1 year of Thappad

https://www.instagram.com/p/CL01IwprT9P/?igshid=16ear0xvhiwao

To me, the movie was less about domestic violence than about an awakening where the slap acted as a metaphor to jolt her out of her zombie-like existence. The movie can be frustrating for those who view it in terms of the one literal "slap" only because I've heard countless debates on how the slap was a one-off incident and in the heat of the moment. In truth, the slap was a metaphor for all that is wrong in patriarchal society, and the awakening was in terms of Amrita's symbolic rejection of those evils. It's a beautiful movie about the mysterious structures of power, and how insidious these really are.

Taapsee was really good as Amrita, and the supporting cast led by Geetika Vaidya, the guy who played the husband, the parents and Dia Mirza were all enablers who added to the pitch-perfect tonality of the movie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7zI_mmIepY

This song is so amazing....the lyrics are so meaningful

"The film takes its own sweet time in expressing the dynamics of Amrita-Vikram's arranged marriage and how the two of them manage to blend in well with each other's financially-imbalanced, yet likeable, families. Sure, Vikram loves his wife, but he has made a monster out of his career goals, which the better half supports and harbours with all her heart. Even before the conflict arises, you can see an uber happy Taapsee making plans of a 'big blue door' at their future London apartment. Naturally, when the slap happens, her world turns over and even both sides of the family are divided on what is right, what is wrong and how much is too much, and the protocols of marriage in our Indian setting. Irrespective of various views thrown at her, Amrita is fiesty and resolves to channel the inner fighter in her and stands up for what she truly believes in — that even one slap is outrageous and not okay."

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/thappad/movie-review/74290604.cms

It was a brilliant movie that touched on something very less acknowledged. When people say domestic abuse/violence, their minds jump straight to some scumbag beating up their wives every other night.. most likely drunk. But the subtle power dynamics in supposedly normal looking married households with the man dominating every aspect of a woman's life is very less talked about and addressed.

I think English Vinglish also did a great job shedding some light there but Thappad took it to another level cuz the guy actually ends up hitting her in a very humiliating way in front of all the party guests and shows absolutely no remorse whatsoever... cuz it's so deeply ingrained in him that it was okay just because he was not in the "right" frame of mind and the woman is supposed to "understand" that he's otherwise a great guy... oh wait, but for those "bad" days when he might end up slapping his wife in the middle of a party and unabashedly strip her of every shred of her dignity in front of others.

Originally posted by: mintyblue

To me, the movie was less about domestic violence than about an awakening where the slap acted as a metaphor to jolt her out of her zombie-like existence. The movie can be frustrating for those who view it in terms of the one literal "slap" only because I've heard countless debates on how the slap was a one-off incident and in the heat of the moment. In truth, the slap was a metaphor for all that is wrong in patriarchal society, and the awakening was in terms of Amrita's symbolic rejection of those evils. It's a beautiful movie about the mysterious structures of power, and how insidious these really are.

Taapsee was really good as Amrita, and the supporting cast led by Geetika Vaidya, the guy who played the husband, the parents and Dia Mirza were all enablers who added to the pitch-perfect tonality of the movie.

Originally posted by: Muskie

Exactly my thoughts, the movie was not just about the slap, it was more about how ignorant she was. That slap indeed triggered her into thinking what was actually wrong on the life she was living

Exactly. And the movie has the most audacious narrative shift and growth in Amrita's character from that slap onwards. The slap was the turning-point in her life and in her thought process. It woke her up from a slumber where she was languishing in the margins, and gave her agency in figuring out where she stood in the scheme of things.

Originally posted by: mintyblue

Exactly. And the movie has the most audacious narrative shift and growth in Amrita's character from that slap onwards. The slap was the turning-point in her life and in her thought process. It woke her up from a slumber where she was languishing in the margins, and gave her agency in figuring out where she stood in the scheme of things.

I don't remember much of the movie before that inglorious slap cuz it was very humdrum and routine but I do remember that I found the guy's character domineering and obnoxious then too. 🙄 I don't know if the movie intended his character to be that way from the beginning but if that was intended, that prompts some more food for thought ...... which would be that the supposed "offhanded" slap didn't just come out of nowhere ... the telltale signs of disregard and lack of respect towards her were always there in the fabric of their relationship, problematic dynamics hidden in the details of their everyday activities.

Originally posted by: Mo0nLighting

I don't remember much of the movie before that inglorious slap cuz it was very humdrum and routine but I do remember that I found the guy's character domineering and obnoxious then too. 🙄 I don't know if the movie intended his character to be that way from the beginning but if that was intended, that prompts some more food for thought ...... which would be that the supposed "offhanded" slap didn't just come out of nowhere ... the telltale signs of disregard and lack of respect towards her were always there in the fabric of their relationship, problematic dynamics hidden in the details of their everyday activities.

Very well said. I think that's exactly the intention of the filmmaker. The slap definitely didn't come out of nowhere but out of the established fabric of their relationship and the patriarchy which enables this misogyny. But for Amrita, it was a rude awakening because she had internalised this misogyny until it was blatantly manifested through the slap. It was like a wake-up call. She sheds the burdens of patriarchy through her rejection of this gross and unconcealed manifestation of the imbalances of their relationship and the power dynamic between them. I agree with you to a great extent the guy was problematic from the beginning, but for Amrita the problematic aspects were glossed over in the name of "marriage" and "love" and "duty", which is true for so many women. It is only when he raises his hand on her she suffers a blow which goes beyond the physical and acts as a trigger for her metamorphosis from a naive, sheltered woman to a woman of the world.

The story is laden with symbolism. I also liked the beginning of the movie, which is all about the orange ice-cream and depicts a utopian setting. It is only when we dig deep that we realise how problematic this "utopia" is because it is fraught with tensions and fissures. All it takes is one slap to bring these tensions to the surface and for the cracks to show up, because the society is founded on the overarching principles of patriarchy which is all about subservience of women.

Taapsee's character arc is all about seeking authority over her own person once the slap shakes the very essence of her existence.