Author rating4.3out of 5Average user rating5.0out of 5J.P. Dutta’s remake film Umrao Jaan staring Aishwarya Rai as Umrao Jaan, is definitely a creative effort but does not create the charisma like the original Umrao Jaan. Other main star cast includes Sunil Shetty as Faiz Ali, Puru Raaj Kumar as Gauhar Mirza, Abhishek Bachchan as Nawab Sultan and Shabana Azmi portrays Madame Khanum Jaan, who plays the role of a maternal madam.
The story opens in Faizabad in a happy family of a sweeper played by Parikshit Sahni in the film. He is the father of two children, Ameeran and Jamal. His near enemy, Dilawar has an eye on his daughter. The love the father is shown in the form of the daily sweets he gets for Ameeran. One day Dilawar kidnaps Ameeran and sells her to Khanam Saheb of Lucknow. She runs a ‘kotha’, where young girls are taught dancing and mannerisms. Ameeran becomes a member of this family and has friends as Gauhar, Bismillah and Khursheed.
She grows up in the motherhood of Bua Hussaini and Mualvi Saheb (also her teacher). Saheb Khanum changes her name from Ameeran to Umrao, as she intends to make her a successful courtesan. She is a beautiful young dancer who displays her talent for the first time on some happy occasion of an Oudh Nawab. Here she meets Nawab Sultan and soon the two fall in love. Nawab’s father despises his son’s affair to a courtesan and asks him to leave her. But the Nawab refuses and his heiress are taken away from him. The Nawab loiters here and there and soon meets Umrao Jaan.
In the meantime, Nawab Faiz Ali also falls in love with Umrao and wants her. She disagrees. Nawab’s financial position robs him off Umrao who now is left but to wait for her lover. He goes away. Faiz Ali forcibly tries to seduce Umrao but fails. Contrary, she joins him on an outdoor trip where she finds out his reality. He is a dacoit who is soon captured by the kings. Along with him, the kings also take in Umrao. Faiz confronts the Nawab and turns him against Umrao Jaan. She is set free to go back to Lucknow, where unfortunately Gauhar rapes her. She losses all hope and happiness in life as she has been used and thrown by three men.
The Britishers in India are killing Indians. To save their lives all courtesans leave for Nepal. On their way, they stop at Faizabad. Ameeran finds her home and meets her mother and brother. They both abuse her and ask her to leave, and so she does. The movie ends at this note where Umrao’s flash back is over. The movie is very slow and its music very dull. Actors have done their best but they lack naturalism. Big actors and actresses’ talent have not been well exploited. Mr. Dutta efficiently makes patriotic movies but his portrayal of the Nawabi Lucknow culture and the life of a courtesan have not been successful. It would be irrational to compare it to the legendary Rekha’s Umrao Jaan. Aishwarya lacks the Indian features hence her beauty is not that typically Indian. She is more of an international actress. Abhishek and Shabana Ji have done justice to their roles. At the end, I can only say, ‘Mr. Dutta please no more remakes, especially of Umrao Jaan and the like.
Director: J. P. Dutta
Starring: Aishwariya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan
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Aish's acting wasn't as bad as I expected it would be, and Abhishek's acting was fit for the role.
Some of the songs are slow, but the lyrics are amazing...meaningful at most!
Despite the fact that this is a remake, and nothing beats the original, this was pretty good!