Laaga Chunari Mein Daag


Laaga Chunari Mein Daag – Journey Of A Woman is a 2007 Indian drama film directed by Pradeep Sarkar and starring Jaya Bachchan, Rani Mukherji, Konkona Sen Sharma, Kunal Kapoor and Anupam Kher with a special appearance by Abhishek Bachchan. Produced by Aditya Chopra it premiered on 12 October 2007. The film was the first directed by Sarkar under the Yash Raj Films banner. This movie is a remake of Ahista Ahista, which itself was a remake of 1969 Kannada movie Gejje Pooje.

Plot

Vibhavari, affectionately called Badki, and Shubhavari, affectionately called Chutki are the daughters of Shivshankar Sahay and Savitri. They live together on the banks of the Ganges in Banaras. Life is full of happiness and joy for the two, though the family is relatively poor. Badki especially is protective of her family and is determined to ensure Chutki completes her education.
As things go from bad to worse when her father becomes ill, Badki goes to Mumbai to find work. She is unable to find a job as she has not completed 12th standard. Her so-called boss tells her that if she sleeps with him he will give her the job. The next day he declines what he had promised but pays her the money. After encountering many obstacles and feeling desperate and out of options, she is forced to become the exclusive call girl "Natasha". Misleading her family – telling them she is an event planner – and sending them money for her father's medicines. Badki learns to speak English and learns how to dress up in a modern way. She hides her secret to keep the family home from being foreclosed on. Chutki completes her MBA securing 1st rank and, unannounced, comes to live with Badki in Mumbai. The younger sister becomes a trainee at the Matrix Advertising agency and falls in love with her boss, creative director Vivaan. Badki finds love in attorney Rohan but leaves him, afraid that he would be disgusted by her profession. Chutki inadvertently discovers what Badki does for a living and whilst at first is disgusted by this turn of events, apologises on behalf of herself and Shivshankar and Savitri for not allowing her to consider other choices due to family constraints. She fiercely vows to remain by Badki's side and pleads her to come to Banaras with her for her wedding.
The two sisters later return to Banaras for Chutki's wedding. Badki comes face to face with Rohan, and he is revealed to be Vivaan's brother. Old feelings resurface between the two and eventually, Rohan asks Badki to marry him. Badki refuses, feeling that Rohan would never accept her after knowing her profession. Savitri is terrified, due to the possibility that not only will Rohan shun her but Chutki's wedding will also be broken off. However, Chutki convinces Badki to think about her happiness for once and accept his proposal despite the possible consequences. During the conversation Shivshankar, Savitri and Chutki finally face the lies and secrets realising what Badki sacrificed for the family. Badki reveals her profession to Rohan, who shocks her by announcing that he knew, from the moment he saw her with her client in Zurich, that she was a call girl. Despite that, he still wants to marry her and respects her. Badki readily accepts, finally gaining the happiness she has sought and makes a life with Rohan.

Cast

Main cast

was originally approached for the role of Rohan that went to Abhishek Bachchan, and Vidya Balan had earlier been offered the role that went to Konkona Sen Sharma. Laaga Chunari Mein Daag was Jaya Bachchan's first film since Nikhil Advani's Kal Ho Naa Ho in 2003.
The production of the film gathered some controversy when a lighting crew-member drowned in the Ganges River. During a shooting session in Varanasi, bodyguards of Rani Mukherji aggressively moved media people and fans away from the film set. A political and media storm followed, as various groups insisted that Mukherji should have stopped the security guards. The actress then apologised to the media, though claiming the media were trying to get too close to both her and Konkona Sen Sharma. Some scenes involving Mukherji and Bachchan were shot in Bern, Switzerland and Lucerne, Switzerland.

Crew

The film's soundtrack was released on 10 September 2007. Songs such as "Hum To Aise Hain" and "Kachchi Kaliyaan" featured playback singers such as Sunidhi Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal and KK. The soundtrack received a 3 out of 5 rating on indiaFm.com.

Reception

The film premiered on 12 October 2007 in Mumbai and was released on the same day in North America. The film opened well as it was highly anticipated. However, due to negative reviews as well as the competition it faced from the more successful Bhool Bhulaiyaa, it became a box office dud in India. However, it was more successful overseas.
In an interview with the filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar, said: "It was a tight budget film made with 150 million and already on the first week it has made 250 million gross worldwide. In what way we are saying that it is not doing well?" asked Sarkar. "Admitting that the film did take a slow start in the domestic market, he's hopeful it will grow on audiences in the weeks ahead, much in the same way that his debut film Parineeta did. "
In India, the film critically received a generally negative response, with reviewers criticizing the 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". Taran Adarsh from indiaFM said it "stands on a shaky script and has all chances of slipping". Martin D'Souza of Glamsham.com noted, "this is a big letdown" from the director of the well-received Parineeta. The Hindustan Times wrote that, "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 award winning Marathi film Doghi". Anupama Chopra found the film "a cauldron of wonderful cinematic talent, undone by half-baked writing".
Critical response in the United States to the film was more mixed. Frank Lovece of Film Journal International said that the film put "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 Mukherji and New York City for Mumbai". Maitland McDonagh of TV Guide found the film "breaks no new ground but is solidly entertaining" while 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". Rachel Saltz of the New York Times termed the film, "A fascinating blend of musical, melodrama and feminist fairy tale".

Box office

According to Box Office Mojo, the Domestic gross in the Opening Weekend was 19.7 million or US$320,987; being release in 60 theatres, the close Date was 4 November 2007 and It was in release for 28 days.
Total lifetime grosses was 41.6 million or US$675,102, at the Foreign market the collection was 533.1 million or US$8,679,460. Total Worldwide collection 574.7 million or US$9,354,562 reported until 4 November 2007.

Awards

Filmfare Awards

Nominations
Nominations
Nominations