‘Parched’s big dramatic play is the fact that, even women who’re being exploited have their own desires and ambitions. Just because they’re victims doesn’t mean they don’t want to have fun or they can’t think for themselves. There are some beautiful scenes in the movie where the women just strip off their clothes and just have fun. It’s not so much about homosexuality as it is about sensitivity. The entire drive of sex in all three women’s lives just boils down to the fact that the men around them are not sensitive enough. There’s a beautiful scene of love making between Adil Hussain and Radhika Apte which addresses this fact both aesthetically and dramatically. There’s even an intimacy between Radhika and Tannishtha Chatterjee which is just a minefield of erotic drama. The two women are drawn towards each other because the men in their life just can’t stop being uncouth and insensitive.
While the intelligent writing brings in varied emotions and relevant truths to the situations in ‘Parched’, it’s the film’s cinematography that literally steals the show. The film is shot by Hollywood regular Russell Carpenter (True Lies, Titanic, Ant-Man) and some of the sequences on offer are just pure art. Look out for the entire sequence where the three women get into skinny dipping and sex in a cave. The visuals of ‘Parched’ add a real punch to its proceedings. The choice of background score and music is superb too. The only reason to complain here is the heavy inclusion of Rajasthani folk music which doesn’t quite apply to the film’s Gujarat-heavy setting.
The real champions of this film though are its actors. Tannishtha Chatterjee, Radhika Apte and Surveen Chawla each bring in a different flavour to their roles. Tannishtha is reserved and resilient. Her silences, her eyes and her restraint add gravitas to the character and the film. Radhika on the other hand brings in a fantastic blend of bold and beautiful. Her character is more about smiling through grief and she does a fantastic job at being both a victim and a survivor. Surveen on the other hand offers a more polished and self-aware woman. She’s the sexual object who can outthink and outwit the men. Just like her co-stars her performance is both authentic and effective.
Despite its grim setting and feudal themes, ‘Parched’ is a film where women rise above the exploitation and the misogyny to live life on their own terms. The erotic nature of their conversations and their ability to retain their spirit through all adversity makes this film a true blue winner.
