‘Umrao Jan Ada’ to be screened tomorrow

Islamabad

Director: Hassan Tariq

Producer: Rabia Hassan

Script, Lyrics: Saifuddin Saif

Music: Nisar Bazmi

Playback: Noorjehan, Runa Laila

Cast: Rani, Shahid, Talish, Nayyar Sultana and Allauddin

Lok Virsa has selected 1972 classic ‘Umrao Jan Ada’ for screening tomorrow (Saturday), at 3 p.m.

The film is based loosely on Mirza Hadi Ruswa's novelette, published in 1899. Several films have been made on this subject including Nakshab's ‘Zindigi Aur Toofan,’ Kamal Amrohi's ‘Pakeeza’, Muzaffar Hussain's ‘Umrao Jan’, its remake by ‘Datta’ and many more.

Pakistani directors too have brought fallen women with golden heart more than once on screen. ‘Umrao Jan Ada’ explores territory of women who are good for leisure and pleasure but not good for family life. No matter how much love and understanding develops between the married couple, the elders would intervene and destroy the marital life into shreds and pieces in the name of family honour.

Colour films here started partly and entirely in early sixties with ‘Panj Darya’, ‘Gul Bakoli’, ‘Azra’ and ‘Eik Dil Do Deewaney’. Colour came full force with ‘Sangam’ from Dhaka (1964) and ‘Naila’ from Lahore(1965).

By 1972, producers who could use precious colour film stock and laboratory charges, were in colour and low-budget small producers were still in black and white. Pervaiz Malik's ‘Merey Hamsafar’ (partly lensed in Europe), Raza Mir's ‘Cobra’ musical Naagmani and Nazrul Islam's ‘Ehsas’ were major titles of 1972. ‘Umrao Jan Ada’ was in competition with these smash hits. One of our major handicaps in making historical and films with rich production effects has been budget constraints. No matter how much one spends, you cannot be at par with films made with crores from across the border. It is then to the credit of Hassan Tariq and his team that they managed to spend (what Hassan Tariq could spent) in a affordable way and got best results. Nabi Ahmad's camerawork was much above average.

Choreography was another highlight of film seen through Rani. Sets showed modesty (unlike Pakeeza) but Nisar Bazmi's score with lyrics by Saiduddin Saif, rendered by Noorjehan and Runa Laila, were adequate compensations. Rani, Shahid in leads and Talish, Allaudin and Nayyar Sultana in support did well.

‘Umrao Jan Ada’ as film would remain a title film trade can take pride for years to come.

Producer Rabia Hassan, an artist in her own rights(graduate of NCA, Lahore), and daughter of leading lady Rani and director Hassan Tariq, is expected to join the screening as special guest.  

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