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Sunday, Oct 14, 2007
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Karnataka

A film worthy of a one-time visit film reviews

Better than good: Rani Mukherjee and Konkona Sen in a scene from Laaga Chunari Mein Daag.

Laaga Chunari Mein Daag (Hindi)

Cast: Rani Mukherjee, Abhishek Bachchan, Konkona Sen, Kunal Kapoor

Director: Pradeep Sarkar

It is time for nostalgia all over again., Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, essentially a 1970s style film, comes replete with designer beauty; sunlight slips over wilting leaves, a ray sneaks in through little cracks in creaky doors. Even sorrow comes with an exquisite shade. As the cinematographer indulges himself, we have a visual treat.

But hey, Laaga Chunari…is not supposed to be just a beautiful showcase. Narrating the timeless tale of a poor little small town girl who comes to the big city to make ends meet, only to realise that men can be sharks, director Pradeep Sarkar’s film is yesterday speaking today’s language. And therein lies the film’s strength, also its weakness. Rani Mukerjee, with false eyelashes and all, and Konkona Sen, play lovey-dovey sisters in a simple Banaras household. Their father, Anupam Kher does not earn a penny, and mother, Jaya Bachchan, is at the sewing machine under a dim light at night.They are poor, well, as poor as mainstream cinema allows Sarkar . So, the two girls sing a song at the ghats, play pranks on their mom, and lo the elder sets out to earn her bread and butter in the big, bad world of Mumbai. No prizes for guessing not many good Samaritans would be waiting for her there. But come on, Sarkar, why should every unskilled girl who comes to the city use the one and only asset? And pray, why should their diction change so dramatically when the girls travel from Varanasi to Mumbai and back? One moment, they struggle with their English, next moment with their native language.

But leave these little jarring notes aside. Also forget that the film could have been better edited, which would have made a better impact. And the fact that the men here — Abhishek Bachchan and Kunal Kapoor are nothing more than mere props. But actually the film is better than good. The way the story progresses keeps you interested.

One moment we want to know how Rani would cope with her new job of an escort, next moment, we want to know how her mom would react to the work. Then there is the sibling angle with the little sister also landing up in the city with an MBA degree. Where Sarkar is let down, is by the leading actress. Rani is quite close to being fake here. She has ample scope to prove her talent as the film revolves around her.Yet she does not go beyond two rehearsed expressed, and cleavage revelation. Result? Konkona Sen comes out trumps in the acting stakes. As the innocent girl, she is lively and plausible. As a caring sister, she is outstanding. So, if you are inclined towards cinema that belongs to your dad’s generation but stylised enough to be contemporary, Laaga Chunari…is not a bad bargain. It is worthy of a one-time visit.

ZIYA US SALAM

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