Laaga Chunari Mein Daag...!

SPOILER ALERT!! – Plot of the movie might be given away so if you have not watched the movie stop reading the blog right now!

I watched this movie yesterday evening… in the morning I read the reviews on rediff and ibnlive (I never do read reviews but I was just very curious and wanted to read how the critics had applauded the movie) and to my extreme surprise read the movie being trashed by every major newspaper. So we went to the movie with zero expectations, and just becos we had already booked the tickets online and could not cancel them…. And boy was I glad I went!!

The movie starts with Benares in the backdrop and it is the story of a family with moderate means. Rani Mukherji and Konkana Sen Sharma are the two sisters who sing away their blues, their relationship in the movie has been shown very realistically and sensitively. Being a big loather of stereotypes, I found this movie to be free of clichés and stereotypes. I expected the movie would be an emotional, melodramatic, tear jerking saga of Vibhavari Sahay from Benares who goes on to become a call girl, (an ‘escort’ as they have called her in the movie) Natasha in the big bad city of Mumbai. Emotional – yes it was, but what it was not was melodramatic and crude… it was a very sensitive and sensible depiction of the journey of the woman and her transformation was shown very sensibly and it was very subtle. Rani Mukherji has given a stellar performance again, and she looks gorgeous throughout the movie. Konkona Sen Sharma looks refreshing and has complemented Rani’s performance. She needs a special mention, ‘cos she has proved that she can be the quintessential Yashraj heroine and carry off the glamour effortlessly. Kunal Kapoor – I have said in my earlier blog that he is one hunk of a guy – he looks amazing … he rocks. Abhishek Bacchan double rocks. He does not have too much of a role, you can almost call it a cameo (just 2 songs and 2-3 scenes) but this man has got amazing screen presence and great style and panache. He has the grace of his father and can sweep anyone away with just his eyes. He shares great chemistry with Rani (I still think he shouldn’t have married Ash, he makes a better pair with Rani) and he is simply lovable in the movie.

But the star of the movie is definitely Pradeep Sarkar, the direction being simply immaculate. The movie has been directed very elegantly and has crisp editing. The director knew what he wanted to show in the movie, did not unnecessarily prolong scenes, did not extend anybody’s characters in the movie. Even big names like Abhishek Bacchan and Anupam Kher were given short but apt screen times and did not kill the movie with stereotypes, confrontations and melodrama. The movie has a great look, colorful yet not pompous; it is a technical treat. Pradeep Sarkar has proved yet again that he is a proficient story teller. A story that has been told a number of times before – inspite of that the director manages to offer something different. And this movie is a definite must watch.

-Moi

Song of the day: Kacchi kaliyan mat todo