“Laapataa Ladies,” the highly-anticipated second directorial venture of acclaimed filmmaker Kiran Rao, following a 13-year hiatus, debuted to critical acclaim in March. Despite the lackluster box office results, the film found renewed vigor upon its Netflix release last month. Sneha Desai, the creative mind behind the screenplay and dialogues of this cinematic endeavor, has taken center stage with her storytelling prowess. The narrative, originally conceived by Biplab Goswami, paints a vivid picture of the journey of each character, each drawing admiration and love from audiences world over.
Sneha Desai’s recent conversation with mid-day.com shed light on the intricacies of character development and the joys of seeing written work come alive on screen. It was a moment of triumph, seeing the essence of scriptwriting being embraced and celebrated by the masses. As social media buzzes with accolades directed toward individual facets of “Laapataa Ladies,” Desai has been avidly monitoring online discussions and reveling in the film’s enthusiastic reception.
The character of Manju Mai, portrayed by the seasoned actress Chhaya Kadam, stands out and seizes the viewer’s attention with her pivotal influence on Phool Kumari’s naive and unassuming disposition. Interestingly enough, this character was not part of the original storyline but emerged during the scriptwriting process as Desai, along with her team, realized the necessity of having a figure that represented a bridge between the vulnerable natures of the two main women characters, Phool and Jaya. The latter possessed a semblance of strength and autonomy, but it was Manju Mai who would transcend them both with her depth of experience and feminist wisdom, albeit shaded with a hint of cynicism that she hopes will not be passed down the generational line. Desai credits director Kiran Rao for envisioning the character, which she sculpted further to integrate seamlessly within the film’s fabric.
Deepak, enacted with finesse by Sparsh Shrivastava, emerges as an unlikely standout character despite being painted as the least consequential on paper. Grieving for his missing wife, Deepak’s portrayal as plagued with concern for Phool and Jaya offers a lens into the harrowingly indifferent treatment of their plight by local law enforcement. Where the script limited him to only an anxious bystander, Sparsh’s portrayal elevated Deepak to resonate profoundly with the audience. Desai praised the actor for transforming a flat character into someone who, despite not having a conventional love story with Phool, exuded profound love and care.
Deepak’s character, Desai reflects, is the emblem of good and supportive men we find in our lives, those who do not perpetuate the cycle of victimizing women. Instead, he represents the idea that women are not merely victims of malevolence but also of complex circumstances, their individual contemplations, and at times their overanalysis. In celebrating Deepak, Desai pays homage to those who offer their unconditional support and stand firm in their integrity and sincerity of heart.
Launched under the banner of Aamir Khan’s production house, “Laapataa Ladies” initially faced the hurdle of box office performance not mirroring the overflowing critical praise. However, its revival on Netflix has ignited a resurgence of interest, propelling the film into the limelight once more. For Sneha Desai, witnessing the heartfelt response to both the film in general and the depth of its characters in particular is nothing short of rewarding.
The film—”Laapataa Ladies”—is, at its core, a journey of self-discovery embarked upon by two lost brides in a world not always kind or fair. Within its frames, Sneha Desai’s words come to life, tracing intricate contours of human emotion, and through Kiran Rao’s deft direction, providing figures like Manju Mai and Deepak with a stage to touch and transform the audience, one scene at a time.
