Starring: Manisha Koirala, Madhuri Dixit, Anil Kapoor, Mahima Chaudhary, Rekha, Ajay Devgan, Jackie Shroff
Guest Appearances: Urmila Matondkar and Sonali Bendre
Director, Producer: Raj Kumar Santoshi
Music: Anu Malik
Santoshi Productions' Lajja, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, is one of those films that entertains, but also exposes the stark truth that plagues our society. 'Lajja' is a story of four women who have been subjected to savage treatment by men in various stages of their life. The four main characters in the film have names of Sita - Vaidehi (Manisha Koirala), Maithili (Mahima Chaudhary), Janki (Madhuri Dixit) and Ramdulaari
(Rekha).
The story begins in U.S.A where Vaidehi is shown as the wife of an influential person Raghu (Jackie Shroff). Raghu happens to be a casanova and Vaidehi realises it when she spots him with Ritu Shivpuri. Despite her sincere attempts to make him see sense and realize his duties, she is unable to succeed. She returns to India to her parents where she is not welcome. Meanwhile, Raghu meets with an accident and the outcome is his inability to bear a child in future. Simultaneously, he discovers that Vaidehi is pregnant and tries his best to get her back. She tries to escape and in the process of doing so, meets women who are also subjected to injustice of various kinds and this forms the story of Lajja.
The first woman she meets is Maithili, on her wedding day, and sees the turmoil and humiliation her parents have to face for being unable to arrange the dowry. She raises her voice against it and Vaidehi joins her, as the groom leaves the hall. Then she comes across Janki who happens to be an actress and works under Purushottam. Janki believes in leading a life in her own unconventional way. She is pregnant bearing Manish's (Sameer Soni's) baby who is a member of the same artiste troupe that Janki is. She gets devastated when she hears a refusal from Manish to get married for he suspects the baby is not his. This is when Janki raises her voice against injustice and in the process loses her baby. Vaidehi again flees after Raghu tries to catch her. She gets into the train, encounters some thieves and lands up in a remote village. Here she meets Ramdulaari, a local doctor who trains the village women to be independent and self sufficient. The problem arises when Ramdulaari's son falls in love with the village Zamindar, Gajendra's (Danny Dengzonpa's) daughter. Vaidehi is shocked when the village Zamindars kill Ramdulaari for the mistake her son has committed. The fugitives are helped this time by Bulwa (Ajay Devgan), a dacoit who is against the Zamindars. Vaidehi finally exposes Gajendra in a felicitation ceremony and this is when Raghu realises the strength of his wife. He decides to mend his ways.
All the artistes in this film have given brilliant performances, but it is the women who steal the show. Madhuri, Manisha and Rekha have lived their roles. Jackie Shroff proves his talent in the negative role. Ajay Devgan and Anil Kapoor are their usual self. Lajja with its brilliant script and star cast will touch the audience without fail. Rajkumar Santoshi has attempted a film that is straight out of newspaper and television headlines. In that respect, the story would be identified more by an Indian cinegoer than those abroad. Tax-exemption will only enhance the film's business prospects.
