Being Lost In the World Leads to Self-discovery. Review on Laapataa Ladies

India is full of contradictions and ‘Laapata Ladies’ strives to bring this aspect into the open in a funny and satirical way. That said, the film may not appeal to all as some sections of our complicated and convoluted society do not like to see its dark underbelly exposed.

‘Laapata Ladies’ is an off-beat film that tries hard to expose the deep-seated beliefs and myths of our society, and succeeds to a major extent. The story may not seem probable to some but it is definitely within the realms of possibility given the odd beliefs, superstitions, and unsubstantiated myths rampant in a closed rural Indians’ psyche. They seldom open their minds to new ideas or change.

This is the premise on which director Kiran Rao weaves her magic by subtly bringing out the trials and tribulations faced by two new brides as they are about to enter a new phase in their lives. Phool Kumari(Nitanshi Goel) and Pushpa(Pratibha Ratna) are the two new brides on whose travails the entire film is based. They are, literally, lost in a man’s world and do not know how to tackle the problems they are beset with simply because they’ve never been trained or educated enough to look at things objectively.

This is wife-swapping in total ignorance. A scenario, as I have mentioned before, is quite plausible in rural India. Of course, it could have been done with a little more finesse and in a more realistic way, but that is my opinion. Back to the story, the proud but dim-witted husband Deepak Kumar(Sparsh Shrivastav) is shocked to lose his legally wedded wife during the journey but only finds out after reaching home with someone else’s wife. He and his entire family are out of their wits and do not know what to do.

Finally, they decide to inform the police and seek their help in tracing the missing wife. Enter Ravi Kisen, a corrupt representative of the Indian Police. For him, every problem of the villagers is a god-gifted opportunity to make a fast buck and he seldom lets off. Oh yes, he does have a heart tucked somewhere in his chest, and a conscience that is as paradoxical as it can get. The point is, that even corrupt police officers have impeccable morals when it comes to helping damsels(lost, newly wedded brides) in distress. But, the opportunity to make a fast buck always remains.

This is not a film that is going to smash all box office records overnight. It’s the kind of movie that’s going to grow on you slowly, like good wine. It’s a film the entire family can sit together and watch without the usual embarrassment. Again, this is not the kind of film that action addicts will love. Neither it is slick and fast-paced. There are no scenic locations with lovers serenading each other and singing romantic songs with a battalion of dancers doing their gigs in the background. Despite not having expensive sets reminding you of a certain Sanjay Leela Bansali, you get hooked within the first ten minutes of the film. From then onwards, you are emotionally invested in Phool and Pushpa’s(incidentally, both mean the same) inward journey as much as their worldly travails.

This is a film you need to watch with an open mind, to appreciate it.

mbfarookh