Last weekend Laaga Chunari Mein Daag released from one of the key players in the Bollywood industry, Yash Raj films, with a star studded cast.Yet the film came in lower in the U.S. box office than Bhool Bhulaiyaa, a more unanticapted film,from a lesser known(at least in the U.S.) production house, T-series. Film critics are jumping all over this, stating that the latest film from Yash Raj comes from a string of dissapointing films this year, including Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, Chak de India and Tara Rum Pum.

Being new to the world of Bollywood, the Yash Raj banner meant nothing to me until I realized that not all Bollywood films started with the Yash Raj intro and that most of my favorite films hailed from this production house(Veer Zaara,Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,Fanaa,Kal Ho Na Ho).

The only "new" films from Yash Raj I have seen this year are Jhoom Barabar Jhoom and now Laaga Chunari Mein Daag. JBJ was a dissapointment, and although I found the songs and dances enjoyable, the script was weak and some of the jokes tasteless.However, I still plan to see Chak de India because from what I have read in both user/critic reviews it sounds like a good clean watch with some endearing moments.

I liked Laaga Chunari Mein Daag. Most critics are labeling Rani's performance as mediocre, but I always enjoy Rani's underacting and think her eyes say so much. The story was quick paced and the movie didn't really drag too much. I found the love story between Konkana Sen Sharma and Kunal Kapoor very cute, and wish the writers would have fleshed out the Abieshek/Rani love story a little better. I still stand by my fondness of Abieshek Bachchan,and contrary to most critics, I think he can act. However, in LCMD Abieshek, who looked as if married life is treating him well as he put on a few pounds,was capable of a bit more. Not sure if it was his limited role or if he didn't really want to be there, but something was amiss with him. I still think Rani/Abhi are an enjoyable couple though, and I liked the decision that Abhi's character makes in the end.Was LCMD great cinema? Probably not. Was it a fun "chick flick" I can watch with my girlfriends and enjoy with a pint of chocolate ice cream? Definately!

Has anybody seen Laaga Chunari Mein Daag and what are your feelings on Yash Raj's latest projects? Are you still looking forward to future films such as Aaga Nachle, or have you been burned one too many times by Yash Raj this year? Those who have grown up with Bollywood, do you feel Yash Raj is "losing their touch" or are they as magical as ever? If they ARE going downhill, what is missing from their recent films? What do they need to do to get back on track? What would you like to see their films go back to as opposed to the direction they are headed in now?

Or is Yash Raj too big to be broken? Did they maybe just have a lackluster year that they can easily brush off and recover from?