Laaga Chunari Mein Daag – Journey Of A Woman (transl. My Veil Is Stained) is a 2007 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by Pradeep Sarkar and produced by Aditya Chopra under the Yash Raj Films banner. The film stars Jaya Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Konkona Sen Sharma, Kunal Kapoor, Anupam Kher, and Abhishek Bachchan. The narrative follows the emotional and societal struggles of two sisters, Vibhavari and Shubhavari, as they navigate personal sacrifices, family duties, and societal judgment in a traditional yet evolving Indian landscape.
Released theatrically on 12 October 2007, Laaga Chunari Mein Daag received mixed reviews from critics. While the performances—particularly those of Mukerji and Sen Sharma—garnered praise, criticism was directed at the film’s melodramatic treatment and predictable narrative arc. The film had a moderate performance at the box office, grossing ₹187 million (US$2.3 million), and emerged as one of the more talked-about women-centric films of the year.
Vibhavari "Badki" Sahay and Shubhavari "Chutki" Sahay live with their parents, Shivshankar and Savitri, in Varanasi. The family struggles financially, with Savitri sewing clothes to support them while Shivshankar remains unemployed. Badki discontinues her studies to contribute to the household income, while the family prioritizes Chutki's education.
When Shivshankar falls ill and the family risks losing their home due to a property dispute, Badki travels to Mumbai in search of work. Lacking formal qualifications, she faces repeated rejections. A chance encounter leads her to Gupta, a married businessman who deceives her into a sexual encounter with the false promise of employment. After being exploited and left homeless, Badki reluctantly becomes an escort under the alias "Natasha," guided by a friend who helps her adapt to an urban lifestyle. She conceals the nature of her work from her family, claiming to be an event planner, and sends money home for medical expenses and legal aid. Savitri learns the truth but chooses to remain silent, recognizing the necessity of Badki's support.
Badki meets Rohan, an attorney, and the two fall in love. Fearing rejection if he learns about her profession, she ends the relationship without explanation. Meanwhile, Chutki completes her MBA and moves to Mumbai, unaware of Badki’s circumstances. She secures a job and begins a relationship with her boss, Vivaan. When Vivaan proposes, wedding preparations commence in Banaras. Badki plans to stay away to avoid jeopardizing Chutki’s future, but Chutki discovers the truth and reassures Badki of her unconditional support.
At the wedding, Badki unexpectedly reunites with Rohan, who is revealed to be Vivaan’s brother. When Rohan proposes marriage, Badki initially declines, afraid of his response to her past. Upon revealing the truth, she learns that Rohan had known all along and admires her resilience and integrity. The film concludes with a joint wedding ceremony, uniting both sisters with their respective partners.
Kalki Koechlin as World Patents & Trademarks Conference Announcer (cameo appearance)
Production
Development
Laaga Chunari Mein Daag – Journey of a Woman was directed by Pradeep Sarkar and produced by Aditya Chopra under the Yash Raj Films banner. Following the success of Parineeta (2005), Sarkar sought to explore the emotional and social challenges faced by women in conservative Indian families. The narrative was conceived as a character-driven drama focusing on themes of personal sacrifice, financial hardship, and societal judgment.
Several casting changes occurred during pre-production. Saif Ali Khan was initially considered for the role of Rohan, which eventually went to Abhishek Bachchan.[3]Vidya Balan was offered the role of Chutki but declined; the part was subsequently played by Konkona Sen Sharma. Director Sarkar stated that Sen Sharma's temperament and screen presence aligned well with the character’s independent and assertive persona.
The principal cast included Rani Mukerji in the lead role, alongside Bachchan and Sen Sharma.[4] Supporting roles were played by Kunal Kapoor, Anupam Kher, and Hema Malini. Mukerji and Abhishek Bachchan, both frequent collaborators with Yash Raj Films, had previously co-starred together in Bunty Aur Babli (2005).
Filming
Principal photography began in early 2007 and took place across locations in India and Switzerland. Scenes set in the protagonists' hometown were filmed in Varanasi, with the banks of the Ganges and surrounding alleys used to depict the family's environment. International sequences involving the characters of Badki and Rohan were filmed in Bern and Lucerne, Switzerland.[5]
During filming in Varanasi, a crew member from the lighting department drowned in the Ganges River, resulting in a temporary suspension of production.[6] Additionally, a separate incident occurred when members of the press and local bystanders were removed from the film set by Mukerji's security personnel.[7] The episode drew criticism from media outlets and political groups. In response, Mukerji issued a public apology, stating that the crowd had become unmanageable and that the action was taken out of concern for the safety of the cast and crew.[8]
Marketing and release
Marketing
Laaga Chunari Mein Daag – Journey of a Woman was released theatrically on 12 October 2007 in India and select international territories, including North America, the United Kingdom, and the Gulf states.[9]
Release
The teaser trailer of Laaga Chunari Mein Daag – Journey of a Woman was attached to screenings of Chak De! India, another Yash Raj Films production released on 10 August 2007.
Reception
Box office
The film earned ₹17.5 crore in India and ₹3.17 crore in other territories, for a worldwide total of ₹ 20.67 crore.[10][11]
Laaga Chunari Mein Daag – Journey of a Woman was released on 12 October 2007 across India and select international markets. In India, the film earned a total net collection of ₹17.5 crore, with a gross of ₹24.23 crore. Internationally, it grossed approximately $3.17 million (₹12.44 crore), bringing its worldwide gross to ₹36.67 crore.[12]
The film opened on approximately 750 screens in India, collecting ₹2.02 crore on its first day and ₹7.36 crore over its opening weekend. It concluded its first week with ₹11.17 crore. Despite a moderate overseas performance, the film underperformed domestically and was declared a commercial failure.[13]
In the United States, Laaga Chunari Mein Daag earned $675,102, while in the United Kingdom, it grossed £693,500.[14]
Critical response
India
In India, Laaga Chunari Mein Daag received generally negative reviews. Critics frequently cited the film’s screenplay as outdated and the narrative as overly familiar. Raja Sen of Rediff.com wrote that it represented "a kind of cinema we thought we were done with," adding, "Indian cinema threw off the dupatta just a little while ago; let's not shackle it back down."[15]Taran Adarsh of IndiaFM (now Bollywood Hungama) described the film as one that "stands on a shaky script and has all chances of slipping."[16]
Martin D’Souza of Glamsham referred to it as "a big letdown" in comparison to director Pradeep Sarkar’s earlier film Parineeta (2005).[17]Hindustan Times found the film derivative and likened its plot to earlier melodramas, calling it "vintage 1977" and drawing comparisons to the Hindi film Aaina and the Marathi film Doghi (1995).[18]
International
The film received a more mixed reception internationally. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 50% of six critics’ reviews were classified as positive.[19]Frank Lovece of Film Journal International called it "a good old-fashioned, Douglas Sirk-style women's weepie" and praised its emotional accessibility, remarking that "you could substitute Joan Crawford for Rani Mukerji and New York City for Mumbai."[20] Maitland McDonagh of TV Guide described it as "solidly entertaining" but noted that it "breaks no new ground."[21] In contrast, David Chute of LA Weekly criticized the film for sanitizing its themes, stating that it "works so hard to transform its shocking subject into acceptable material for middlebrow melodrama that it never deals with it."[22] Rachel Saltz of The New York Times characterized the film as "a fascinating blend of musical, melodrama and feminist fairy tale."[23]
The soundtrack of Laaga Chunari Mein Daag – Journey of a Woman was composed by Shantanu Moitra, with lyrics by Swanand Kirkire. It was released on 17 September 2007 by Yash Raj Music. The album features vocals by Sunidhi Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal, and KK.
The music received mixed-to-positive reviews from music critics. Bollywood Hungama rated it 3 out of 5, citing its melodic quality and alignment with the film’s themes.[28]
↑ Saltz, Rachel (13 October 2007). "She's Fallen but Not Down". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022– via NYTimes.com.
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