Page 42 - Seniorstoday March 2024 Issue
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Bengali writer Bimal Mitra novel’s Saheb, husband Paul Berges, adapted Chitra
Bibi, Golam, spawned Abrar Alvi’s classic Banerjee Divakaruni’s novel The Mistress
love tragedy Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, of Spices (in 2005) with Aishwarya Rai
in 1962, with unforgettable music, and and Dylan McDermott in key roles. The
performances by Meena Kumari, Rehman, film didn’t fare too well though. Gurinder’s
Guru Dutt and Waheeda Rehman. Bride and Prejudice (2004), also starring
The Urdu novel Umrao Jan Ada by Mirza Aishwarya Rai, Nadira Babbar and
Haadi Ruswa, penned in 1905, had two Anupam Kher tanked at the Box Office.
major adaptations for cinema. Muzaffar Ali The musical romance was based on the
told the story of Lucknow’s most famous English classic by Jane Austen, Pride and
and cherished courtesan, played by Rekha Prejudice.
to exquisite perfection and seduction, in Bengali author Sarat Chandra
his film Umrao Jaan in 1981. The then Chattopadhyay is another one whose
extravagant production had music and works have been a veritable treasure
dance that sparkled and are still talked trove, delved into by numerous celebrated
about. Farooque Shaikh, Naseeruddin directors across decades. His story of
Shah and Raj Babbar were also aptly cast. Devdas (first published in 1917 as a
It was Rekha’s golden peak in her career. romantic novel) itself has been adapted by
JP Dutta’s Umrao Jaan in 2006 came a four markedly different directors. The first
pale second despite the presence of the one was in 1936, by P.C. Barua, starring
beauteous Aishwarya Rai, Shabana Azmi, K.L. Saigal and Jamuna. In 1955, auteur
Suneil Shetty and Abhishek Bachchan. Bimal Roy adapted this tragic romance yet
again. His Devdas starred Dilip Kumar
and Suchitra Sen as the star-crossed
Image Courtsey: cinetarangini Chandramukhi. This was one of the first
lovers, with Vyjayanthimala playing
films that set off the title Tragedy King for
Dilip Kumar.
The Urdu novel Umrao Jan Ada by Mirza Haadi Ruswa, penned
in 1905, had two major adaptations for cinema
Writer Upamanyu Chatterjee’s, urban
black comedy English, August, was a
delightful creation in celluloid by debutant
director Dev Benegal in 1994. Rahul Bose Chattopadhyay’s Devdas has been adapted by four markedly
was perfectly cast as the protagonist different directors
Agastya Sen, ably backed by Mita Vashisht Sanjay Bhansali’s magnum opus, released
and his other co-actors. in 2002, was a lavish musical production
(This one is a Hollywood Bollywood telling the same tale yet again. He cast
combination) Indian origin British Shah Rukh Khan Aishwarya Rai and
filmmaker Gurinder Chadha and her Madhuri Dixit as the three corners of the
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