Umrao Jaan (2006 film)

In 1840, a girl named Ameeran (Aishwarya Rai) is kidnapped from her home in Faizabad by Dilawar Khan (Vishwajeet Pradhan), a criminal, who had been sent to jail years before based on testimony from Ameeran's father. To take revenge, Dilawar sells Ameeran to a brothel in Lucknow. There, Bua Hussaini (Himani Shivpuri) and Maulvi Sahib (Kulbhushan Kharbanda) adopt Ameeran and treat her as their own daughter. In the company of Khurshid (Ayesha Jhulka), Bismillah (Divya Dutta), and one of the tawaif's sons, Gauhar Mirza (Puru Raaj Kumar), Ameeran learns the art of being a tawaif.

Ameeran, now re-named Umrao Jaan, grows into a beautiful lady. She catches the eye of Nawab Sultan Khan (Abhishek Bachchan), and the pair begin a romance. When Nawab's father hears of their relationship, he disowns his son. Nawab goes to stay at his uncle's house.

In his absence, Faiz Ali(Sunil Shetty) gets infatuated with Umrao. Though she rejects his advances, he determinedly pursues her and eventually asks her to accompany him to his home in Daulatabad. Umrao accepts, but only upon learning that they will be traveling through Ghari, where Nawab is. Along the way, both are arrested by a group of state soldiers, and Faiz Ali is revealed to be a wanted dacoit. Upon learning of the situation, Nawab reaches to meet Umrao, but first encounters Ali, who has been imprisoned. Ali, realising that Umrao only accompanied him so she could reunite with Nawab, manipulates Nawab into believing that he and Umrao had a sexual relationship. Believing that Umrao betrayed him, Nawab has her escorted back to Lucknow.

When she returns, it is revealed that Maulvi Sahib, her adoptive father, had died while she was away. Taking advantage of Umrao's emotional state, Gauhar Mirza tries to have sexual intercourse with her. When she resists, he rapes her.

Soon after, the British attack the city, and she is forced to flee, eventually traveling to her childhood home in Faizabad. There, she learns of her father's death, and reunites with the rest of her family. Because of her profession, they refuse to accept her. Devastated, Umrao journeys back to Lucknow and on the way encounters Dilawar Khan, her kidnapper. Dilawar, homeless and suffering from leprosy, begs Umrao for help, not recognising her. She gives him her gold bangles and prays for his forgiveness.

Umrao spends the remainder of her life in Lucknow, where she becomes renowned for her poetry.

• Aishwarya Rai as Amiran (Umrao Jaan)
• Abhishek Bachchan as Nawab Sultan Khan
• Shabana Azmi as Khanum Jaan
• Sunil Shetty as Faiz Ali
• Divya Dutta as Bismillah
• Himani Shivpuri as Bua Hussaini
• Puru Raaj Kumar as Gauhar Mirza
• Kulbhushan Kharbanda as Maulvi Sahib
• Ayesha Jhulka as Khurshid
• Bikram Saluja as Ashraf (Nawab Sultan's friend)
• Parikshat Sahni as Umrao's father
• Maya Alagh as Umrao's mother
• Vishwajeet Pradhan as Dilawar Khan (Amiran's abductor)
• Javed Khan as Peer Baksh (Dilawar Khan's accomplice)
• Vimarsh Roshan
• Bansree Madhani as Amiran (the young Umrao)
• Alexandre Boisvert as Sultan Khan

According to Dutta the film is based on the script written by his father O. P. Dutta,{{cite web | title=First look on Aishwarya's Umrao Jaan| work= IndiaFM| url=http://www.indiafm.com/features/2006/07/17/1364/| access-date=18 July 2006}} which in turn was adapted from the classic Urdu novel Umrao Jan Ada by Mirza Hadi Ruswa. The film was shot on location including some palaces in Jaipur. Saroj Khan was selected to choreograph the dances, but backed out owing to disagreements with director J. P. Dutta.{{cite web|last=Jha|first=Subhash K.|title=Saroj Khan is ready for a comeback|url=http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/news/saroj-khan-051006.html|publisher=IndiaFM|date=5 October 2006|access-date=27 December 2009}} She was replaced by Vaibhavi Merchant.{{cite web|title=Umrao Jaan: Soundtrack listing and details|website=Bollywood Hungama |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/audiolisting/12719/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724234930/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/audiolisting/12719/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 July 2010|access-date=27 December 2009}}

Several of the roles were changed during pre-production. Priyanka Chopra was considered to play the part of Umrao Jaan, but could not allot the ninety consecutive dates required for shooting due to her prior commitments in Bluffmaster! (2005).{{cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/jp-dutta-prefers-ash-for-umrao-jaan/story-iGM4IQ05GstNoEX7dy9H9M.html |title=JP Dutta prefers Ash for 'Umrao Jaan' |work=Hindustan Times |date=23 June 2005 |access-date=16 July 2021}} Arshad Warsi was to star in the film as Gauhar Mirza, but dropped out soon after as he chose to appear in Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006).{{cite news|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-i-feel-bad-i-missed-out-on-umrao-jaan-arshad-warsi-1041441 |title=I feel bad I missed out on Umrao Jaan: Arshad Warsi |work=Daily News and Analysis |date=13 July 2006 |access-date=16 July 2021}} Subsequently, Puru Raaj Kumar replaced Warsi. Shabana Azmi, who plays the role of Khannum Jaan, is the daughter of Shaukat Azmi, who played the same role in the 1981 version.{{cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/rekha-insisted-shabana-do-umrao-jaan/story-ZE7x3LgJXoz3pROuCsHiPN.html |title=Rekha insisted Shabana do Umrao Jaan |work=Hindustan Times |date=9 February 2006 |access-date=16 July 2021}} Saif Ali Khan was approached for the role of Nawab Sultan in the film along with Akshaye Khanna in Faiz Ali's role, but both declined the film due to other projects. This led to Abhishek Bachchan replacing Saif Ali Khan, and Sunil Shetty replacing Akshaye Khanna.

{{Infobox album

| name = Umrao Jaan

| type = Soundtrack

| artist = Anu Malik

| cover =

| alt =

| released = 4 October 2006

| recorded = 2005

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Feature film soundtrack

| language = Hindi / Urdu

| length = 50:38

| label = T-Series

| producer = Anu Malik

| prev_title = Jaan-E-Mann

| prev_year = 2006

| next_title = Undertrial

| next_year = 2007

}}

The music is by Anu Malik and the lyrics are by Javed Akhtar. The full album is recorded by Alka Yagnik, Anmol Malik, Richa Sharma and Sonu Nigam, and was released on T-Series label.{{cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/music-of-umrao-jaan-launched/story-clhMhMrxojxZ6dH2u6SDVL.html |title=Music of Umrao Jaan launched |work=Hindustan Times |date=3 October 2006 |access-date=16 July 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/umrao-jaan-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1136461707 |title=Umrao Jaan (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |website=Apple Music |access-date=16 July 2021}} Malik's daughter Anmol Malik made her singing debut with this album, she rendered her voice for "Agle Janam Mohe Bitya (Reprise)".{{cite news|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2005/oct/20anmol.htm |title=Anu Malik's daughter's singing debut in Umrao Jaan |work=Rediff.com |date=20 October 2005 |access-date=17 July 2021}}

{{track listing

| headline = Track list

| extra_column = Singer(s)

| total_length = 50:38

| title1 = Agle Janam Mohe Bitya

| lyrics1 = Javed Akhtar

| extra1 = Richa Sharma

| length1 = 7:03

| title2 = Bekha Diya Hamein

| lyrics2 = Javed Akhtar

| extra2 = Alka Yagnik, Sonu Nigam

| length2 = 6:16

| title3 = Ek Toote Huye Dil Ki

| lyrics3 = Javed Akhtar

| extra3 = Alka Yagnik

| length3 = 2:02

| title4 = Foreword

| lyrics4 = Javed Akhtar

| extra4 = Javed Akhtar

| length4 = 0:41

| title5 = Jhute Ilzaam

| lyrics5 = Javed Akhtar

| extra5 = Alka Yagnik

| length5 = 6:39

| title6 = Main Na Mil Saku Jo Tumse

| lyrics6 = Javed Akhtar

| extra6 = Alka Yagnik

| length6 = 7:19

| title7 = Pehle Pehel

| lyrics7 = Javed Akhtar

| extra7 = Alka Yagnik

| length7 = 5:57

| title8 = Pooch Rahe Hain

| lyrics8 = Javed Akhtar

| extra8 = Alka Yagnik

| length8 = 6:24

| title9 = Salaam

| lyrics9 = Javed Akhtar

| extra9 = Alka Yagnik

| length9 = 5:36

| title10 = Agle Janam Mohe Bitya (Reprise)

| lyrics10 = Javed Akhtar

| extra10 = Anmol Malik

| length10 = 2:41

}}

The film performed poorly at the box office, grossing only Rs. 6,49,00,000.{{cite web |url= http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=212&catName=MjAwNg== |title= Box Office 2006 |access-date= 4 March 2009 |publisher= BoxOffice India |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081220044621/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=212&catName=MjAwNg== |archive-date= 20 December 2008 |df= dmy-all }} The film received negative reviews from critics. Many of them reacted unfavourably to J. P. Dutta's direction and the film's three-hour running time, and several critics panned it while comparing it to the highly acclaimed 1981 version directed by Muzaffar Ali.{{cite web |url= http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/review/12719/index.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081025175434/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/review/12719/index.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= 25 October 2008 |title= Umrao Jaan |access-date=4 March 2009 |last= Adarsh |first= Taran |website= Bollywood Hungama |author-link= Taran Adarsh}}

BBC film critic Poonam Joshi concluded, "J. P. Dutta's film is an Ash-fest that adds little to the legacy of Umrao Jaan." She praised Azmi's performance as "exemplary" and wrote about Rai, "While only Rai could emulate the grace and poise of Rekha, she doesn't quite capture the intensity of Umrao's abiding melancholy", later commenting that "her incandescent beauty and artistry... does indeed keep the audience watching, though not necessarily emotionally engaged."{{cite web |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2006/11/06/umrao_jaan_2006_review.shtml |title= Umrao Jaan (2006) |access-date=4 March 2009 |last= Joshi |first= Poonam |date= 20 October 2006 |work= BBC }} Describing Rai's performance, Nikhat Kazmi wrote, "she's riveting in places, diligent throughout and tries so hard to recreate a lost world of grandeur that your heart almost goes out to her." while Rediff gave two and a half rating out of five and wrote "there is Rai the star, queen and saving grace of Umrao Jaan. She enthralls with her gorgeousness, the precision in her dance movements, elegance in her gestures and sincerity in her willingness to become Umrao Jaan".{{cite news|newspaper=The Times of India|date=4 November 2006|author=Kazmi, Nikhat|access-date=9 April 2011|title=Umrao Jaan|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/hindi/Umrao-Jaan-/moviereview/312971.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503103411/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-11-04/hindi/27807887_1_umrao-jaan-dream-lover-urdu|url-status=live|archive-date=3 May 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/nov/03umrao1.htm|title=A lot of Ash, but not enough Umrao

|publisher=Rediff|access-date=3 November 2006}}

Susan Muthalaly from The Hindu wrote, "Umrao Jaan remains a spectacle that does nothing for you, personally." She wrote about Rai, "You'd think that since she's playing someone so close to her real life, there would be real feeling in the performance. But remember, this is a realistic performance, so Rai stays true to her real-life character and shows no genuine emotion for most of the film. She dances like a dream, but her range of emotions is limited."{{cite news|newspaper=The Hindu|author=Muthalaly, Susan|date=10 November 2006|access-date=9 April 2011|title=Beauty without emotions – Umrao Jaan|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/11/10/stories/2006111000210200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061203011957/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/11/10/stories/2006111000210200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 December 2006}} Another review in The Hindu said, "Umrao Jaan of 2006 would be at best remembered as a poor man's remake of a classic or a love story with a period flavour."{{cite news|newspaper=The Hindu|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/11/17/stories/2006111700620200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061203051748/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/11/17/stories/2006111700620200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 December 2006|title=Classic becomes mundane|author=Biswas, Niloshree|date=17 November 2006|access-date=9 April 2011}}

The Tribune concluded that "Umrao Jaan fails to impress" and while referring to Rai's performance wrote, "She is no match to Rekha".{{cite news|newspaper=The Tribune|author=D.P.|date=5 November 2006|access-date=9 April 2011|title=Umrao Jaan fails to impress|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20061105/ttlife1.htm#top}} Seena Menon of Deccan Herald said, "Unfortunately, watching 19th-century Lucknow in the 2006 version of Umrao Jaan gives you nothing but a feeling akin to staring at a glass model of the original."{{cite news|newspaper=Deccan Herald|author=Menon, Seena|date=5 November 2006|access-date=9 April 2011|title=Umrao Jaan|url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/nov52006/movies2127192006114.asp}}

Kathakali Jana from Hindustan Times wrote, "Though comparing the film with the 1981 magnum opus is not fair, what does one do with a baggage of incredible weight? One simply remembers it again and decides to go back to it once more." Similarly, Jana wrote about Rai that she "looks lovely when she smiles. She looks lovelier when she cries. Dutta's screenplay – which runs into 180 excruciating minutes – allows her to do both in good measure. But where is the celebrated 19th-century tawaif of Lucknow whose untold sufferings could do nothing to strip her of her dignity?"{{cite news|newspaper=Hindustan Times|author=Jana, Kathakali|date=3 November 2006|access-date=9 April 2011|title=REVIEW: Umrao Jaan lacks the ada|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/REVIEW-Umrao-Jaan-lacks-the-ada/Article1-168446.aspx|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125070901/http://www.hindustantimes.com/REVIEW-Umrao-Jaan-lacks-the-ada/Article1-168446.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 January 2013}}

Ziya Us Salam wrote for the same newspaper in a more positive review, "At its soul, body, even content, this Umrao Jaan is as beautiful as its leading lady (Rai), the one who once had the world at her feet."{{cite news|newspaper=The Hindu|author=Us Salam, Ziya|date=5 November 2006|access-date=9 April 2011|title=Umrao Jaan lives on, and on, and on...|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/05/stories/2006110512140300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070207233114/http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/05/stories/2006110512140300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 February 2007}} Gullu Singh, another reviewer for Rediff, praised the film for being more loyal to the novel."{{cite news|newspaper=Rediff|author=Singh, Gullu|date=3 November 2006|access-date=9 April 2011|title=A more loyal Umrao Jaan|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/nov/03umrao.htm}}

Worldwide, the film has grossed Rs. 19.52 crore, including $485,000 at the U.S. box office.{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=umraojaan.htm |title=Umrao Jaan (2006) - Box Office Mojo |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=16 July 2021}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb title|id=0485522|title=Umrao Jaan}}
• {{mojo title|id=umraojaan|title=Umrao Jaan}}

{{J. P. Dutta}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Umrao Jaan (2006 Film)}}

Category:Indian epic films

Category:2006 films

Category:2000s Hindi-language films

Category:2000s Urdu-language films

Category:Films set in Lucknow

Category:Films about courtesans in India

Category:Films scored by Anu Malik

Category:Films directed by J. P. Dutta

Category:Films shot in Lucknow

Category:Films based on Indian novels

Category:Urdu-language Indian films