TLI Staff
New Delhi: Thappad, Bas itni si baat? Amrita, a simple housewife is asked by her family, lawyer and others in society. And her reply–Just a slap, par nahi maar sakta. (It’s just a slap, but he cannot do this)
Taapsee Pannu is back with yet another hard-hitting subject that would resonate with many women who face this kind of violence or worse on daily basis but don’t retaliate. Teaming up with her Mulk director Anubhav Sinha, as Amrita, Taapsee Pannu once again takes up a role (after Pink, Saand Ki Aankh, Game Over) that would encourage many women to speak out, and take action against atrocities committed against them.
As the title suggests, Taapsee plays a housewife Amrita who decides to divorce her husband after a single instance of domestic violence against her.
The trailer begins with Amrita being served a legal notice by her husband to return home while she outrightly refuses to do so.
A lawyer asks her the reason for the extreme step and when she finds out that it was just one slap, and not extra-marital affair or fights with in-laws, she is appalled. Taapsee, however, replies–Just a slap, par nahi maar sakta.
The trailer then delves into the events leading to the slap. Taapsee plays a perfect wife who cooks for her husband, takes care of all his needs, and is very loving. Then at a party, her husband has an argument with someone and when Taapsee intervenes, he slaps her in a fit of rage, leaving her shell-shocked.
It is not just one slap or single instance of domestic violence for Amrita, it is more than that. It exposes to her the reality of her marriage that her husband doesn’t respect her.
Her husband, played by Pavail Gulati urges her to return and apologises for his action, but Amrita won’t budge and says, “Tum company mein itne emotionally invested the you could not move on, maine poori life invest ki hai, kaise move on karoon.” (You could not move on from your company because you were emotionally invested, how can I move on when I had invested my entire life in you)
Her well-wishers and family fear she would be called a divorcee and advise her to overlook such things and endure a little bit, but she doesn’t change her decision.
A man says in the trailer: “When you are truly in love, thodi bahot mar peet to expression of love hai naa.” It reminds one of Kabir Singh maker Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s controversial statement.
“Usne mujhe maara pahli baar, nahi maar sakta, bas itni si baat hai aur meri petition bhi itni si hai,” (He hit me for the first time, but he cannot and my petition is just about that) Taapsee says clearly at one point, and elaborates, “pata hai us thappad se kya hua, mujhe wo saari unfair cheezen saaf saaf dikhne lagi jinhe main undekha karke move on karti jaa rahi thi.” (After he slapped me, I could clearly see all the unfair things he had done to me in the past)
Taapsee in an interview called Thappad the Pink of 2020. “It has a thought-provoking storyline and deals with a subject which must be addressed in our society. To put it in perspective, looking at what we aim to convey with our film, I can say Thappad is this year’s Pink.”
Thappad also stars Ram Kapoor, Ratna Pathak Shah, Dia Mirza, Kumud Mishra and Tanvi Azmi in pivotal roles. The film is set to hit the theatres on February 28.
Watch the trailer here: