|
|
|
|
|
Laaga Chunari Mein Daag |
|
|
| Movie: | Laaga Chunari Mein Daag |
| Director: | Pradeep Sarkar |
| Star Cast: |
Jaya Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Konkona Sen Sharma, Abhishek Bachchan, Kunal Kapoor, Anupam Kher |
| Our Rating: | *** |
| Review By: | Anamica Saxena |
|
|
 There were times when women were treated as the weaker sex. They were not sent to schools and even if they were, financial constraints forced them to leave studies. They were expected to sit at home and learn household work. But during that phase of the Indian society there was no fight for the cause of women. But then there was a transformation and women were no longer the weaker sex. They garnered power and began moving shoulder-to-shoulder with the opposite sex. But just when we thought that the females are finally emerging, Pradeep Sarkar comes up with a film which goes back to an age where having a girl child was considered to be the biggest curse a family could live with. 'Laaga Chunari Mein Daag' brings with it an age old notion that boys are the supporters while girls can only pull a family down. Set in Varanasi the film talks about the sacrifice the elder child makes to sustain the family. Vaibhavari Sahay (Rani Mukherjee ) is a typical elder sibling. She quits studies to let her younger sister Shubhavari Sahay ( Konkona Sen Sharma) continue with her studies.
|
|
 The so-called head of the family, Shivshankar Sahay (Anupam Kher) stays at home and his work includes complaining and disagreeing with everything. Their mother Sabitri Sahay (Jaya Bachchan) sews clothes on a dilapidated sewing machine to keep the wheels of the family moving. Everything is hunky – dory on the surface inspite of financial troubles ready to eat up the family. Their haveli is under threat from an uncle and his son who have a desire to acquire this haveli at any cost. But there seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel. Their forlorn haveli is quite a spectacle and hence attracts a Mumbai film unit as a potential film set. In return, they would get a handsome sum of money. All seems to be moving well, and suddenly film unit leaves the city leaving the project incomplete. Adding to the woes, Shivshankar Sahay suffers a heart attack. Finding all doors shut Vaibhavari decides to go to Mumbai to find a job for herself. The girl finds it hard to adjust to the lifestyle of Mumbaikars. Her educational qualifications and her discomfort with the english language turns out to be her biggest hindrance. But one day she finds herself face-to-face with a harsh reality of a big city – a job in return for sexual favours. The shock is too big for her to handle and she decides to go back. But an impulsive reply from her mother makes her sleep with a stranger. From here she moves ahead and takes another decision which changes her entire life. She undergoes a complete transformation including her name. Vaibhavari becomes Natasha, a high class 'Escort'.
|
|
 Money starts pouring in and the family woes soon fade away. Natasha's secret is not known to anyone except her mother. But for how long? Shubhavari (Chutki) lands up at her place and now she has a bigger task – to keep her secret to herself. Shubhavari gets a job in a good company and she also makes a boyfriend, Vivaan (Kunal Kapoor). Meanwhile, Natasha meets Rohan Verma (Abhishek Bachchan) in Zurich and sparks fly. A love duet but they soon get on to their separate ways. On the other hand Chutki finds out her elder sister's secret and supports her. Both go back to their hometown for Chutki's marriage and Rohan, who turns out to be Vivaan's elder brother also reaches the place. What happens after that is quite evident and as expected of a bollywood film. The movie ends on a happy note but there is nothing new that for the audiences to witnesses. A sex worker ends up with a husband! Sounds difficult, but then it is a bollywood film. Go for this film to see a brilliant spectacular 'Varanasi'. And another thing which one can admire is the brilliant performance by Rani and Konkona. Jaya too shines in a small role while Anupam does not have much to do. The story is quite old but has been said in a different way. The music is good but not very exceptional. The movie though definitely is a one time watch.
|
|
| back to movie list |
Go to Top |
|
|
 |
|
