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 Title
Umrao Jaan (NEW)
Cast Aishwarya Rai, Abhisek Bachchan, Shabana Azmi, Arshad Warsi, Suniel
Shetty
Director J P Dutta
Genre Drama
Year 2006
Umrao Jaan the film is based on Lucknow born Mirza Hadi Ruswa's book who was a
teacher in mathematics, science, philosophy and Persian. After going through the
book, many literary minds felt that Ruswa could have named the book 'Kahani
Avadh Ki' or 'An Evening in Avadh' because it is a vivid depiction of life in
Avadh. But then any such celebration would be inconceivable without the presence
of Umrao Jaan. A courtesan and poetess in her own right, Umrao Jaan was a name
to be reckoned with in any description of life in Avadh. If Lucknow was the
heart of Avadh, Umrao was the heart beat.
When she first came to Lucknow, she was Amiran, the eight year-old
daughter of a lower middle-class family. Her father was a Sweeper at the 'Bahu
Begumka Makhbara' in Faizabad. A pious and simple man, he gave evidence in a
case against Dllawar Khan, a habitual offender. Dilawar was sentenced to jail
for ten years. After finishing his sentence Dilawar came out, only to kidnap
little Amiran, cart her to Lucknow and sell her to a "Kotha", by the astute
Khanum Sahib.
As an inmate of the kotha, little Amiran benefited greatly. Khanum gave her the
name Umrao' and Bua Hussaini brought her up in style. Maulvi Sahib educated her,
Khan Sahib initiated her intothe world of music while the great Kathak Acharya
taught her to move to rhythm. In the company of Bismillah, Khurshid and Gauhar
Mirza, Umrao developed many skills, including poetry, dancing and singing. Her
pen name 'Ada' (style, a title conferred to signify somebody who epitomises
grace, style and beauty) was ample proof of the proficiency in writing and
reciting poetry that she went on to acquire. of Avadh at her feet, Umrao craved
only for Sultan's c6mpany. Committed to him Umrao chased her dream from one end
of the rainbow to the other.
Would she ever realize her dream? Would she come face to face with Amiran once
again? They say the child in you never dies.. Just as hope never dies...
   
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