Writer/Director: Pradeep Sarkar
Starring: Rani Mukerji, Abhishek Bachchan and Konkana Sen Sharma
Few actresses in Bollywood are as as Rani Mukerji. Ever since rise to stardom in the 1990’s, Mukerji has transformed into one of the finest actresses in the Indian film industry. Whether it’s star-crossed lovers, prostitutes or bold housekeepers, Mukerji has suggested she can portray various characters. Through her ability to portray characters that are compelling, she has created a legacy which has proven lasting. Mukerji’s greatest strength as an actress has always been her versatility. Mukerji’s strength as an actress is her courage to take risks. She is one of those actresses which has never been afraid of taking risks in her career by playing characters which aren’t commonly likeable. Despite reaching age of retirement, Mukerji has never lost her passion for making powerful entertainment. Throughout an enduring career, Mukerji has crafted many memorable movies which are definitely without a doubt absolutely worth watching.
I’m a huge fan of Mukerji and adore all the films she has made in her career. However, “Laaga Chunari Mein Daag” definitely does stand out as her most bold work. Released in 2007, Pradeep Sarkar’s movie offered a strong portrait of prostitution. Packed with breathtaking production, strong storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s a spellbinding Bollywood romantic drama. At the centre of it all is an exceptional performance by Rani Mukerji, who portrays a prostitute struggling to provide for her family. Although “Laaga Chunari Mein Daag” is a riveting Bollywood drama, it isn’t a flawless film. It suffers from a melodramatic conclusion that fails to offer realistic depiction of prostitution. That being said, it provides engaging entertainment for fans of Rani Mukerji.
“Laaga Chunari Mein Daag” tells the story of a woman that struggles to provide for a family in India. Rani Mukerji portrays Badki, a young woman with exuberant personality. Badki has always shared a strong bond with her sister Chutki (Konkana Sen Sharma), a woman she loves dearly. However, Badki’s life forever changes when she discovers her family is in financial danger. In an attempt to provide for her impoverished family, Badki embarks on a journey to Mumbai. Left with little choices in profession, Badki makes a bold decision to enter prostitution. As all the odds are stacked against her favour, Badki struggles to be a hooker. Facing a dilemma, Badki questions if she can keep her career as a prostitute a secret hidden from family in India.
Pradeep Sarkar is fascinated with themes of dysfunctional families. An exceptional Indian filmmaker, Sarkar has often made engaging movies about families in danger. His award-winning film “Parineeta” offered an intimate portrait of lovers divided by the social class barriers in India. With “Laaga Chunari Mein Daag”, however, Sarkar crafted his first ever prostitution drama. It was the director’s first attempt to capture the lives of prostitutes in India that face adversity but he succeeded. Using spellbinding cinematography, Sarkar captures a prostitute embarking on journey to provide for her family. Inspired with Garry Marshall’s “Pretty Woman”, Sarkar expertly uses montages to capture a woman seeking success in the profession of prostitution. For instance, montages enhance the prostitute scene. During this heartfelt scene, Badki is introduced to her profession of prostitution through being a call girl. Using breathtaking montages, Sarkar crafts a strong portrait of prostitution that’s compelling. Montages are tricky techniques. As Yash Chopra’s “Veer-Zaara” suggested, montages enhance films about doomed love. Nevertheless, it works in this movie. Using stunning visuals, Sarkar captures the hardships that prostitutes are facing.
Another strong aspect of “Laaga Chunari Mein Daag” that merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, it’s one of the most impressive Bollywood movies you will ever see. Sarkar effectively uses cross-cutting to stage songs that are engaging. For instance, the cross-cutting elevates the Zara Gungunalein Chalo song. During this unforgettable scene, Badki has a romantic moment of bonding with Rohan away from her stressful profession. Using cross-cutting, Sarkar creates a portrait of prostitution that’s engaging. Moreover, the musical score is extraordinary. It gives the movie an intense atmosphere capturing the heavy burden that prostitutes bear. Through stunning production, Sarkar captures harsh realities of prostitution.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Laaga Chunari Mein Daag” is a Bollywood film that’s engaging. The film is beautifully written, and expertly uses silence to convey tense hardships prostitutes experience. For instance, silence elevates the family secret discovery scene. During this heartbreaking scene, Badki faces a state of silence when her family discovers her secret double life of prostitution. Through silence, Sarkar crafts a portrait of prostitution audiences relate to. Silence is a tricky technique to use in films. As claimed by Karan Johar’s “My Name is Khan”, silence enhances films about issues of terrorism. Nevertheless, it works well in this movie. Through a brilliant screenplay, Sarkar captures the lives of prostitutes that face a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Rani Mukerji delivers one of her best career performances as Badki. Mukerji achieved appreciation for playing romantic heroines in classic Bollywood movies. With “Laaga Chunari Mein Daag”, however, Mukerji took on her most complex role. It isn’t simple to portray a prostitute that faces adversities, but she succeeds. This is the actress unlike you have ever seen her before: charismatic, emotional and vulnerable in her most bold role. With riveting expressions, she captures the angst, bravery and grief of a prostitute that faces tensions. It’s a bold performance from one of the most beloved actresses in Bollywood today.
While the film is mainly a strong showcase for Mukerji, the supporting cast is superb and also worthy of appreciation. Abhishek Bachchan is brilliant, capturing tension of a man that falls in love with a woman he’s not aware is involved in prostitution profession. Konkana Sen Sharma is superb, capturing charisma of a woman struggling to provide for a family in India. Lastly, Jaya Bachchan is unforgettable. As a grieving mother, she is heartbreaking.
Despite its strong performances, however, “Laaga Chunari Mein Daag” can’t entirely capture a prostitute’s experiences. If there’s a shortcoming towards the movie, it lacks a bold ending. It’s a melodramatic conclusion which fails to bring the movie to conclusion. At worst, it delivers a false message about prostitution which isn’t quite true to reality. Therefore, “Laaga Chunari Mein Daag” is one of those bollywood films not everyone would adore.
Nevertheless, fans of Rani Mukerji will love “Laaga Chunari Mein Daag” and so would movie-goers seeking bold entertainment. A riveting Bollywood drama, it celebrates an actress with charisma in India.
Nearly 20 years following the release of a groundbreaking Bollywood film about the life of a woman that makes the decision to enter prostitution, it’s a riveting reminder of an actress with strong dedication towards her craft that has made memorable movies throughout her illustrious career which are absolutely without a single doubt worthy of appreciation.
4/5 stars
The Film Buff 