Movie Review - Laaga Chunari Mein Daag

Cast- Rani Mukerji, Konkona Sen Sharma, Jaya Bachchan, Anupam Kher, Kunal Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan.
Director- Pradeep Sarkar

One look at the opening shot of the film set in Varanasi and you know you are in Pradeep Sarkar territory. With ‘Laaga Chunari Mein Daag’ the viewer gets a taste of some reality captured beautifully in some lovely frames coupled with some Yash Raj gloss and some Bollywood cliché.

Movie begin with the song ‘ Hum Toh aise hain bhayyia’ picturised on Rani and Konkona and that song conveys the fact that they are the sisters who share a very warm relationship with each other. Badki (Rani) and Chutki (Konkona) lead an innocent and carefree life in the holy city with their parents Jaya Bachchan and Anupam Kher.

There is a financial crisis in the family, since the patriarch is old and there is no earning son in the house. The family is also embroiled in a legal battle with the cunning older brother of the father (Tinnu Anand) who along with his violent natured son (Sushant Singh) is hell bent on getting them on the road.

The mother(Jaya Bachan) earns by stitching clothes,now it’s up to the elder daughter to venture out to the big bad city of Mumbai to save the family in distress.

That simple girl loss her innocence and how circumstances force her into high class prostitution is the crux of the story. What happens when her younger sister travels after her to Mumbai and more importantly how does her family react to this transition of hers?

Varanasi has been portrayed beautifully and the small town feel appears authentic. Rani’s struggle in Mumbai is very real and it will definitely touch you. The difficult city is filled with opportunists, and selfish people who can to go to any lengths to have their way.

Rani Mukerji is absolutely natural. She gives another splendour performance. Konkona is another good actor who suits the role and looks like Rani’s protected kid sister.

Jaya Bachchan & Anupam Kher done a complete justification to their role,but the heroes have nothing much to do. Abhishek only lends his star power and has very little to do, even lesser than Kunal Kapoor who appears post interval.

Hema Malini as a mujrawaali has a special appearance and the rest of the supporting cast(Suchitra Pillai, Taraana, Ninad Kamat, Harsh Chayya etc) are well cast. However Tinnu Anand and Sushant Singh come across as formula baddies.

Rani’s transition from simple small town to high society escort appeared rather quick ‘
she was duped into a one night stand with the promise of a job? The girl who didn’t even know what ‘lingerie’ is becomes sophisticated overnight, very comfortable with her high profile life.

Hell should have broken loose when the family finds out what world the elder daughter is into, but it seemed all of them were taking the serious issue a little too lightly. Blame it on cinematic liberty maybe.

Rani and Konkona are simplicity personified in the initial part and later their looks suit them as they shift base and join their respective professions.

The song ‘Hum to Aise Hai Bhaiyyan’ is the best. The other songs are fine. Producers Yash Raj continues experimenting doing films very different from what they are known for and this can be another one of that type.

This movie is a good blend of PradeepSarkar and YashRaj might just work for the film, regardless of all the cliché involved.

All in All is a good movie check it out , find that Will Rani be happily accepted and married. ?????????????????????????