Laaga Chunari Mein Daag
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| Laaga Chunari Mein Daag - Journey Of A Woman | |
|---|---|
| Image:Laaga Chunari Mein Daag Poster.jpg Movie poster for Laaga Chunari Mein Daag | |
| Directed by | Pradeep Sarkar |
| Produced by | Yash Chopra Aditya Chopra Pradeep Sarkar |
| Written by | Pradeep Sarkar |
| Starring | Jaya Bachchan Rani Mukerji Konkona Sen Sharma Abhishek Bachchan Kunal Kapoor Anupam Kher |
| Music by | Shantanu Moitra |
| Distributed by | Yash Raj Films |
| Release date(s) | October 12, 2007 |
| Running time | 136 min |
| Language | Hindi |
Laaga Chunari Mein Daag - Journey Of A Woman (English: My Veil is Stained) is a Bollywood film released on October 12, 2007. The film is directed by Pradeep Sarkar who earlier directed the critically acclaimed film Parineeta (2005) and will be produced by Aditya Chopra. This is Sarkar's first film with the Yash Raj Films banner. The film stars Jaya Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Konkona Sen Sharma, Kunal Kapoor and Anupam Kher with an extended special appearance by Abhishek Bachchan and a special appearance by Hema Malini.
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[edit] Synopsis
Badki (a.k.a. Vibha in English-subtitled version) (Rani Mukerji) and Chutki (Konkona Sen Sharma) are the daughters of Shivshankar Sahay (Anupam Kher) and Sabitri (Jaya Bachchan). They live together on the banks of the Ganga (Ganges River) in Banaras. Life is sweet and fun-filled for the two, though the family is relatively poor. Badki especially is protective of her family and is determined to make sure Chutki completes her education.
As things go from bad to worse, Badki goes to Mumbai to find work. After numerous obstacles and feeling desperate and out of options, she makes herself over into the exclusive call girl "Natasha". Telling her family she is an event planner and sending them money for her father's medicines and to keep the family home from being foreclosed on, Badki hides her secret. Chutki completes her MBA and, unannounced, comes to live with Badki in Mumbai. The younger sister becomes a trainee at the agency Matrix Advertising, and Chutki falls in love with her boss, creative director Vivaan (Kunal Kapoor). Badki finds love in attorney Rohan (Abhishek Bachchan), but leaves him, afraid that he would be disgusted by her profession. Chukti inadvertently discovers what Badki does for a living, and as Chukti's wedding day approaches, the sisters and their family must face the secrets and lies that are exposed.
[edit] Production
The film went through a cast change, with Saif Ali Khan originally approached for the role that went to Abhishek Bachchan. [1] and Vidya Balan earlier offered the role that went to Konkona Sen Sharma. This is Jaya Bachchan's first film since Nikhil Advani's Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003).
The production of the film gathered some controversy as a lighting crew-member drowned in the Ganga River. [2] and during a shooting session in Varanasi, bodyguards of Rani Mukerji started beating media persons and fans, chasing them away from the shooting location. A political and media storm followed, as various groups insisted that Mukerji should have stopped the security guards. The actress then apologized to the media, though claiming the media were trying to get too close to both her and Konkona Sen Sharma.[3] Some scenes involving Mukerji and Bachchan were shot in Bern, Switzerland and Spain.
[edit] Reception
According to Box Office India the film is a flop. Critical response in the United States was mixed. David Chute of L.A. Weekly said, "The movie works so hard to transform its shocking subject into acceptable material for middlebrow melodrama that it never deals with it".[4] Maitland McDonagh of TV Guide found the film "breaks no new ground but is solidly entertaining".[5] while Frank Lovece of Film Journal International put the "glossy Bollywood confection" in a historical context, calling it a "good old-fashioned, Douglas Sirk-style women's weepie ... so universal you could substitute Joan Crawford for Rani Mukerji and New York City for Mumbai".[6]
In India, where the film was released the same day as in North America, some reviewers criticised it for its repetitious and obsolete story line. Raja Sen of Rediff.com said the movie "takes us back to a kind of cinema we thought we were done with. Indian cinema threw off the dupatta just a little while ago; let's not shackle it back down".[7] Taran Adarsh from indiaFM said it "stands on a shaky script and has all chances of slipping".[8] Martin D'Souza of Glamsham.com noted, "this is a big letdown" from the director of the well-received Parineeta.[9] And the Hindustan Times said, "This one comes out smelling of mothballs, like a wedding dress stored for decades in an attic trunk. Not surprising, since the plot is vintage 1977 from Aaina, and the 1995 Marathi film Doghi".[10] Anupama Chopra found the film "a cauldron of wonderful cinematic talent, undone by half-baked writing".[11]
[edit] Cast
- Jaya Bachchan ... Sabitri Sahay
- Rani Mukerji ... Vaibhavari Sahay (Badki)/Natasha
- Konkona Sen Sharma ... Shubhavari Sahay (Chutki)
- Anupam Kher ... Shivshankar Sahay
- Kunal Kapoor ... Vivaan Sharma
- Abhishek Bachchan ... Rohan Varma (Extended special appearance)
- Kamini Kaushal ...[12]
- Hema Malini ... Special appearance as a dancer (kothi)
- Tarana Raaja ... Sophia
- Ninad Kamat ... Karan
- Harsh Chhaya ... K. Gupta
- Murli Sharma[13]
- Tinu Anand[13]
- Sushant Singh[13]
- Suchitra Pillai ... Michele[13]
[edit] Characters
- Sabitri - Shabitri is the one who holds the Sahay family together. As her husband's bitterness grows and affects his health, she leans on Badki for support. She is the only one in the family who knows what Badki has done to keep them all steady.
- Badki (which means "big sister", 'Vibha'is real name) - The eldest daughter, Badki is fiercely protective of her family. When her education is stopped to compensate for expenses she does not fret, but instead carries on and helps her mother. Her father has always disliked the fact that she was not born a son, which hurts her. She goes to Mumbai to help her family and does not hesitate in making sacrifices for them.
- Chutki (which means "big sister", 'Shubhavari'is real name- Chutki's life is full of everything she could ever want. Her mother and sister love her to the core and do everything to protect her. She is intelligent and sharp minded but unaware of the sacrifices Badki is making for the family.
- Shivshankar Sahay - A former economics teacher, Shivshanker is unable to cope with an unfair dismissal at the college and his bitterness grows and grows. As the family sinks into poverty, he does nothing to help. He buys lottery tickets thinking he will win and more importantly bring back his days of glory. He resents the fact that Badki was not born a son and vents out his frustrations on his loved ones. His disappointment in Batki continues when she goes to Mumbai, thinking she will achieve nothing.
- Vivaan - Having lived all his life in the big city, Vivaan has no idea how the rest of India lives or functions. When he meets Chutki, he dismisses her citing that she is a small village girl with no prospect of a job in his advertising agency. However he changes his mind when he comes face to face with her independent attitude and is blown away.
- Rohan - Rohan is a top attorney. His look may be that of someone who is serious but inside he has a child like innocence. He meets Badki and falls in love with her but she runs away from him. Rohan is set on finding out why Badki is the way she is but he is not prepared for what he hears.
[edit] Crew
- Director: Pradeep Sarkar
- Producer: Pradeep Sarkar and Aditya Chopra
- Writer: Pradeep Sarkar
- Dialogue: Rekha Nigam
- Music Director: Shantanu Moitra
- Lyrics: Swanand Kirkire
- Editing: Kaushik Das
- Cinematographer: Sushil Rajpal
- Choreography: Howard Rosemeyer
- Costumes: Sabyasachi Mukherjee , Subarna Ray Chaudhuri , Shiraz Siddique
- Sound design: Rishi Oberoi
[edit] Music
| Laaga Chunari Mein Daag - Journey Of A Woman | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image:Laaga.JPG | |||||
| Studio album by Shantanu Moitra | |||||
| Released | 10 September, 2007 (India) |
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| Genre | Feature film soundtrack | ||||
| Label | Yash Raj Music |
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| Producer | Aditya Chopra | ||||
| Shantanu Moitra chronology | |||||
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The film's soundtrack was released on 10 September,2007 almost a month before the film's release.It has been given a rating of 3 out of 5 on indiaFm.com
| Song | Singer(s) | Picturised on |
|---|---|---|
| Hum To Aise Hain | Sunidhi Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal, Swanand Kirkire & Pranab Biswas | Rani Mukherji , Konkona Sen Sharma ,Jaya Bachchan & Anupam Kher |
| Zara Gungunalein Chalo | Babul Supriyo & Mahalaxmi Iyer | Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukherji |
| Chunari Mein Daag | Shubha Mudgal & Meeta Vashisht | Rani Mukherji |
| Ik Teekhi Teekhi Si Ladki | KK & Shreya Ghoshal | Kunal Kapoor & Konkona Sen Sharma |
| Ehi Thaiyaa Motiya | Rekha Bhardwaj | Hema Malini |
| Kachchi Kaliyaan | Sonu Nigam, KK, Sunidhi Chauhan & Shreya Ghoshal | Abhishek Bachchan , Kunal Kapoor ,Anupam Kher ,Jaya Bachchan ,Rani Mukerji & Konkona Sen Sharma |
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Pradeep Sarkar's plans his next with Saif and Vidya. IndiaFM. Retrieved on 20 November, 2006.
- ^ Lightman of Yash Raj Films 'Chudiyan' drowns in Varanasi. IndiaFM. Retrieved on 20 November, 2006.
- ^ Rani Mukerji in Controversy. IndiaFM. Retrieved on 20 November, 2006.
- ^ L.A. Weekly (Oct. 17, 2007): "Movie Reviews: 30 Days of Night, Canvas, Futbaal" [and more]; review by David Chute
- ^ TVGuide.com (Oct. 12, 2007): Review by Maitland McDonagh,
- ^ Film Journal International (Oct. 12, 2007): Review by Frank Lovece
- ^ Sen, Raja. Laaga Chunari Se Bhaag. Rediff.com. Accessed October 13, 2007.
- ^ Adarsh, Taran. Laaga Chunari Mein Daag. indiaFM. Accessed October 13, 2007.
- ^ D'Souza, Martin. Movie Review : Laga Chunari Mein Daag. Glamsham.com. Accessed October 13, 2007.
- ^ Hindustan Times, "Old Whine, Older Bottle" Accessed October 13, 2007.
- ^ Chopra, Anupama. [1]. NDTV. Accessed October 13, 2007.
- ^ indiafm.com. Kamini Kaushal on LCMD. Retrieved on 11 October, 2007.
- ^ a b c d TVGuide.com: Laaga Chunari Mein Daag: Journey Of A Woman "Cast + Details"
[edit] External links
Yash Raj Films | |
|---|---|
| Yash Chopra | Daag: A Poem of Love (1973) • Kabhi Kabhie (1976) • Kaala Patthar (1979) • Silsila (1981) • Mashaal (1984) • Faasle (1985) • Vijay (1988) • Chandni (1989) • Lamhe (1991) • Darr (1993) • Dil To Pagal Hai (1997) • Veer-Zaara (2004) |
| Aditya Chopra | Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) • Mohabbatein (2000) |
| Sanjay Gadhvi | Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai (2002) • Dhoom (2004) • Dhoom 2 (2006) |
| Kunal Kohli | Mujhse Dosti Karoge! (2002) • Hum Tum (2004) • Fanaa (2006) • Kunal Kohli's Next (2008) |
| Shaad Ali | Saathiya (2002) • Bunty Aur Babli (2005) • Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (2007) |
| Siddharth Anand | Salaam Namaste (2005) • Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007) • Siddharth Anand's Next (2008) |
| Other | Doosra Aadmi (1977) • Noorie (1979) • Nakhuda (1981) • Sawaal (1982) • Aaina (1993) • Yeh Dillagi (1994) • Neal 'n' Nikki (2005) • Kabul Express (2006) • Chak De India (2007) • Laaga Chunari Mein Daag (2007) • Aaja Nachle (2007) • Tashan (2008) • Roadside Romeo (2008) |
