Parched

It's a slow burn as a film. And then without you realising it the film has suddenly entered your heart. And makes its place there. Moments in each woman's story are suddenly so evocative. And moments between them as women. So much woman power. Beautifully shot. Beautifully enacted. Beautifully directed.

Kudos to director and whole team for making this excellent and eye opener movie Although I am from India and particularly North and frequently hear news stories of khaap panchayat wrongdoings etc. but still it's shocking to me to imagine things are still such bad in most rural parts when other part of globe is advancing to it peak. Neena Yadav and its crew have done wonderful job to bring extreme reality and low thinking of this men dominated rotten society The four women who set themselves free in different ways to bring story to happy ending does try to cover all roles of women they play in society to have maximum impact and also bring ray of hope to change things and move towards good. I remember last movie which I watched similar to this was Matrobhoomi which shake me from inside and compelled me to share thoughts and join to some movement to uplift present state of women's plight . Everyone should be allowed to choose their life as they want and things should never be forced on each other.

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.

A very raw look at gender norms in rural Indian society, PARCHED takes an unapologetic stance that women should choose their own destinies. The four women, and their intersecting stories, are engaging and intriguing. And there are both good and bad male figures in their lives. But this is no feel-good Bollywood romcom either, it's a very real and heartfelt look at life. The film keeps the viewer on the edge of his or her seat, wondering where the story is going next, because the twists in the plot are far from predictable. I would highly recommend it to anyone with a taste for edgy and eye-opening cinema. My rating? 10 out of 10.

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.