La saison des femmes

It's fantastic to see a realistic, well-rounded and empathetic portrayal of Indian women. It really is wonderful to see a film centred on the relationships between the female characters from this culture so far from many of us. We learn about the expectations put on them and the hypocrisy of a patriarchal society they're learning to free themselves from. There were no paragons of virtue or other exhausted stereotypes here but real women surviving together with much humour and warmth alongside just as much cruelty and fear. What a joy to have something so raw come from the home of Bollywood. I felt emotionally drained but triumphant at the end of this movie. Bravo, bravo, bravo. Everyone involved should be proud.

Well Done, Leena and all girls, very good movie an eye opening for our general audience who has taboo on women freedom. Girls have every right to fulfil their dreams in our society. Thank god movies like that are trying to change its face, its a rough and hard road ahead. Thats actually a embarrassing face of most Indian men. Very good script and dialogue, new actors have done well. Director Leena Yadav , Hats off to you. Plz make more movies like this which can help the society.This movie covers the really basics of India rural lifestyle of women, shown women's true spirit, which is a much needed in this time. Radhika Apte has done very well, trying to break the shell of bollywood, which is always under redtape, if try to show homosexuality or women freedom.Overall movie is a good coverage of so many troubled factors which are ignored in mostly high yield production movies. This might not be a big hit in India but a good mile stone for all cast & crew.

PARCHED REVIEW - I was never interested to watch this film, in fact i never heard about this Film before but suddenly some leak news made waves on social media and i had to download film and watch. And now after watching it i'm speechless, i don't have words to appreciate Film but still i am going to write few words so that Real Cinema Lovers won't miss a gem.

Acting - Powerpacked ! The film looks so realistic and its characters looks so real that we actually feel their Pain, Happiness and everything. Surely Best Performance of all Actresses in Film especially Radhika Apte shows her Standard actually raises it and Surween Chawla shines in Bindass Attitude.

Screenplay - Marvellous ! It never looked stretched or bored despite being Realistic and Social msg film. Some crispy and vulgar scenes to entertain masses are also there. Classes have everything to taste.

Music - Not Impressive ! But Background Score definitely works as shiner for some Serious and Meaningful scenes.

Dialogues - Hilarious ! Few will make you laugh, few will make you think and some might harass you due to its Vulgarity.

Cinematography - Fantastic ! We see Completely Realistic and real Village in Film and credit goes to Cinematographer. Even some scenes which have not been shot in Village/Set (Caves/Sand) looks Real and are eye pleasing.

Direction - Speechless ! Yes you read it right, i don't know who was Leena Yadav but now i will remember this name forever just because of this 1 Masterpiece. Direction is Highly Realistic so does its Vulgar so you have to prepare yourself to watch this Film not as a Regular Bollywood Film but as a Highly Realistic Art Cinema. Full Marks to Director and 1 Salute from me.

Final Words - Almost a Masterpiece ! Hats Off, Kudos and Salute to makers for making a Film like Parched in India. You need guts to make Art Film in Bollywood which is actually surviving on Useless Commercial Masala Entertainers but Ajay Devgn had guts and he tried it and he Won it. I watched Unrated Version so you might miss some Vulgar and Sex scenes due to Censore Cuts. Few changes would have made this Film a Masterpiece but i think it fell short and became a Classic. Quality Cinema Lovers should not miss Parched at any cost. I'm going with 8/10 Stars, Go for it to have some memorable and Realistic Cinematic Experience.

Parched is a sensitive – but very watchable – female-centric film which explores the lives of 3 Rajasthani village ladies who live in a sexually repressed, patriarchal & abusive society. The film explores their frustrations over not having normal lives and the desire to live life on their terms.

The title "Parched" refers to the lives of the 3 ladies which is as "parched" as the arid desert they are living on.

MERITS of Parched

1 – A very sensible & sensitive story that is well-executed (you will NEVER feel bored unless you're a MCP moron)

2 – The build-up and pacing of the film is just perfect

3 – The dialogues (in Rajasthani accent) are well-written, incisive, witty and puts the message across pointedly

3 – Parched is bold and does not shy away from bit of nudity and abusive words (which is necessary keeping in mind the rustic nature of the characters)

4 – All the 3 actresses (Radhika Apta, Surveen Chawla & Tannishtha Chatterjee) have acted convincingly with the right expressions, accent and dialogue delivery.

You will love to see the uninhibited and friendly interactions between them (esp., the sexual banters). Surveen's totally bindass & uninhibited character is a treat to watch!

5 – Brilliant cinematography by Russell Carpenter ("Titanic" fame)

6 - For MCP's out there, you will be taught a lesson - "Pehlae Insaan baanna seekh uske baad Mard." (told by Tannishtha to her son Gulab)

7 - Loved hearing the background music.

DEMERITS of Parched

1 – Tannishtha regularly talking to an unknown man calling himself "Shahrukh Khan" does not make any sense. That man plays no real role in her life (or in the film).

2 – The ending is a touch "escapist" in which it is shown that the ladies decide to live the village and go to the city to start a new life. (It'd have been intelligent to show them living lives on their own terms - and in the village itself)

3 – Kishan is shown as a nice,decent man. But, unfortunately, his good-natured attitude is not properly used in the film.

I'd have been happy if he were shown to understand the predicament of the 3 ladies and did some good for them. But no!

4 – I cannot understand the outburst of Surveen Chawla towards Chandan Anand ("Rajesh") when he told her about his plans to take her to the city for more profitable prostitution. Surveen accused him of wanting to be a pimp and take advantage of her.

Fact is, Surveen is already a prostitute and does not give any indication of hating the trade. So her outburst is totally misplaced!

PS:

1 - Radhika Apte is really flowering into a serious actress. I just love the films she is choosing to act in. They all are very meaningful & watchable ones.

Wishing her all the best for the future!

2 - After celebrating Pink we are celebrating Parched!

When was the last time we saw 2 great female-centric movies in a single year? When?

As a man, I'd love to see such female-centric films more and more.

There is only one thing that makes a woman glow, even amid the vibrant colors, sparkling jewelry, moonlight swims, romances, comfort of friends, wind in her hair and lights of a fair at night. It has to do with her repressed dreams. In a desert landscape where the status quo vastly favors men, she thirsts in more ways than one. Everyone, men and women, are in a hurry to grow and glow, yet they often fail to be human first. A single mom, abused wife, erotic dancer, child-bride and newly arrived immigrant attempt to rise above their fears and kindle joy in their lives.

Academy Award winning cinematographer Russell Carpenter (Titanic) brings beautiful images to bear in support of the characters and their poignant stories. The remarkable stories of common women take the spotlight. While the stories are pieced together a little awkwardly and the acting is a bit shaky, the stories of these fascinating women are wonderful to witness. They are not predictable. Each is enthralling. Seen at the 2016 Miami International Film Festival.