Parched 2016

In the arid expanse of rural Gujarat, India, four tenacious women courageously confront the stifling grip of societal customs and traditions that enforce oppression. Their lives intersect as they navigate the burdens of Rani, a widow striving to make ends meet; Lajjo, ensnared in a tormenting marriage to an alcoholic husband named Manoj; Bijli, an alluring dancer whose traveling troupe offers ephemeral joy; and Janki, a young girl thrust into a child marriage at the behest of her own family. Together, they are confronted with the harsh realities that their village imposes on them.

Rani’s life takes a tumultuous turn as she marries her teenage son, Gulab, to the child bride Janki, in the hope that this union will provide comfort to her aging mother-in-law. Yet, Gulab prefers reckless escapades with sex workers and his gang of friends over stepping into responsible adulthood. Lajjo, Rani’s trusted confidante, endures both physical and emotional torment from Manoj, who constantly demeans her for her inability to conceive.

On a journey to visit Janki in a nearby village, Rani and Lajjo find themselves captivated by Bijli, whose mesmerizing dance performances bring momentary relief from their monotonous lives. As they become embroiled in a complex web of relationships, an unexpected flirtation emerges from a phone call, initially thought to be a wrong number.

The village’s social fabric begins to fray when the local Gram Panchayat assembles to deliberate crucial matters. Their first concern is the case of Champa, a young woman fleeing an abusive husband, seeking solace with her family. Despite her courageous testimony about her in-laws’ heinous acts, the Panchayat dismisses her pleas for safety and insists she return home.

Kishan, a beacon of hope and entrepreneurship, employs local women for craft and handloom work, gaining their respect and admiration while securing a profitable contract. The women’s newfound prosperity at the Panchayat stirs resentment among some men, including Gulab, who feels threatened by Kishan’s efforts to empower the women and lift them from their subjugation.

In this blistering desert setting, Rani, Lajjo, Janki, and Bijli must devise ways to resist the oppressive patriarchal society that aims to silence their voices. As their struggles intertwine, the stark realities of a world dominated by tradition and tyranny come to light.

Within this troubled village, a toxic environment pervades every encounter between men and women. Gulab, a patriarch plagued by anger issues, maintains control over his household through intimidation, directing his frustrations toward his wife Janki through horrific acts of violence. Meanwhile, Bijli endures her own struggles as a sex worker, threatened with replacement by a younger rival named Rekha. The pressures mount when Gulab and his friends unleash their rage on Kishan, vandalizing his handicrafts and brutally beating him, ultimately forcing Kishan’s family to escape in search of a better life.

Amidst this escalating tension, Bijli’s plight intensifies as she fears being overshadowed by Rekha, prompting her to venture to a local fort alongside Rani and Lajjo. Here, Lajjo confronts the painful truth about her husband’s infidelity, leading her to seek solace in Bijli’s lover, which surprisingly results in pregnancy. However, Bijli’s return to a drastically altered dance venue, now occupied by Rekha, subjects her to degrading circumstances, pushing her to perform traumatic acts to survive.

Rani, too, grapples with her own turmoil as she discovers Gulab has siphoned her last savings. In a fight for her dignity, she confronts him, which results in Gulab attacking Janki. Driven by righteous fury, Rani takes decisive action by selling her home to clear her debts and liberates Janki from her unhappy marriage, allowing her a chance at pursuing her education and reuniting with her childhood love.

Lajjo’s startling realization about her husband leads to a violent confrontation, culminating in Manoj’s accidental fall into a fire, leaving him grievously hurt. Faced with yet another calamity, Rani, Lajjo, and Bijli unite in defiance, declaring they have had enough of patriarchal suppression. Together, they embark on a journey to escape their dismal existence, in search of a brighter, unburdened future free from the chains of tradition and societal pressures.