Umrao Jaan Ada
Author | Urdu |
---|---|
Genre | Novel |
Publication date | 1899 |
Published in English | 1970 |
891.4393 |
Umrao Jaan Ada (
History and theme
According to the novel,a tawaif and poet Umrao Jaan from 19th century Lucknow,the story was recounted by her to the author, when he happened to meet her during a mushaira (poetry gathering) in Lucknow.[3] On listening to her couplets, the author along with Munshi Ahmad, a novel and poetry enthusiast present at the gathering, convinces Umrao Jaan to share her life story with them. The novel is written in first person as a memoir.[4] The book was first published by Gulab Munshi and Sons Press, Lucknow in 1899.[1]
The novel is known for its elaborate portrayal of mid-19th century Lucknow, its decadent society, and also describes the moral hypocrisy of the era, where Umrao Jaan also becomes the symbol of a nation that had long attracted many suitors who were only looking to exploit her.
The existence of Umrao Jaan Ada is disputed among scholars as there are few mentions of her outside of Ruswa's book. She does appear in his earlier unfinished novel Afshai Raz, but is very different from the cultured character in Umrao Jaan Ada. The existence of an Uttar Pradesh
Plot summary
Umrao Jaan is born as Amiran (
Umrao Jaan attracts the handsome and wealthy Nawab Sultan. The couple fall in love, but, after an altercation with an impolite patron where the Nawab Sultan shoots and wound hims in the arm, he no longer comes to the kotha and Umrao Jaan must meet him secretly with the help of Gauhar Mirza. As Umrao Jaan continues to see Nawab Sultan and also serve other clients, she supports Gauhar Mirza with her earnings. A new client, the mysterious Faiz Ali, showers Umrao Jaan with jewels and gold, but warns her not to tell anyone about his gifts. When he invites her to travel to
Umrao Jaan performs at the court of Wajid Ali Shah until the Siege of Lucknow forces her to flee the city for Faizabad. There she finds her mother, but is threatened by her brother who considers her a disgrace and believes she would be better off dead. Devastated, Umrao Jaan returns to Lucknow now that the mutiny is over. She meets the Begum from Kanpur again in Lucknow and discovers that she is actually Ram Dai. By a strange twist of fate Ram Dai was sold to the mother of Nawab Sultan and the two are now married. Another ghost of Umrao Jaan's past is put to rest when Dilawar Khan is arrested and hanged for robbery. With her earnings and the gold that Faiz Ali gave her, she is able to live comfortably and eventually retires from her life as a tawaif.
Adaptations
Over the years the novel has inspired many films both in India and Pakistan. It was made into a Pakistani film in 1972, Umrao Jaan Ada, directed by Hassan Tariq,[6] and the Indian films: Mehndi (1958) by SM Yusuf, Zindagi Ya Toofan (1958) by Nakhshab Jarchavi, Umrao Jaan (1981) by Muzaffar Ali and Umrao Jaan (2006) by JP Dutta.
The novel was also the theme of a Pakistani television serial, Umrao Jaan Ada, aired in 2003 on Geo TV.[7] It was directed by Raana Sheikh and the screenplay was written by poet Zehra Nigah. Umrao Jaan Ada, an Indian television series adaptation of the novel aired on Doordarshan's DD Urdu channel in 2014.[8][9] It ran for 13 episodes and was directed by Javed Sayyed with music from Sappan Jagmohan.[10]
In January 2023, an eight-part series adaptation of the novel was announced with Sajal Aly in the titular Umrao Jaan.[12]
Further reading
- The Courtesan of Lucknow (Umrao Jan Ada), (UNESCO Collection of Representative Works). Hind Pocket Books, 1970.[13]
- The Nautch Girl: A Novel, Hasan Shah. Translated by Sterling Publishers, 1992.[14]
- Umrao Jaan Ada, ISBN 969-35-0674-X.(Urdu text)
- Umrao Jan Ada. Translated by David Matthews. New Delhi, ISBN 81-7167-311-2.
- Umrad Jan Ada, Translated K. Singh (English). ISBN 81-222-0393-0.
- Umrao Jan Ada, Translated ISBN 81-250-1593-0. [15]
- Umrao Dźan Ada. Pamiętnik kurtyzany, Translated and Edited by Agnieszka Kuczkiewicz-Fraś (Polish). 2011. Kraków: Księgarnia Akademicka. ISBN 978-83-7638-197-8.
- Umrao Jan Ada. Translated in Sanskrit by Shwetaketu. ISBN 978-81-906145-6-6.[16]
References
- ^ a b Complete Urdu Text 1899 version
- ^ Umrao Jaan Ada by Mirza Hadi Ruswa Archived 2009-06-09 at the Wayback Machine Umrao Jaan at sasw.chass.ncsu.edu
- ^ Umrao Jaan Ada by Mirza Mohammad Hadi Ruswa Translation by Khushwant Singh
- ^ Various translations of Umrao Jaan Ada Newsline, 2001
- ^ Syed Firdaus Ashraf (2 November 2006). "Was Umrao Jaan for real?". Rediff. Retrieved 26 August 2010.
- ^ "Umrao Jan Ada (1972 film)". Pakistan Film Magazine website. Archived from the original on 15 June 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
- ^ The Courtesans in the Living Room," ISIM Review, 2005
- ^ "Umrao Jaan Ada on Doordarshan Urdu". Doordarshan Urdu. 21 August 2014. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021.
- ^ "DD Urdu Program Schedule" (PDF). 23 March 2020.
- ^ "Umrao Jaan Ada". Samvaad Video Pvt.Ltd.
- ^ Khan, Murtaza Ali (8 August 2019). "The aroma of Awadh". The Hindu.
- ^ "Sajal Aly set to star as Umrao Jaan in eight-part series adaptation". Express Tribune. 7 January 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
- ^ The courtesan of Lucknow (Umrao Jan Ada), (UNESCO collection of representative works): Mirza Mohammad Hadi Ruswa: Books. Amazon.com (2001-04-21). Retrieved on 2013-07-18.
- ^ The Courtesan and the Indian Novel sscnet.ucla, History/Politics
- ^ Khan, Irshad Sairah (July 2001). "Book: Umrao Jan Revisited". Newsline. Archived from the original on 19 April 2004. Retrieved 19 April 2004.
- ^ "उमराव जान अदा". pratnakirti.com.