The latest trend in Bollywood is is to make women oriented movies. Laaga Chunari Mein Daag too, deals with the journey of woman. The movie showcases how poverty pushes a woman to go on the wrong path sacrificing her principles for the sake of her family.

The movie begins with the introduction of Badki (Rani), and Chutki (Konkona) on the screen. They live happily with their parents Jaya and Anupam in Beneras in a palatial house on the banks of river Ganga. The house is falling to ruins and each brick can retell the story of their poverty. As, Anupam has retired from his job, he tries his luck at the lottery. His wife, Jaya works hard as a tailor to make both ends meet. Badki could not complete her education due to lack of funds. Chutki is pursuing her MBA but now it is becoming impossible for the family to afford her education. Also the Anupam's elder brother, who had been thrown out of the house by their father, has lodged a case disputing the ownership of the house.

So, Badki takes it upon herself to help the family through troubled waters. She sets out to Mumbai in search of a job. Coming from a small town and thrown into a big city she finds it difficult to get a decent job. Badki is a pretty, young girl and men start to take advantage of her precarious position. She tries to keep them off but demands of money from home force her down the path she had so vehemently opposed. Badki becomes a call girl.

From hereon the movie turns into any other Bollywood movie. Her sister too comes to Mumbai as she gets a job and she comes to know how her elder sister was got pushed into the dark streets of flesh trade. Badki meets Abhishek and he falls in love with her and Chutki falls for Kunal. Their marriage gets fixed but Jaya does not want Badki to come and attend her sister's marriage; she is worried that the people will discover the truth about Badki. At last even the father comes to know about his daughter's predicament. Like any typical movie, Abhishek too forgives Rani .Lastly they too get married; the same old happy ending. Though, the promos of the movie were really good but it didn't live up to its expectation. Rani and Konkona have proved their mettle again as superb actresses' .the movie loses its thread in the middle. The director has simply stretched the movie too much. The crowds are pouring into the theatre only for the good star cast. The music is not too great. Editing and cinematography is good. The dialogues are well delivered.

Flaws

1) If Konkona was pursuing MBA then why didn't they send her to Mumbai for work?

2) The way Jaya was portrayed as a mom was shocking. Despite knowing everything about Rani's situation, she doesn't stop her.

3) Anupam Kher never questioned Rani about how she was earning so much money without proper qualifications.

Soumee Mitra

BA (Journo, Psy & Eng)