Umrao Jaan (2006 film)

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This article is about the 2006 film, directed by J.P. Dutta. For the 1981 film with the same title and subject directed by Muzaffar Ali starring Rekha, see Umrao Jaan.


Umrao Jaan

Poster for Umrao Jaan
Directed by J.P. Dutta
Produced by J.P. Dutta
Written by J.P. Dutta (screenplay),
O.P. Dutta (story),
Based on Novel by Mirza Muhammad Hadi Ruswa
Starring Aishwarya Rai,
Shabana Azmi,
Sunil Shetty,
Abhishek Bachchan,
Divya Dutta,
Himani Shivpuri,
Kulbhushan Kharbanda
Music by Anu Malik
Cinematography Ayananka Bose
Release date(s) November 3, 2006
Language Urdu/Hindi
IMDb profile

Umrao Jaan (Urdu: امراؤ جان, Hindi: उमराव जान) is a Bollywood production starring Aishwarya Rai as the famous courtesan. The film is directed by J.P. Dutta and also stars Shabana Azmi, Sunil Shetty, Abhishek Bachchan, Divya Dutta, Himani Shivpuri and Kulbhushan Kharbanda.

According to Dutta the film is based on the script written by his father O.P. Dutta [1].

Contents

[edit] Synopsis

O, the price of being beautiful. “Umrao Jaan” — a retelling of a historical Indian tale covered in a 1981 Bollywood classic — might also be a commentary on its star, Aishwarya Rai. Ms. Rai, often hailed as the queen of Bollywood, has for many a global allure, calling to mind that of Brigitte Bardot or Sophia Loren. But you hope Ms. Rai does not suffer for her art as much as her character does.

Ms. Rai plays Ameeran, the daughter of a man who testified against a criminal, Dilawar Khan. Khan kidnaps her and sells her to a maternal madam (a vivid Shabana Azmi), who changes Ameeran’s name to Umrao Jaan and grooms her into a performing courtesan.

In music-video-like song sequences, Umrao enchants a dashing but dissolute noble, Nawab Sultan (Abhishek Bachchan). Displeased with Umrao and Sultan's relationship, his father demands the relationship ends. Words are exchanged which result in Sultan's dis-inheritance. Eventually their different stations in life result in the dissolution of their relationship.

More misfortune follows: Umrao is assaulted by her surrogate brother; British troops kill her countrymen; a visit home ends in rejection by her family, who condemn her station. As her looks fade, the aging Umrao gains wisdom.

The whims of men can be terrible to live by, but too many scenes exploit Ms. Rai’s tearful, screen-engulfing eyes. Bathos and weak dubbing don’t help. But the actress’s presence is undeniable. Ms. Rai has Western films coming; “Umrao Jaan” seems like a way station on her path to international success.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Music

The music is by Anu Malik and the lyrics by Javed Akhtar. The track listing is as follows:

[edit] Trivia

  • Priyanka Chopra was considered to play the part of Umrao Jaan, but could not allot straight ninety dates head-to-head as she was busy with Bluffmaster (2005).
  • Arshad Warsi was to star in the film for role of Gauhar Mirza, but dropped out soon after as he chose to play his popular character in film Lage Raho Munna Bhai. Puru Raj Kumar replaced Warsi.
  • Ace choregrapher Saroj Khan , was considered to do the songs choregraphy but was later replaced by another popular choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant , due to some problems with director J.P. Dutta.
  • The shooting of the film was carried at actual locations including some palaces from Jaipur.

[edit] External links

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