Why the world of women sex workers functions only through men and why they themselves cannot run it, also looking after their security on their own is the novel concept of TIKLI AND LAXMI BOMB directed by Aditya Kripalani based on his own book.
The protagonists are Mumbai sex workers who decide to get rid-off the middlemen in their trade forming their own system/co-operative wherein help can also arrive if required and the two girls leading them all are known as Tikli and Laxmi Bomb. The idea is certainly fresh and interesting raising the expectations and reading about it one surely becomes eager to see something highly engrossing and explosive also involving the clash with the male-ego.
Reportedly, just perfectly suiting its theme, the film has also been made with all women leading the major technical departments as cinematography, costumes, art direction, editing and assistant direction becoming a rare women-oriented production. And therefore it doesn’t have the routine treatment, unnecessary focusing or gazing at the woman’s body. In fact the film deserves a strong mention for that reason too along with its theme in the otherwise male dominated film world (both on and off the screen).
Having said that, as a film it turns out to be a completely different project, where the makers remain more interested in presenting it in a typical documentary form, perhaps only to impress and win over the festival audience. As a result the execution keeps struggling to exploit the novel premise in an engrossing or impactful manner. Plus, it also more or less remains quite loud and tiresome on screen, despite creating the right environment, using the right road lingo and some fine performances from the cast emoting at real locations.
So if its basic premise sounds exciting, the same cannot be said about the 150 minute (painfully) long film which sadly remains an overindulging, off-beat kind of largely ineffective venture catering to a very smaller section of viewers. The film possibly would make you think for a while but it is not the one that stays with you for long as something highly thought-provoking or meaningful.
Rating : 2.5 / 5
Written & Directed by Aditya Kripalani.
Starring : Chirangada Chakraborty, Vibhawari Deshpande, Ajay Mahendru, Kamil Shaikh and more.
(Note : At the time of posting this write-up the film could be seen at Netflix)
