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.

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 !!

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.

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.