Chhapaak: STORY OF TRAUMA AND TRIUMPH
CHHAPAAK
The Film Chhapaak is based on the life of acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal, who was attacked by the Jihaadi Nadeem Khan with the help of her muslim female friend. The trailer of Chhapaak dropped online. The internet cannot get over Deepika Padukone’s radical transformation as an acid attack survivor. Deepika has pushed the boundaries not just in terms of the prosthetics, but her powerful performance as well. In the trailer itself, the actress has been able to effectively portray misery, pain, but also strength, hope, and resilience.
The film is depicting a true sense of our bad society(Acid Attack) by nullifying other critical issue(Love Jihaad).
Chhapaak takes you through the phases of victim shaming, accusation and court trial in a girl’s life. We see the insensitivity a survivor has to deal with when questioned about a heinous crime like this. You are left empathetic for Malti within the first few seconds itself.
CHHAPAAK Castings:
The Chhapaak movie is about:
The movie looks acid violence through the lens of survivor Laxmi Agarwal. With her face irreparably burnt, she undergoes medico-social rehabilitation, a prolonged string of facial surgeries, a legal battle against her attacker and a constant struggle to become economically independent.
Laxmi conjointly became a campaigner for Stop Acid Attacks, supported by Alok Dixit and Ashish Shukla.
As Laxmi became the voice of acid attack survivors, she was honored by former first woman Michelle Obama with the International Women of Courage Award. She was given the award for her courageous and selfless advocation for justice and human rights.
The trials and triumphs of Malti, an acid attack survivor. From the investigation of the attack to the court proceedings, the medical treatment to the emotional healing.
This film is relevant in today’s times given the situation of women in the country right now. Through her story, the film makes an attempt to understand the on-ground consequences of surviving an acid attack in India, the medico-legal-social state of affairs that transpires after the acid has been hurled and the face is irreparably burnt.
Story of Chhapaak: The Real Human Spirit:
She was born to a middle-class family in Delhi. In 2005. On her way to a book shop near Khan Market, where Laxmi was working as an assistant, a stalker and a man twice her age, threw a beer bottle loaded with acid on her for rejecting his advances. Ever since this horrific attack, she’s had to undergo multiple surgeries.
After the attack, Laxmi decided to carry out an extensive campaign against the sale of acid in India and offering affordable treatment to survivors. She credits her father for inspiring her to file a Public Interest Litigation in the Supreme Court a year after the attack alongside another survivor Rupa.
The petition was seeking the passage of a new law or amendments to the existing provisions in the Indian Penal Code, Indian Evidence Act and Criminal Procedure Code to deal with acid attacks, besides framing of rules for compensation to survivors. She also sought a complete ban on the sale of acid across the country citing the number of such horrific attacks.
In July 2013, Laxmi won her battle in court when it issued a set of new restrictions on the sale of acid that included a ban on sale to minors and furnishing a photo identity card before buying it, among other such restrictions.
The same year, Laxmi met Alok Dixit a journalist and the founder of the Stop Acid Attack campaign. They fell in love, but instead of getting married, the couple decided to live-in together, challenging the society for their attitude of judging a bride by her looks. Their child, Pihu, was born on March 25, 2015.
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Soon after their daughter was born, the couple separated due to personal differences. Although Laxmi had the custody of the child, her income streams started drying up and the cost of raising Pihu took a toll. Salary from the non-profits stopped once she left them on account of differences with Dixit who didn’t do much to support Laxmi and her child, citing the lack of money.
When news of her plight became public, aid and assistance came from all over and today, celebrities, activists from across the nation are in awe of her strength and courage and are doing everything to support her.
Save a Life: Know What to Do in the Event of an Acid Attack
Section 357C of Indian Penal Code makes it mandatory for hospitals – whether public or private – to provide free of cost treatment to the victim. But if immediate help is far, it’s important to act quickly to minimize the damage that can be caused by the chemical burn.
Below is some advice one can follow if such an incident occurs – to avoid serious facial injuries.
1) To wash the affected area with as much water as you can. This will disperse the chemical and stop the burning. Make sure the water isn’t dirty.
2) Meanwhile, alert an ambulance or ask someone in the vicinity to call one to the area.
3) Remove any jewelry or clothing that’s come in contact with the acid in the affected area.
4) If the eyes have come in contact with the acid, make sure the victim doesn’t touch them as it will worsen the situation and also burn their hands while rubbing their eyes.
5) If possible, wrap the affected area loosely with a sterilized gauze as it will stop dirt from entering.
Once the victim is being treated in the hospital, it is important to ensure a strict level of hygiene. An acid burn can get infected very easily, so make sure the room and washroom have been cleaned and the food containers are sterilized.
Even with the dressing, it needs to be ensured that the burns don’t come in contact with each other.
Prevention Of Acid Attacks & Rehabilitation Of Acid Attack Bill, 2017
According to this bill, no person shall be allowed to sell or deliver or transport acid without keeping a record of his proper identity, quantity of acid and the purpose for which the acid is to be used.
The Bill proposes to make the following provisions:-
1. To provide for classification of acid on the basis of its intensity and concentration and to prevent sale of acid of higher concentration for day-to-day purposes.
2. To provide that acid shall not be sold without verifying the identity of the buyer and the purpose of its use.
3. To provide that proper records of stock, sales, etc. of acid shall be maintained by dealers.
4. To make unregulated sale of acid is an offense punishable with six months imprisonment and fine.
5. To provide that acid attack victims shall be treated as persons with disabilities for the purposes of availing benefits under various schemes of the Governments.
6. To increase the maximum quantum of punishment for acid attack under section 326B of the IPC to imprisonment for 10 years.
7. To stipulate the minimum amount of compensation for acid attack victims as Rs 10,00,000\- in cases of grievous hurt and Rs. 3,00,000/- in other cases or such higher amount as may be specified.
8. To provide monthly allowance to certain victims of acid attacks; and
9. To provide that any cosmetic surgeries shall be treated as medical treatment in case of acid attack victims.
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