They’re all based in the arid desert regions of Gujarat interiors. A place where water and resources are scarce and rarer still is gender equality. If you’ve seen the works of Smita Patil and/or Shabana Azmi you’ll know what to expect from ‘Parched’. Their movies like ‘Mirch Masala’, ‘Mandi’ and ‘Bazaar’ have dealt with similar themes before. In fact, at times, ‘Parched’ feels like homage to movies like Ketan Mehta’s ‘Mirch Masala’ and Shyam Benegal’s ‘Nishant’. But unlike these social dramas ‘Parched’ has a bold new take on sexuality which makes it both different and impressive.
Women are raped and abused in ‘Parched’ too, but the movie portrays them in more shades than just victims of a sexist culture. Bijli is a prostitute but she’s also a spirited girl who doesn’t shy from teasing her clients or the men around her. At the same time, she’s also a woman who’s not easily taken in by the idea of love. Rani is complicated too. She’s the victim of misogyny and sexism, but she tolerates it when her own son mistreats women. Lajjo is beaten black and blue by her husband but that doesn’t stifle her spirited and apparently sexual chemistry with Rani.
