Sayoojya Ramesh

We often don't watch films that linger in our minds days after we've watched it. Chamkila has been one such film. I watched it two days back and I cannot seem to get it out my head. It's been a while since a movie has made me feel this way. And so I had to write about it. The movie revolves around the life of a famous singer from Punjab named Amar Singh Chamkila. Who was widely criticized for writing filthy and vulgar songs. Which were also ironically the reason behind his popularity. Unlike other films where we get to see the real pictures and videos only at the end, here we are seeing both the real and reel Chamkila together. Those transitions are seamless and beautiful. While witnessing his journey, you are bound to deal with an inner conflict, whether to root for the character or not. But you end up doing the former because of his courage and the unstoppable love that has he has for his art. Like any other Imtiaz Ali movie, Chamkila also makes us question a lot of things. Are we really being our true selves? Or do we pretend to be people who we aren't. And most importantly do we have the authority to decide if someone's on a moral low ground?

Chhapaak is one of the best Bollywood movies, that I've watched in the recent times. As always, Meghna Gulzar has managed to churn a masterpiece out of a real heart wrenching story. Chhapaak is definitely not an easy watch, I watched it yesterday and I am sure it is going to linger in my head for a few days. It makes you feel everything that Laxmi and so many other beautiful women have gone through. It makes you wonder how can a human being ruin someone's life in an instant. The name Chhapaak symbolizes how fleeting that moment is. When you hear "Chhapaak se pehchan le gaya" in Arijit Singh's voice, it leaves you in tears. The cast is amazing, right from Deepika Padukone to Vikrant Massey to Madhurjeet Sarghi, everyone have delivered a wonderful performance. By the end of the movie you are left with nothing but hope and prayers for a better world where women are safe and men understand consent.