Chhapaak – An Essetial Viewing For Everyone

Director: Meghna Gulzar

Cast: Deepika Padukone, Vikrant Massey

Filmmaker Meghna Gulzar and actress Deepika Padukone’s brave and commendable effort to bring a horrific true story to the big screen is undeniably honest, well-crafted cinematic work which will impact audience and make them understand or perhaps sympathise with anguish and pain of an unfortunate victim and societal biases.

The film is co-written by Atika Chohan and Meghna Gulzar. The film address the ugly face of masculinity, insensitivity of society and this broken legal system through the tale of Malti Agarwal, based on real life acid survivor Laxmi Agarwal.

Laxmi Agarwal was brutally attacked by a male acquaintance-turned-stalker, who threw acid on her in 2005 and shatters her dreams of being "the next Indian Idol".

Chhapaak film opens amidst the intense street protests that erupted in reaction to the Nirbhaya gang rape case in December 2012. It is here that we first hear the name of Malti in a conversation between a television reporter on the spot and a journalist-turned-activist Amol (Vikrant Massey). The context of the verbal exchange is a PIL that the acid attack survivor has filed seeking a complete ban on over-the-counter sale of acid.

Life is struggle of Malti, no one wants to hire her, and legal battle consumes most of time and thoughts, and endless trauma by society. Deepika's performance is pure and her efforts to play this role are commendable. Her performance is soul-searing.

Chhapaak tells the story of a woman who comes to terms with her circumstance, rise above them and take the fight head on to set an example for other acid attack survivors.

The film showcases an unapologetic take on how the law approaches acid attack cases, police procedural and a courtroom debate, which are endless and lack humanity. The film tracks two parallel legal battles - one pertains to the prosecution of the perpetrator, the other to Malti's PIL seeking a ban on the sale of acid.

Actress Madhurjeet Sarghi, who plays Malti's lawyer in the film, makes an amazing impression. She is compassionate and methodical. She delivers a solid performance. The film is delicately crafted and does justice to subject material. The film makes for an essential viewing.