| Cast: |
Rekha,
Madhuri Dixit, Mahima Chaudhary, Manisha Koirala,
Ajay Devgan, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Gulshan
Grover, Johny Lever, Razzak Khan and Tinnu Anand
|
| Director: |
Rajkumar
Santoshi |
| Producer: |
- |
The
plight of women in rural India has been
witnessed umpteen times on the Indian screen. Santoshi
Productions' LAJJA, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi,
is one of those films that entertains, yes, but it
also exposes the stark truth that plagues our society.
The
film narrates the story of four women who have either
been tormented or exploited by men for their selfish
gains. It begins from the opulent city of New York
and ends at a remote village in Uttar Pradesh.
*
Rekha is Ramdulari, who has cared to make her village
women self-sufficient. This progressive woman, in
death, becomes a victim of the most regressive and
darkest side of humanity.
*
Madhuri Dixit is Janki, who dares to live by her own
unconventional rules. The glass of alcohol in her
hand and an unborn child in her unwed existence do
not add as much fire to her as does her refusal to
suffer injustice.
*
Manisha Koirala is Vaidehi, who w
alks
out on her husband and thus a significant journey
begins. But she finds that she is not the only one.
In fact, the horror has only begun. The film is seen
through her agonised eyes.
*
Mahima Chaudhary is Maithili, who is a bride-to-be.
Her helpless father bows down to the demands and humiliation
of the groom's parents. The daughter in her takes
it all, until the woman in her takes over and she
rebels.
LAJJA
boasts of some of the most talented names on and off
screen. And the outcome is laudable!
The
beginning of the film is me
diocre
in terms of substance and execution. Manisha's portions
with Jackie in the U.S. are just about okay. The pace
drops when the focus shifts to Mahima Chaudhary's
wedding. And that's mainly because the story deviates
from its main course, concentrating on light moments
(Asrani, Jagdeep) and dramatic portions (Govind Namdev,
Anjan Srivastava, Rohini Hattangadi) instead.
But
the second half takes a turn for the better! The three
memorable characters Madhuri Dixit, Ajay Devgan and
Rekha are introduced in this half and the graph of
the film moves at an upward scale.
Madhuri's
portions are lively and mak
e
for interesting viewing. Her characterisation is such,
the masses will love it. Ajay Devgan's entry comes
at a point when the graph of the film is already on
the rise. His presence and sequences boost it considerably.
And, of course, Rekha's portions are the best of the
lot.
The
three performers, under the expert supervision of
Santoshi, contribute to some memorable moments in
the film. Like:
*
A pregnant Madhuri facing the ire and fury of the
crowd and her subsequent miscarriage on the street.
*
Ajay Devgan's introduction and his confr
ontation
with Danny in the climax.
*
Rekha's rape sequence is nail biting and has been
executed brilliantly.
Besides
these engaging moments, the finale is excellent as
well. Manisha's speech towards the concluding reels
is an eye-opener.
*
On the whole, LAJJA is a purposeful film within commercial
parameters and the best part is that the Indian masses
will be able to identify with the goings-on. An enviable
star cast, a talented director and an excellent second
half are amongst its strong points. The business in
U.P. and Bihar (Rekha, Ajay Devgan's characterisations
and dialect) should prove to be the best. Tax-exemption
will only enhance its business prospects.
