Daag is an utterly watchable film within the boundaries of a romantic commercial film of the 1970s. Thanks to a tight script, deft direction, and a fast narrative pace. The three principal characters, all flawed in their own ways, and ending up under the same roof with their intermingling conflicts, a are impeccably enacted by artists of caliber - the charismatic Khanna, a glamorous Sharmila and a gorgeous Raakhee. Add to this, beautiful locales, chart-busting melodies, bitter-sweet romantic moments, drama-filled courtroom scenes, popular supporting actors in intense cameos - no wonder Daag was a blistering blockbuster of its times!
The Rajesh-Sharmila pair continues to work the magic that started with Aradhana and carried through with Amar Prem and Safar, perhaps for the last time. Raakhee almost overshines the two combined, in a shorter role with no songs and no romantic scenes with Khanna despite being the third angle. She gets three-four impactful scenes and the strongest character arc - a woman of conviction willing to stand up for the truth, who uses her position to protect first Sharmila, then Rajesh. She rightly got the Filmfare award for the best supporting actress that year.
Sharmila's exaggeratedly glamorous avatar in the initial part contrasts with her white-clad simplicity in the later part and is evenly balanced by Raakhee 's elegant Chiffon-Chandni persona. Child stars Raju & Pinky, Madan Puri, Iftikhar, Prem Chopra, Achla Sachdev, Padma Khanna in a single song and Manmohan in a single scene - everyone proves a scene stealer. A young Kader Khan can be spotted in a courtroom scene, this was one of his earliest films.
If I have to pick on something - I would point out that some of the logic is somewhat warped. The elapsed time just does not add up. And the questionably cinematic ending - bigamy by any other name was a crime in 1973!
The Rajesh-Sharmila pair continues to work the magic that started with Aradhana and carried through with Amar Prem and Safar, perhaps for the last time. Raakhee almost overshines the two combined, in a shorter role with no songs and no romantic scenes with Khanna despite being the third angle. She gets three-four impactful scenes and the strongest character arc - a woman of conviction willing to stand up for the truth, who uses her position to protect first Sharmila, then Rajesh. She rightly got the Filmfare award for the best supporting actress that year.
Sharmila's exaggeratedly glamorous avatar in the initial part contrasts with her white-clad simplicity in the later part and is evenly balanced by Raakhee 's elegant Chiffon-Chandni persona. Child stars Raju & Pinky, Madan Puri, Iftikhar, Prem Chopra, Achla Sachdev, Padma Khanna in a single song and Manmohan in a single scene - everyone proves a scene stealer. A young Kader Khan can be spotted in a courtroom scene, this was one of his earliest films.
If I have to pick on something - I would point out that some of the logic is somewhat warped. The elapsed time just does not add up. And the questionably cinematic ending - bigamy by any other name was a crime in 1973!