Tapassi

By Susmita Sameera



Tapassi (Ammayra Goswami) follows the turbulent journey of a young woman determined to make a name for herself in the glamorous worlds of fashion and film. Having lost both her parents, Tapassi shoulders the responsibility of her younger sister, who is still in college. With a burning ambition to succeed, she joins a fashion agency called Fashion Square, where she is quickly exposed to a world of alcohol, smoking, and wild parties—courtesy of her boss and his secretary.



Caught up in her pursuit of fame, Tapassi descends into drug use and, eventually, prostitution. Her life spirals into chaos. A glimmer of hope appears when she crosses paths with two struggling filmmakers, Rajesh and Rajeev, who, unaware of her past, try to support her.



Eventually, she finds guidance under Professor (Ravichandran), a psychology teacher and author who becomes her mentor and attempts to steer her back onto the right path. His character represents the idea that no matter how dark the past, it’s never too late to turn one’s life around.



Tapassi is a grim, cautionary tale about the price of blind ambition and the vulnerability of youth in an exploitative industry. It doesn't shy away from brutal moments—ranging from a hit-and-run incident after a party to a horrific gang rape in the guise of sex work—highlighting the harsh realities faced by young aspirants chasing fame at any cost.



However, while the subject matter is undeniably hard-hitting, the execution falls short. Tapassi’s continued pattern of self-destructive choices undermines her credibility and makes it difficult for the audience to connect with her journey. Ravichandran’s role as the professor, though positioned as significant, is limited in scope and lacks depth, offering little for the actor to work with. Vinaya Prasad appears briefly in a minor role as a doctor.



Director Spencer Matthew takes on multiple roles—cinematography, art direction, story, screenplay, and dialogue but the film ultimately lacks emotional depth, strong performances, and technical finesse. While Tapassi aims to be a tale of second chances and the dark side of misguided ambition, it fails to leave a lasting impact.