Umrao Jaan

UMRAO JAAN
A J. P. DUTTA FILM

IN UK CINEMAS FROM 3rd NOVEMBER 2006

Continuing with its promise to bring the best of Indian Cinema to an international platform, Adlabs Films Ltd brings you Umrao Jaan, an adaptation of Mirza Ruswa’s critically acclaimed novel Umrao Jaan Ada (1904). Veteran director J.P. Dutta has reinvented Umrao Jaan, propelling this 150-year-old masterpiece onto the big screen.

Umrao Jaan stars an ensemble of high profile artists including ex-Miss World Aishwarya Rai, New Age icon Abhishek Bachchan, woman of substance Shabana Azmi and man-of-the-world Suniel Shetty, and is already one of this year’s most eagerly anticipated films, raising the bar of adaptations. The music is composed by music maestro Anu Malik and the critically acclaimed Javed Akhtar pens the lyrics, which have been inspired by the splendour of the film to bring the musical score to a new height of melodic genius.

Umrao Jaan unveils the injustices faced by women and advocates their emancipation. Set in late 19th century India, the film tells the story of Umrao Jaan (Aishwarya Rai), a courtesan and poetess who was kidnapped as a child and sold into the country’s prevalent culture of courtesanship. Umrao becomes popular amongst Lucknow’s elite, including a nawab, a childhood friend and a dacoit with whom she attempts an escape from her brothel.

The subject matter of the film reflects modern India’s social climate, where trafficking of young girls is still prevalent. As such and in conjunction with the film’s release, the India Times is currently running an online charity auction of the film costumes with proceeds going to a girl child foundation that rehabilitates children of women from the ‘red light’ districts of India.

Pranab Kapadia, UK Head for Adlabs believes “With our ongoing commitment to bringing quality films to the UK, Umrao Jaan is one of our most prestigious projects, primarily because of its star cast and the story premise. Given the nation’s growing receptiveness to international cinema, we believe this film’s content, cinematic grandeur and stellar cast will captivate a wide UK audience.”

Producer-director J P Dutta believes that Umrao Jaan is not only “the tale of an extraordinary woman, but truly the story of every woman. I am delighted that Adlabs has taken the initiative to ensure Umrao Jaan has a far-reaching audience.”