It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

Yo, there's no way for me to review this film without saying, take your *insert ethnicity + "ass" here* to see this film,like now. You have to see it in order to know what you're really messing with.

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

Curious country, that in which you can show how it sticks to women, but it blurs the bottles of alcohol and you put a sign in some moments that says, smoking is bad for your health.We all know how these countries are, watching this movie does not reveal anything new to me. I believe the movie, if I believe it. That's why I do not suspend it. Interesting, I'm not interested in anything. It is a film in which only sex matters, everything is sex, mainly sex and then cultural and economic poverty. And I think the end nobody believes it.At least he has not given us dances like these movies usually do, I appreciate that.He has a beautiful photograph. The trouble is that the story is supposed to be sad and photography can not be happier.The address, well at least it does not bore me. It does not get long and lasts a lot. I do not like the wheel or the camera, it's too simple, it does not take anything to tell the story.I do not know, but I think it could have been a better movie and better used.

Watched it last night @ sathyam cinemas. Wonderful movie with excellent acting and with a deep social care. This movie showcased every possible ways women are been dominated, not given any chance, importance women education in a most powerful way. Great acting, music and background score was good and deeply sink with the movie. Technically brilliant...But, these movies (I can compare this movie with visarani - Tamil movie base on a social message) failed to educate its audience and make them known about if any possibilities out there to fight against it. It's simply just like placing a hidden camera within someone's home and capturing all anti-social elements and visualizing it to audience. Its more likely an evidence of a crime happening right away. What to do with it?? Can it be played in a court and claim for a change in law or ask to make new laws? nothing... It just makes audience to feel sorry for the women & street boys (in visarani). Overall a good and a must watch. This movie will definitely make a good impact in Indian cinema.

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.

Kudos to Ajay Devgn for deciding to distribute this; otherwise, it was apparently lying in the cans for a bit. Watching the trailer made me expect something like the Bollywood version of Ridley Scott's iconic nouveau cult-classic, 'Thelma & Louise', & while the main titles kinda resembled that, the tale thereafter, stays grounded, & rooted in 1/2 locations in close proximity. A road movie this is not. I confess I was disappointed initially, but the material is strong enough for me to overcome that initial sense of having felt let down. The characters though, on paper, are caricatures of what one would expect in such a milieu, & it's a testament to the writing & directing talent of both Leena Yadav & Supratik Sen, that the content (along with the performances) rise above the predictability inherent in the material. While is this a move up or sorts for Leena, this is a major step-down, imho, for Supratik, whose 'Kaminey' & 'Kai Po Che' (from all accounts) were much superior, from both a writing & structural standpoint, when compared to this one. Many are calling this Apte's best performance to-date, & from my understanding, she, apparently has the toughest role. I have to disagree, since that would make light of what the writing/directing team were trying to accomplish (and, in my opinion, have pulled off). Which is, ensuring that all the 3 main leads are given plum roles, casting strong actresses in each of those roles, & ensuring they perform to the best of their respective ability. Tannishtta Chatterjee, Radhika Apte, Suveen Chawla, and, in my own perception, Lehar Khan, have been perfectly cast in characters that challenge their abilities, & each one of them has risen to the occasion, performing magnificently, both on their own, and, this is very important, while playing off each other's performances. Each & every scene where each of these characters is in the company of 1/more of the other, is a treat to behold, from observing great thespians interact. This is one of the best ensembles assembled, in recent memory. Surveen Chawla, as one third of the leads, has been typecast in her role, but is fantastic, to stay the least. She needs to display various layers in her performance, evolving/devolving over time & events, & is more than up to the task. This, to her, is definitely as companion-piece to her performance in Anurag Kashyap's masterpiece, 'Ugly'. Performance-wise, I also felt that there were strong supporting turns from Nancy Nisa Beso, Sumeet Vyas, Sayani Gupta (her post panchayat sequence is gut-wrenching, not just because of what is said, but from the look her characters gets from her previously- skeptical mother), Mahesh Balraj, Chandan Anand, Devendra & Daddi Pandey. Adil Hussain, on the other hand, seemed miscast to me, though the sequence he's a part of is beautiful (though the local censors have had their way with it, & many other sequences), though it actually ought to be creepy & weird as hell. This definitely makes for a stronger entry on writer/director Leena Yadav's résumé, compared to her earlier works, 'Shabd' & 'Teen Patti' (21). In fact, it might be a little unfair to compare this work to her earlier works, since this is perhaps miles ahead of either of those, deeper, & richer, not just in terms of content, but also in terms of characterization.The cinematography by Russell Carpenter (Ant-man, 21 - on which Leena's 'Teen Patti' was based, Titanic, True Lies, The Negotiator, Hard Target…) captures the on-location choices & work magnificently, & I've read a few reviews mentioning that his lensing keeps the audience at an arm's length, & that, in my perception, is grossly unfair. I felt caught up on all the action inherent in the flick, even the ones that were calculated to remain clichéed. The score, courtesy Hitesh Sonik, who also scored the background for great works such as Omkara, Hunterr, Paanch & Kaminey, among others, also is some of the best I've got to listen to in a while.The climax, & the finale, is mostly wishful thinking, & reminds us that this is a film after all, but, imho, is a much-needed respite from the all-pervasive darkness that inhabits our leading ladies' lives. Dare I hope for a sequel?No point watching it at the local cinema, though I did. Instead, I'd try watching a version that retained the makers' original vision + execution intact.