‘Chhapaak’ movie review: Deepika Padukone's movie is an emotional force

It’s unfair to begin the review of a Meghna Gulzar film with a reference to her father. “ Koi chehra mita ke, aur aankh se hata ke; chandd chheente uda ke jo gaya: Chhapaak se pehchaan le gaya ”— by stringing together a few simple words Gulzar gets to the heart and soul of Laxmi Agarwal’s life, its horrors and struggles and those of many other acid attack survivors like her. Even though she may have changed the names of the dramatis personae and made the narrative go back and forth in time, Meghna is scrupulous in following Laxmi’s journey in every possible detail — her own story, the people around her, her relationship with them, the various situations, challenges and dilemmas thrown at her, even the NGO Chhanv Foundation, that she had been a part of, find a place on screen. Chhapaak Director: Meghna Gulzar Cast: Deepika Padukone, Vikrant Massey, Madhurjeet Sarghi Run time: 123 minutes Storyline: Based on the life of acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal and her campaign to stop the sale of acid The film also has a very real and wonderfully written male character – Amol, the NGO activist and Malti’s friend, confidant and more. The endemic societal patriarchy gets a throwaway, casual reference like the cop balking at the phone numbers of “boys” stored in Malti’s mobile, or in the scepticism about the case ever getting registered.