The feminist father who supports is what we need in society. Kumud Mishra did a big job playing the role of Sachin Sandhu in Thappad. The 2020 film revolves around the life of Amrita, a housewife, and her struggle to regain her dignity as a woman.
The theme of this film is harassment in the household that has been normalized in our society to some extent, that women are told to bear it to save their marriage. The film was written by Mrunmayee Lagoo. While everyone opposed Amrita left her husband after he slapped him, Sachin Sandhu pushed his daughter to live in his own way without feeling guilty about his choice. Isn’t that what every girl wants?
Sachin Sandhu is a father who appreciates his child’s independence, even when worried about being sick about their welfare. The first response to Amrita who was beaten, was not to ‘reply to his honor’ or ask him to ‘accept the situation’. No, he was even worried about his mental condition.
When Amrita decided to submit a divorce and ask him to advice, he was not mollycoddle, blamed him, or offers high promises to Machismo.
Instead, he offered the advice that would guide him even when he might not be physically present to support him.
He is a husband who accepts his mistakes and consciously tries to bring change. When he realized that his wife let go of his dream for him, his reaction was a new change from how Bollywood usually responded to such a situation.
And he is a person who understands the limitations of the patriarchal community, but does not make a reason for that – but rather, he accepts challenges and does a little to change society.
The question he asked to his son -in -law, for hitting Amrita, was not rooted in poisonous masculinity. In fact, this is intended to reveal the root cause of the problem.
Effective changes only when we are every day, consciously, regardless of our age, experience, or sex, taking steps to open a patriarchal tendrils that seep in our behavior.
Like Sachin Sandhu, when he realized that he might have raised an independent princess, but he unconsciously failed, his wife in pursuing his dreams and sons in becoming a more respectful and understanding partner.
Of course, the handling of Kumud Mishra experts about layered characters like Sachin Sandhu, which allows the audience to not only deal with the character, but also take back the values he fought for. But Sachin Sandhu is also a very good character.