Lapachhapi - 2017

Introduction

Lapachhapi is a critically acclaimed Marathi horror film released in 2017, directed by Vishal Furia and produced by Jitendra Patil and Aroona Bhat. This chilling and atmospheric horror movie is set in the rural backdrop of Maharashtra and stars Pooja Sawant, Usha Naik, Vikram Gaikwad, and Anil Gawas in pivotal roles. The film's title, Lapachhapi, translates to Hide and Seek in English, which aptly describes the eerie and suspenseful nature of the movie.

The story revolves around a young couple, Neha and Tushar, who are expecting their first child. They are forced to take refuge in a secluded house in a remote village due to unforeseen circumstances. As they settle into their temporary home, they quickly realize that the village and its inhabitants harbor dark secrets and sinister intentions. The film delves into the deeply rooted social issues of female infanticide and superstition, which are prevalent in certain rural areas of India.

Lapachhapi is a unique and compelling take on the horror genre, as it blends traditional horror elements with a strong social message. The movie masterfully creates a sense of dread and unease through its eerie setting, haunting background score, and skillful cinematography. The stellar performances by the cast, particularly Pooja Sawant and Usha Naik, further enhance the film's overall impact.

With its thought-provoking narrative and spine-chilling atmosphere, Lapachhapi stands out as a groundbreaking Marathi film that pushes the boundaries of conventional horror storytelling while shedding light on disturbing social issues. This movie is a must-watch for horror enthusiasts and those seeking a gripping, socially relevant cinematic experience.

Table of Content 

• Details 

• Plot 

• Review

• Casting

• Character Analysis

• Behind the scenes

• Songs 

• Awards

Details 

Plot 

At the beginning of the movie, a woman who is very pregnant runs away from an unknown force that seems to be after her. But the force soon finds her, and she has no choice but to stab herself.

A young couple named Tushar (Vikram Gaikwad) and Neha (Pooja Sawant), who is eight months pregnant, take a trip to a remote town to get away from their angry debtors. They stay in an old couple's shabby house in the middle of a sugarcane field. Bhaurao (Anil Gawas) and Tulsabai (Usha Naik) own the house. At first, it seems like everything is fine in the quiet town, but soon the dark secrets of the family who lives in the house start to come out. Tulsa picks on and insults her daughter-in-law Lakshmi by always talking badly about her. She tells Neha the story of her younger brother-in-law's wife, Kaveri, who killed her own husband and her two young brothers-in-law.

Neha sees images of the three kids and hears a woman's voice coming from a tape recorder that the kids play with. She thinks that the woman is Kaveri, her dead daughter-in-law. The dreams get stronger as time goes on and, in time, they show her the truth: During a fight, Kaveri stabbed her husband by accident. Tulsabai saw the stabbing and got the other locals to set her on fire to kill her. The house was plagued by Kaveri's evil spirit, which drove the pregnant women who lived there crazy and made them stab themselves.

It turns out that Bhaurao and Tulsa often kill female babies and kill their daughters-in-law if they have a girl. The newborn girls are then killed by the couple's son Pratap Rao, who goes by the name Tushar. This is done because of a false belief that human sacrifice will bring a good harvest. Pratap Rao also tries to kill Neha, but the ghosts of the children, who appear in the flesh, lynch him. Neha leaves her home because she doesn't like it. She has a vision of the children, who lead her out of the sugarcane fields, which look like a maze. After that, she leaves the town and never comes back.

Review

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Critics have mostly liked the movie. They liked how it was a new take on the Indian horror genre, which is often overlooked. People liked what Pooja Sawant and Usha Naik did on stage. Marathi Movie World's Ullhas Shirke called it a scary movie with a game of lies. He said it was a well-made film from a technical point of view that horror movie fans are sure to be impressed.

Times of India's Mihir Bhanage gave it a score of 3.5 out of 5 and said it was by far the best Marathi horror film to date and something that can be seen as a start for Marathi filmmakers to explore this genre that hasn't been done much.Mansi Dutta, writing for Flickside, said that it was one of the few horror films that defied the bad reputation of the genre, and he praised the director for choosing eerie places to film. 

Ganesh Matkari of Pune Mirror gave it full marks for effort, even though the film has its share of problems and loses its way at times.16: In an article for MarathiStars.com, Abhay Salvi said that Lapachhapi is a scary movie that could have been much better.A review in Divya Marathi said that it was a great mix of scary and suspenseful parts.

Casting

• Pooja Sawant as Neha

• Usha Naik as Tulsabai

• Vikram Gaikwad as Tushar

• Anil Gawas as Bhaurao

• Hridaynath Rane

• Aparna Ambawane

• Dhanashree Khandkar

Character Analysis 

Lapachhapi is a Marathi horror film that features a small yet significant group of characters who contribute to the eerie and suspenseful atmosphere of the movie. Here's a character analysis of the main characters in the film:

1. Neha (Pooja Sawant): Neha is a young, pregnant woman who is forced to take shelter in a remote village with her husband, Tushar. She is a kind, loving, and strong-willed woman who is determined to protect her unborn child. As she starts to uncover the dark secrets of the village, Neha's character evolves from a vulnerable and frightened woman to a brave and resourceful one, fighting against the sinister forces that threaten her family.

2. Tushar (Vikram Gaikwad): Tushar is Neha's husband and a loving, supportive partner. He is initially skeptical of the strange occurrences in the village, but as the story unfolds, he becomes more aware of the danger that surrounds them. Tushar's character showcases the struggle of a man trying to protect his family while grappling with the harsh realities of the world.

3. Tulsi (Usha Naik): Tulsi is an elderly woman who lives in the village and offers shelter to Neha and Tushar. She appears to be a kind and caring individual but hides a dark secret that gradually comes to light. Her character is complex and intriguing, as she embodies the duality of human nature - the capacity for both love and cruelty.

4. Villagers: The villagers in Lapachhapi play a crucial role in creating the eerie atmosphere of the film. They are mysterious, enigmatic, and seem to be hiding something sinister. Their actions and behavior contribute to the growing sense of dread and unease that permeates the movie.

In Lapachhapi, the characters are well-developed and integral to the film's narrative. They contribute to the movie's suspense and horror while also highlighting the social issues of female infanticide and superstition. The character development and dynamics between the main characters, particularly Neha and Tulsi, add depth and complexity to the story, making Lapachhapi a haunting and memorable cinematic experience.

Behind the scenes

This was Furia's first time directing a movie. Before it came out on July 14, the movie was shown for the first time at film events all over the world. The process of writing the script for Furia began in 2013 and ended in 2014. Furia said that finding a director took him almost a year.

Songs 

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The album for the movie only had two songs, and Zed Music put it out in July of 2017. Utkarsh Dhotekar, Tony Deori Basumatary, Shreyas Puranik, and Ranjan Patnaik worked together to make the music. The song Ek Khel Lapachhapi Cha was written by Swayeshree Shashin. It was first sung by Nandini Borkar, but Rekha Bhardwaj later recorded it. Dil Khulas, the other song, was sung by Vaishali Samant.

Awards

Lapachhapi is a groundbreaking Marathi horror film that offers a chilling and suspenseful cinematic experience while addressing critical social issues like female infanticide and superstition. The movie's eerie atmosphere, haunting music, and skillful cinematography, along with the strong performances by the cast, make it a must-watch for horror enthusiasts and those seeking a thought-provoking narrative. Director Vishal Furia has successfully crafted a film that transcends the conventional horror genre, blending traditional horror elements with a powerful social message. Lapachhapi leaves a lasting impact on the audience and serves as a testament to the potential of Marathi cinema in exploring new and compelling storytelling avenues.