Lajja
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Posted by Habshi on September 04, 2001 at 08:54:29:
Lajja is a truly wonderful movie . Would be very surprised if
it doesnt become one of the biggest hits of all time . Wanted to buy
another ticket and go back and see it again but my friends were hungry
and so will have to wait till next week .
Absolutely world class dialog . Keeps you entertained , laugh
,cry every minute and its a bit more Hindi rather than Urdu .
A very rich and very cruel NRI family (Bollywood doesnt know
any other kind ) when they realize the separated wife whom they have
sent back to India is pregnant and the husband after an accident cant
have any children , decide to entice her back and after the birth of
the baby kill her off .
Could have spoilt it by making it very melodramatic but its
full of good jokes , great marriage songs and dances , beautiful
costumes and works .
A feminist movie . Every indignity ever inflicted by males in
history -killing female babies ,demanding dowries , beating women in
the name of religion has been highlighted in this movie ,. and the
great thing is that women in this movie give back as good as they get.
The GOI must make it tax free immediately and make sure its shown in
all schools and every male in India sees it .
One funny bit is where in the Hindu mythological Ramayana ,
Sita refuses to sit in the fire to prove she was unsullied , saying
Ram should do it first because he too had been away from her for nine
months and how does she know he hasnt been wayward ! This provokes the
ire of Hindu fundamentalists who trash the theater .
The first half is sheer genius. Manisha I thought looked like
a bhootni with her hair like a mop on her head at the party at the
start of the movie but when she changes into the Indian orange sarree
at the 'Badi Mushkil ' song , wow !! she does look to be the most
beautiful woman in the world . Rather than have dress imposed from
above when women are trusted to think for themselves they really
design the best ever .
Another funny moment is when Madhuri says to the lecherous
Gandhi devotee , after slapping him on one cheek , please turn the
other one as Gandhiji preached and slaps him on it .
Fast language , a lot of the jokes may get missed on
subtitles unless they do them literally . It really is one of the best
movies I have ever see. Dont even think of missing it and it should be
compulsory watching in countries to the west of India - ie where women
are treated really badly.
What a great year for Bollywood cinema . Jody no.1 , Yadein ,
Gadar , Lagaan , DCH and now Lajja ! - most are already out on DVD with
subtitles from indiaplaza.com and others .
Saw it again a second time and was pleased that there were so
many little children there , even though some scenes are fairly
violent . However they all seemed to enjoy it very much .
It is too intense and too long a story , and really needs
two viewings to remember all the great bits .
Loved the background score by the Budapest symphonic
orchestra , what pieces do they play and which composer ?
Choreography by Ganesh in all the songs is superb . Manisha
has never ever looked as beautiful as she does in that Badi Mushkil
song . Women may feel more comfortable in western clothes but they
look a million dollars in Indian sarees . She is also a great actress
, watch her facial expressions when she hears the news that she is
pregnant . There is enough English to keep non Hindi speakers abreast
of what is happening .
Urmilla's dance is wonderful as is Sonali's . Choreography
by Ganesh is superb . Johnny Lever is funny when he is being beaten
up and realizes its plains clothes policmen and appeals to anyone -the
Mafia , Underworld to come and help him .
A lot of people may not get the reference to the Hindu
mythological play so here goes the story . Ram , his wife Sita and his
brother Lakshman go to the forest for 14 years to keep a vow his
father made to one wife . There Lakshman cuts off the nose of a demon
woman Sarupnakha because he thought she was a threat to Sita . Her
brother Ravan , King of Sri Lanka kidnaps Sita and holds her prisoner
for a few months . Ram defeats him in battle but insists Sita sit in a
fire to prove that she was not raped by Ravana and she emerges
unscathed . They go back to India and Ram becomes King but sends Sita
into the jungle anyway when she is pregnant .
Madhuri says some very powerful dialog at the fire test and
refuses to sit in it . Rekha is world class as the Dalit midwife.
Mahima is also superb when she makes the speech at the wedding .
This is going to be one movie where you will see more each time and
can watch endlessly without ever getting bored .
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