still has these kind of personal stories of rural India... Drama at its best.... You don't feel like you are watching a movie... Nice art & cult cinema... True movie thinker can notice each & every aspect of movie its raw and fresh yet showcase of hidden society pitfalls like udta punjab... Its really Good one... Story, screenplay, direction, acting, cinematography, score... Everything is seamless, characters are like real life, costumes and locations are realistic and compelling so you can't differ real village life of 20% Indian Villages and backward India.. Must watch..

Simply Brilliant, Bold & Must watch!!!

[ramkumar-68763 · 8/10 · 18 October 2016]

Watched it last night @ sathyam cinemas. Wonderful movie with excellent acting and with a deep social care. This movie showcased every possible ways women are been dominated, not given any chance, importance women education in a most powerful way.

Great acting, music and background score was good and deeply sink with the movie. Technically brilliant...

But, these movies (I can compare this movie with visarani - Tamil movie base on a social message) failed to educate its audience and make them known about if any possibilities out there to fight against it. It's simply just like placing a hidden camera within someone's home and capturing all anti-social elements and visualizing it to audience. Its more likely an evidence of a crime happening right away. What to do with it??

Can it be played in a court and claim for a change in law or ask to make new laws? nothing...

It just makes audience to feel sorry for the women & street boys (in visarani).

Overall a good and a must watch. This movie will definitely make a good impact in Indian cinema.

Rare Poignant stories of a remote Indian village sure to leave you Parched

[vaskar88 · 8/10 · 2 October 2016]

Are you Parched !! Have you known what being Parched feels like !! Parched : Dehydration owing to scorching heat leading to state of extreme thirst

The movie with the name very aptly chosen takes us through the lives of three main protagonists: Rani, Bijli, Lajjo in a remote Rajasthani village. Rani married off on just attaining puberty had believed men to be the center of world. But, is dejected by the men in her life : firstly by her husband and then by her son. Both like the other menfolk go to a path of drunkenness and violent bouts to assert their masculinity. She rebukes her daughter in law for not being able to reign in her son. She says "Give pleasure to your man. What will you do by studying, become an big shot administrator.Forget it."

Lajjo, on the other hand extremely playful and full of life, has to deal with beatings from her husband. Constantly shamed in public and made to feel guilty for not bearing a child, she assigns herself to self deprecating humor. "What do these menfolk want !! Curvaceous derriere, plump bosoms, long dark free flowing hair, fair skin et al" (Literal descriptions of physical features arousing libido was discussed by the village ladies amidst ensuing laughter. The audience was in splits in acknowledgment)

Bijli true to her name is the wild child for whom all the village men swoons over privately but abhors publicly. Being able to have men raving about her gives her joy. It is at least better than descending into slow decadence within the narrow confines in meek submission.

The three of them meet frequently and find solace in shared sorrow about the men in their lives. Being more fearless among the trio, Bijli is fearless and comes as the harbinger of hope. When she tells Lajjo to get her husband checked, Lajjo's innocent surprise was priceless. She says "What are you saying, even men can flawed ?" Bijli also tells Rani to get her son Gulab under control. Rani, however is in denial mode and comes up with strong emotional outburst. These are the two singular acts that mark onset of a change in both Rani and Lajjo's world views.

The story then progresses along a coming of age curve. The three protagonist leave their previous lives with sea altering change in their "Weltanschauung". The shackles both illusory and real are shattered and out they head to cities, to a brave new world saying "We will manage somehow"

Certain instances in this remote village were indeed disturbing. Deflowering like a passage of rites is the onset of a highly abusive relationship. The women folk face it silently with the mother also coyly leaving her son to violate her new daughter in law.Whereas the men compelled by peer pressure brag about their male bravado.

Little bit of nudity and sex has been shown but it was beautifully interwoven into the movie never even bordering on voyeurism. On the contrary, could sense strong element of pathos as for the most part it was violence laden affair devoid of sensuality and consent. In this context, Lajjo's ecstatic astonishment and ensuing vignettes has been nicely portrayed.

With the ability to empathize, one should desist from the vulnerability to label all men as misogynistic in the wake of the movie. However, the movie does a good job of showing good men as well like Kishan who despite good intentions face a significant resistance in ushering change.

After a certain point, more than what happens to the movie protagonists, its the reality that hits you hard. I felt that there are numerous Rani, Bijli, Lajjo silently suffering out there in the numerous villages. And the vignettes of the bus ride with the folksy background score during the start and the end keeps playing vividly in front of you with the eerie reminder that life for them shall continue in silent resignation.

To surmise : The pathos lay in the realization that They shall remain "Parched" perched in their small worlds !!

Cheers to Woman Power!!

[mayaredalf · 8/10 · 23 September 2016]

Parched: While the nation is still rejoicing Pink, here is another movie which hails and celebrates womanhood. Absolute brilliant acting and a tight screenplay further makes the 2 hours journey worth every minute.

The opening of the film itself makes you to sit up and watch. It's where the 2 main leads are basking in the wind on a bus ride experiencing the freedom the wind has, literally. The story revolves around 3 women. Parched in their own individual lives. Rani, a widow with a son of marriageable age. Lajjo, stuck in a abusive marriage and stigma of being childless and Bijlii the village prostitute who actually is a symbol of freedom. Strong Women; not aware how strong can they be. Women like you and me who discuss love, men and sex. Find solace in each other's company. Enjoy a personal joke, gossip harmlessly and admire Sharukh Khan. Women ,fighting their own battles everyday and emerging as winners in the end, everyday. Radhika Apte is the new Smita Patil of our country and there is no second thought to it. Her Lajjo in this film evokes both, love and compassion from the viewers. Smiling at every possible chance life offers, she sparkles with hope throughout the film. A little attention to her accent will help her to shine further.Tannishtha Chatterjee as Rani, steal your heart when she is worried about looking old or is admiringly sending her own daughter in law off with another boy. The brazen Bijlii played by Surveen Chawla will make you emotional .The hope of love and the pain of rejection both in a span of one scene will leave you speechless. Chandan Anaand as Rajesh will linger on your mind for a while too. All the others have done their job well and add to making the film better. There is no unrealistic song and dance sequence just because its Rajasthan ;which is a relief. The sets have a bit of touristic touch, but then Rajasthan is colorful! The film could have been in simple Hindi, the Rajasthani touch to the dialogues is a little unconvincing at places. Yes, Parched reminded me of yet another classic Mirch Masala at more than one place. Besides of course the backdrop of Rajasthan, the characters too ;seemed close to the cult film . Mirch Masala talked about women education and Parched raises the issue of women independence; not just monetarily, but in all sense. Nonetheless, it is definitely worth a watch. It is a film which celebrates the victory of Sita who doesn't wait for any Rama to fight for her in this bias patriarchal society. Instead this time she decides to fight back and save herself. So, go and check out the women power. Cheers to friendship, cheers to women power!!

Four women, four different stories, each of them struggle in their own life connected to each other by hope.

[BiswajitSince2005 · 10/10 · 25 September 2016]

Four women, four different stories, each of them struggle in their own life connected to each other by hope. At the end of the day, they are left along to fight their own demons, and stage their own personal wars. Parched is a hard hitting story of four Rajasthan women, who live in a tightly controlled male subjugated society, hemmed in by custom. They unrepentantly talk about love, sex, their dreams and struggles in their day-to-day life.

Rani (Tannishtha Chatterjee), a 30 something widow lives in a rural Rajasthan village with her 17 year old son Gulab (Riddhi Sen). She herself, married as a child, struggles against her 17 year old son's dowry and marriage to Jaanki (Lehar Khan), a neighbor's daughter who is hardly 15. Gulab is in the midst of a wrong crowd in the village who don't believe in women's education or development and are more interested in prostitutes & booze.

Rani's best friend Lajjo (Radhika Apte), is thrilled that her best friend's son is getting married and that she will become grand mom soon. She herself has been made to believe by her alcoholic husband (Mahesh Balraj) that she can't conceive a child and is subjected to torture by her husband regularly. Lajjo is also a skilled seamstress. 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 (Surveen Chawla) who is a close friend of both these women is an erotic dancer in a performing troupe and also a prostitute who entertains clients made weak by desire.

Jaanki, who has been disowned by her husband Gulab dreams of completing her education and standing on her own feet. She is subjected to torture from Rani briefly before being married off by her to a young man from her village at the tail end of the story.

Life moves like an interminable cycle of soreness and small delights when it all breaks down into pieces. Rani found out that Jaanki's hair has been cut off, dishonoring her in her village. That results in Gulab rejecting her and going after wrong women and booze. Manoj's cruelty towards Lajjo grows more and more severe. Bijli finds out a new girl might substitute her.

A rural village where decade old traditions are fast changing but women are still being treated shabbily and fiercely. The Director Leena Yadav has made an honest attempt to show something unusual and a movie which is made for festive circuits not the regular Indian audience. Keeping pace with all the four stories while keeping in sync with the connecting characters is a wearisome task which the Director has handled very delicately. Almost all the men in the movie play villain barring Kishan who has played a compassionate character. But the cruelty goes undeterred and he is brutally killed for trying to bring change to village and making the women empowered.

Even though the male characters play villains in the movie, the women are not much better mainly Rani, Lajjo and Bijli. Lajjo though subjected to torture by her husband frequently, lives for his approval all the time. Rani is fully aware of her dark days when she was agonized by her husband and mother-in-law still treats Jaanki with disdain and neglect. Bijli seems open-minded but can't find a way to free herself for a life without a man. All three women are parched for everything; for passion, for love, for sex, for freedom but don't have the audacity to liberate themselves for the life they are so in quest of.

These conflicts of minds keep the movie appealing and startling. Russell Carpenter's ("Titanic") cinematography makes the village garishly alive and full of color. The movie has music, sex but more than that it sincerely shows the strength of the four beautiful women of a remote village who are smart, articulate, skillful, who make the dry land like one ringed in beauty.

Based on a completely illusory story, Parched written and directed by Leena Yadav shows forced child marriages, financial difficulties, spousal and familial rape, physical and emotional abuse by alcoholic husbands. All drawn from real life incidents of rural Rajasthan when she travelled to Rajasthan and spoke to the women there to find their story. This is her effort to show how these women desire to live regardless of being bound by the tradition, mental and physical abuse.

Movies like these are like mirage of lives around.

[yaar007 · 7 November 2016]

Indian Cinema's another jewel.

But I'm late I guess. This is one hell of a journey of ~145 minuets. Among the India's various cultures this one is Rajasthani. It has many aspects to offer not only limited to Rajasthani. Rural life printed as it is with love & passion.

I won't spoil but you should find a reason why you wanna watch it. It may fail you at some point but it provokes the male ruled society and how women's are tolerating the disgraceful behaviors held to them for ages.

The story has a twist. You might learn a new thing here. (Spoiled)

Indian poverty porn tailor-made for Western Film Festival audience

[praveen-96759 · 1/10 · 15 January 2017]

The highlight of the movie is Radhika Apte's nipple. The Main Act is Radhika Apte doing a nude, simulated sex-scene. Everything else is secondary to that. Even though this is nothing new (Radhika Apte has already done full-frontal scenes in other movies), this kind of thing is still bit scandalous in India.

In order to fully understand the context, non-Indians should understand that many Indians still suffer from severe Colonial mentality which makes them believe that the Westerner is better than Indians. This is why Indians bleach their skin. This is why Indians take pride in speaking English. This is why Indians still celebrate Shakespeare when even the British have forgotten him. And this is why India's "Film Festival" gang tries desperately to impress Western audiences. There is nothing more prized in these circles than approval from the Western audience. Western approval is their currency. It is their validation. It is their Salvation.

These people know their audience. They know that the typical judge at a Western Film Festival is a liberal who wants to "Save" countries like India by manufacturing certain type of social- change. These movie makers (and actors) know how to play to that gallery. So feminism, gay rights, sexuality, etc. become main themes in their movies - because these are powerful groups in Western media. This is Radhika Apte and Leena Yadav begging Westerners, "We are willing converts, aggressively evangelizing and selling your commandments. Please give us our award now."

Though teenage Indian boys will no doubt enjoy some scenes in this movie, to the average Indian adult, the movie is nonsensical. Its as if these "Avant Garde wannabe" film-makers are pissing on India's poverty by sexualizing it and using it to titillate Westerners. They are stereotyping, disrespecting, and misrepresenting some of the most defenseless and vulnerable people in the world. Its like forcibly grabbing the old, torn saree of a poor Indian village woman and displaying it to Westerners so that they can ejaculate on it. All of this just to win some silly awards. To me, it is this stark vulgarity of their greed that is the most prominent feature of every frame in the movie. It is this obscene, cruel, narcissistic, selfish, ultra-capitalism that is the most defining aspect of these movies and such people. But at the end of it all, I can't help but feel sorry them. I hope the trinkets made them happy. I hope that someday people like Radhika Apte and Leena Yadav will recognize their own slave-mentality and find a way to understand what true freedom really is. I hope they will someday grasp the depth of their intellectual and spiritual poverty.

And for the Western audience that consumes, rewards, and encourages porn like this: I sincerely hope that you will someday understand why most of us use the term "ignorant" to describe you.

Parched is a brilliant, unconventional, non-preachy and powerful film by Leena Yadav.

[binducherungath · 8/10 · 23 September 2016]

Parched is a brilliant, unconventional and powerful film by Leena Yadav. It is Leena's third directorial film after Shabd and Teen Patti. The film premiered at Toronto International Film Festival in 2015. It has been very much appreciated in various International Film Festivals and bagged many awards too. Although Leena has used Rural India and its women as the premise, the story is somewhere related to all of us irrespective of which part of the country we live in. The rural society and women in the film are mere representations of the larger whole. It tells us the stories of women deciding to put an end to the oppressions faced and change the course of their lives for better. The best thing about the film is that although the subject of the film has covered many serious issues which are prevalent in our Country (be it child marriage, abusive husbands, women looked at as commodities, women getting ostracized if opinionated and educated etc.) which need to be eliminated completely, the tone of the film is not at all depressing. Rather, the protagonists in the film are not shown to be sad or crying in despair, but they chose to outgrow their sufferings, take bold steps, be rebellious, smiling even while suffering. The film shows frank conversations about sex and sexuality amongst females which are very candid. Frontal nudity of the actresses are also shown, blended so well with the plot and shot so gracefully. The film showcases how intolerant we as a society are towards women without even being apologetic about how they are treated (or mistreated). But the best part is that the film is not preachy at all, rather it talks about the incredible spirit of women even when they are at low phase in their lives. It is the story of three women Rani (Tannishtha Chatterjee), Lajjo (Radhika Apte), Bijli (Surveen Chawla). Rani is a widow, who lost her husband 15 years ago and lives with mother-in-law and son Gulab (Ridhi Sen). Lajjo is married to Manoj (Mahesh Balraj), but often get physically abused by him for being childless. Bijli is a dancer and a good friend of Rani. Bijli has a reputation of being a seductress. Her clients are managed by Rajesh (Chandan K Anand). Rajesh seems to be completely in love with Bijli. Initial scenes show Rani and Lajjo going to fix Rani's young son Gulab's marriage to 15-year old Janki (Lehar Khan). Although Gulab gets married, he does not find Janki as per his expectations. Gulab is a spoilt brat. Meanwhile, it is shown Panchayat taking decision to send Champa (Sayani Gupta) to her abusive husband and in-laws who also force themselves on her. The village also has good souls like Kishan (Sumeet Vyas) and Naobi, his wife (Nancy Nisa Beso) working for the betterment of the village. Kishan runs a boutique for village women to work there. How the events unfold? The various characters of the film are etched out so thoughtfully and the cast is awesome. Tannishtha as Rani represents a woman who is living in isolation since years, hasn't been touched or loved by a man. Radhika as Lajjo represents an ambivert woman, who gets succumbed to abuses from her husband and bears it all thinking that it is her fault that she is childless. Surveen as Bijli represents an unconventional, free spirited woman, who is bold in front of the world but very soft from inside, at the same time not ready to yield to the men who take her to be an object of desire, passion, sex etc. Lehar as Janki is the representation of young girls, who dreams of studying and be independent, but forced to marry at an early age due to family / societal pressure. Nancy as Naobi represents an educated, balanced woman who intends to extend her help for the upliftment of society. All the female characters have given great moving performances with special mention to Tannishtha, Radhika and Surveen for their outstanding performances. Chandan as Rajesh, Mahesh as Manoj have given very much credible performances. Chandan represents a man, who is spite of loving a woman, might never be able to see her beyond her professions, might not be able to see the real beautiful person who is within that woman. Manoj is a representation of male dominated society. Gulab represents typical young arrogant teenager, who wants to explore in his life, also inherits patriarchic attitude. Summet as Kishan represents a man who respects women for what they are and also believes in being a change catatlyst himself. I don't want to spill the beans by talking about these two actors Adil Hussain and Chetan Sharma and their respective roles in the film, since that is to be watched in the film. Adil Hussain is a mystic lover, a short but very powerful representation of men, who have regard for women and their beauty and also believes that lovemaking is an art. Chetan has less screen time as Heera, but a very significant role and representation of young, educated men respecting the very word love. He is balanced in love and does not go overboard even when he lost his love, did not turn out to be an obsessive lover, but kept his love alive in spite of losing his girl. Both Adil and Chetan have given short but very much remarkable performances. Parched is a brilliant, unconventional, non-preachy and powerful film by Leena Yadav. Every character in the film is etched out so thoughtfully. It showcases the incredible spirits of lead female protagonists even amidst personal loss / sorrows. Irrespective of its characters and the plot set up in the rural India, the film is all about humanity, with which universally people can connect and relate to. The key message of Parched is emancipation, to free from the shackles of so-called unhealthy societal norms.

Different, interesting and well worth watching

[indianature · 9/10 · 22 February 2017]

Parched is a beautiful film with stunning visuals of life in a remote Kutch village (though I understand the set was erected on an abandoned village in Rajasthan).

The story essentially revolves around three women in a rural society, their lives in an abusive male centric world, their emotions, their relationship with each other, how they draw strength from their friendship to somehow survive all their problems and so forth ... I do not like to disclose the plot details in a review.

The costumes, the houses, the settings, its all so authentic looking. This film could promote Kutch embroidery and handicrafts in a big way!

Some shots such as Bijli driving the girls in the embellished jugaad auto are a bit stretched but do not detract from the main plot. Likewise the Bijli act in the tent is probably far more sordid in real life than what was depicted.

The topless scene and the act with the God man in the cave were sensitively depicted. I saw this movie on You Tube. Not sure if the CBFC released version had any cuts.

If you haven't already, do watch Parched.

Excellent Movie

[bumuhair · 10/10 · 14 September 2016]

Never seen anything like this marvelous and Perfect creation touched with real ground and sensational

presentation of woman in India very diverse country for women's and showed how women need to empower herself breaking all socio-economic boundaries ..need difference in movies need real subjects which connected

to daily life of Indian society.

Shown how its worse of early child marriages and life without education and basic need.. Please carry on giving this kind of entertainment and education ..10/10 & Hatsoff..

Superb and Brilliantly Acted

[paulsmithson-192-243826 · 9/10 · 25 November 2016]

Right from the opening scene through to the last this was a beautifully shot movie. It was clear that a great deal of attention had been paid to every frame. Although the story, at times is harrowing to watch, the cinematography throughout, was a visual treat, so good I was tempted to watch the movie again with the sound turned down.

The acting was also superb, particularly by the lead actresses, of which there were three. The tender scene in the hut where one of them bathes the others wounds was very touching, and shot in a moving way that was in no way gratuitous (as is often the case in Hollywood movies I find).

Is it everyone's cup of tea? Definitely not. If you're after non-stop action and violence, then it's not for you, and if you're after a romantic comedy I'd look elsewhere. But if you're looking for a film that is a pleasure to watch, gripping from start to finish, brilliantly acted, and has enough food for thought for ten movies, then you'll love it.