Chhapaak (2020)

 ●  Hindi ● 2 hrs 3 mins

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" ‘Chhapaak’ is inspired by the story of real life acid attack survivor, Laxmi Agarwal, who has become a symbol of strength and inspiration for many women. Malti, is attacked in broad daylight on the streets of Delhi by a family friend, Bashir Khan aka Babbu and his aide. As the narrative chooses a non-linear route, we first meet Malti when she is on a job hunt – consciously trying to move past the emotional and physical scars. In fact, far from the dreams she nursed of becoming a singer, her life becomes an intersection of her work with an NGO for acid victims, her multiple surgeries and her court cases. As support from her family dwindles owing to her brother’s illness and father’s death, it is Malti’s lawyer Archana, who stands by her through her arduous journey. From Malti’s PIL to ban the sale of acid to amendments in the acid violence legislation, her team of women lawyers, take on the system. Her other main support comes from Amol, who employs her to work for his NGO."

Cast: Deepika Padukone, Vikrant Massey

Crew: Meghna Gulzar (Director), Malay Prakash (Director of Photography), Michal Luka (Director of Photography), Ehsaan Noorani (Music Director), Loy Mendonsa (Music Director), Shankar Mahadevan (Music Director)

Rating: U (India), 18TC (United Arab Emirates)

Genres: Drama

Release Dates: 10 Jan 2020 (India), 10 Jan 2020 (New Zealand), 09 Jan 2020 (United Arab Emirates), 10 Jan 2020 (United States)

Hindi Name: छपाक

Music Rating
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#FinalVerdict

Courage is not A virtue, but The virtue.

Most storytellers entertain, a few enlighten. A scattering number of celluloid visionaries entertain as well as enlighten. Meghna Gulzar fits into that exceptional variety of film-makers that opens up thought-processes about the condition of the homeland without losing the cinematic elements that constitute a film. Meghna Gulzar has always believed in handling an issue every time She has attempted a film. To reconstruct on celluloid a true occurrence that is oven-fresh in public reminiscence is not a trouble-free mission. However, having sensitive and explosive material on hand is not enough. The execution of the subject is of paramount importance. Fortunately, Meghna Gulzar interprets the events in remarkable style and form and makes it a cinematic experience that haunts you even after the film has concluded. She does complete justice to the spirit of the story.

Chhapaak manages to show a mirror to the society. It is a rare film that will make you cry but at the same time scaffold you with the strength to raise your voice against injustice and why one must never compromise on self-respect. As a movie-watching experience, Chhapaak is flawless. There's absolutely no compromise at the level of storytelling. Bravo! Meghna Gulzar makes it an engaging piece of cinema rather than relying on the docu-drama format. Chhapaak belongs to the unique hard-hitting, gut-wrenching genre of cinema. Script-wise, the director has tried to remain faithful to the episode that occurred and also what transpired subsequently. The events have been chronologically put forth and the daring story of Malti hits you like a ton of bricks. The film truly celebrates the human spirit and also reflects a vital change in society and in the attitudes of people.

The narration is simply captivating that the viewer thirsts for more. Such is the impact of its taut screenplay! The film abounds in sequences that have been handled with utmost care, notable among those that focus on the relationship between Deepika Padukone and Vikrant Massey. The dramatic scenes are just right and not once does any character get loud or go overboard. The emotional scenes are a treat to watch. Another highlight is the climax. A film like Chhapaak pricks your conscience and makes you think.

Director Meghna Gulzar and story writer Atika Chohan deserve kudos for choosing a thorny and contentious story to interpret on celluloid. Meghna Gulzar, in particular, deserves a few extra brownie points for handling the material with aplomb. Her prowess and competence are visible all through the film. Since Chhapaak is based on a real story, Meghna Gulzar has kept the characters and the locations real and that's what makes the goings-on very identifiable, besides bestowing an authentic feel to the film. Here's a dynamic director-writer duo who needs to be lauded for tackling such a difficult subject and emerging triumphant!

A hard-hitting drama, generally, doesn't have scope for music. But Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy join hands with Gulzar saab, the wordsmith, and together they deliver a solid soundtrack. Music has been used in a matter-of-fact manner and at no point, it takes anything away from the narrative or the pace of the film. Malay Prakash' cinematography is first-rate. Dialogues are realistic to the core. Nitin Baid’s editing is perfect.

It would be a blunder if one missed out the contribution of the makeup artists. Transforming the ever-dependable actress into an acid attack survivor must've been an arduous task and Shrikant Desai and Clover Wootton deserve to be complimented for making Malti look so real.

Meghna Gulzar places immense trust on Deepika Padukone and she delivers a powerhouse performance. It is difficult to think of any other actress who could've essayed this complex role with such sincerity as Deepika. A powerhouse of talent, Chhapaak is yet another effort on the part of the actress to showcase the talent she possesses. To state that she is exceptional would be an understatement. Here's yet another award-winning performance from her. Another actor who delivers a first-rate performance is Vikrant Massey. He sinks his teeth into the character, giving it the much-required pragmatism that it necessitates. Sure, Chhapaak belongs to Deepika, but not once does Vikrant Massey dither from his position or seems inferior. This is the hallmark of a tremendous actor, which Vikrant is. Madhurjeet Sarghi is first-rate and lends adequate support.

A lot of films have been attempted on real-life incidents, but haven't struck a chord so effectively. Chhapaak should shatter this jinx. It focuses the viewer's attention to that segment of society that has seldom been depicted on the Indian screen. It will be well appreciated by the intelligent audience, gunning for women safety and empowerment. This heroic and daring film truly deserves prolonged applause.

0
as Malti
Special Appearance
as Rajesh
Supporting Actor
as Manish
Supporting Actress
Supporting Actor

Direction

Director
First Assistant Director
Second Assistant Director
Assistant Director

Production

Executive Producer
Line Producer
Unit Production Manager

Distribution

Distributor

Writers

Screenplay Writer
Dialogue Writer
Script Supervisor

Camera and Electrical

Director of Photography
Steadicam Operator

Music

Lyricist
Music Label

Sound

Sound Designer
Sound Re-recording Mixer
Sound Effects Editor
Boom Operator

Art

Production Designer

Casting

Casting Director
Casting Assistant

Costume and Wardrobe

Costume Designer
Costume Supervisor
Assistant Costume Designer

Editorial

Editor
Associate Editor
Assistant Editor

Makeup and Hair

Prosthetic Design
Makeup Artist
Hair Stylist

Marketing and Public Relations

Design Agency
Marketing Agency

Post Production

Post Production Manager
Post Production Supervisor

Stunts

Stunt Director

Visual Effects

Visual Effects Supervisor
Visual Effects Studio
Visual Effects Coordinator
Film Type:
Feature
Language:
Hindi
Colour Info:
Color
Frame Rate:
24 fps
Aspect Ratio:
2.39:1 (Scope)
Stereoscopy:
No
Archival Source:
QubeVault