UMRAO JAAN UMRAO JAAN ADAADA

AWAIS IDREESAWAIS IDREES10020661-03510020661-035

IntroductionIntroduction

Umrao Jaan AdaUmrao Jaan Ada ( (UrduUrdu: : ادا جان ادا امراؤ جان is )is( ( (امراؤan an UrduUrdu novel by novel by Mirza Hadi RuswaMirza Hadi Ruswa (1857–1931), first published in 1899.It is (1857–1931), first published in 1899.It is considered the first Urdu novel by many considered the first Urdu novel by many and tells the story of a courtesan and and tells the story of a courtesan and poetess by the same name from 19th poetess by the same name from 19th century century LucknowLucknow, as recounted by her to , as recounted by her to the author,while published in English in the author,while published in English in 1970.1970.

AuthorAuthor

Mirza Muhammad Hadi RuswaMirza Muhammad Hadi Ruswa ( (UrduUrdu: : ( رسوا ہادی محمد )مرزا رسوا ہادی محمد مرزا))18571857 – – October 21, 1931) was a renowned October 21, 1931) was a renowned UrduUrdu poet and writer of poet and writer of

fiction, plays, and treatises (mainly on fiction, plays, and treatises (mainly on religionreligion, , philosophyphilosophy, and , and astronomyastronomy). He remained on the ). He remained on the Nizam of AwadhNizam of Awadh's advisory board 's advisory board on language matters for years. He was well-versed in on language matters for years. He was well-versed in UrduUrdu, , PersianPersian, , ArabicArabic, , HebrewHebrew, , EnglishEnglish, , LatinLatin, and , and GreekGreek

His famed Urdu novel, His famed Urdu novel, Umrao Jan AdaUmrao Jan Ada, published in 1899, is , published in 1899, is considered by many as the first Urdu novel. It is based on the life of considered by many as the first Urdu novel. It is based on the life of a renowned a renowned LucknowLucknow courtesan and poetess of the same name and courtesan and poetess of the same name and later became the basis for later became the basis for Umrao Jan AdaUmrao Jan Ada (1972), a Pakistani film, (1972), a Pakistani film, and two Indian films, and two Indian films, Umrao JaanUmrao Jaan (1981) and (1981) and Umrao JaanUmrao Jaan (2006). (2006). The novel was also the basis of a Pakistani television serial, The novel was also the basis of a Pakistani television serial, Umrao Umrao Jan AdaJan Ada, which aired in 2003., which aired in 2003.

HistoryHistory

According to the novel, the story of According to the novel, the story of Umrao JaanUmrao Jaan was was recounted by her, to the author, when he happened to recounted by her, to the author, when he happened to meet her, during a meet her, during a mushairamushaira (poetry gathering) in (poetry gathering) in Lucknow. On listening to her couplets, the author along Lucknow. On listening to her couplets, the author along with Mushi Ahmad, a novel and poetry enthusiast with Mushi Ahmad, a novel and poetry enthusiast present at the gathering, convinces Umrao Jaan to share present at the gathering, convinces Umrao Jaan to share her life story with them. In course of time, Mirza starts her life story with them. In course of time, Mirza starts noting down her story, and in the end shares the text noting down her story, and in the end shares the text with her. After initial annoyance, she eventually corrects with her. After initial annoyance, she eventually corrects it as well.Thus the novel is written in first person as a it as well.Thus the novel is written in first person as a memoir. The book was first published by Munshi Gulab memoir. The book was first published by Munshi Gulab Singh and Sons Press, Lucknow in 1899.Singh and Sons Press, Lucknow in 1899.

ThemeTheme

The novel is known for its elaborate The novel is known for its elaborate portrayal of mid-19th century Lucknow, its portrayal of mid-19th century Lucknow, its decadent society, and also describes as a decadent society, and also describes as a subtext, the moral hypocrisy of the subtext, the moral hypocrisy of the patriarchal system of the times, where patriarchal system of the times, where Umrao Jaan also becomes the symbol of Umrao Jaan also becomes the symbol of a nation that had long attracted many a nation that had long attracted many suitors who were only looking to exploit suitors who were only looking to exploit her.her.

CharactersCharacters Umrao Jaan AdaUmrao Jaan Ada Dilawar KhanDilawar Khan Nawab SultanNawab Sultan Khanum JaanKhanum Jaan Gohar MirzaGohar Mirza Faiz AliFaiz Ali Ram DaiRam Dai Buwa HussaniBuwa Hussani Molvi SahibMolvi Sahib Khursheed JaanKhursheed Jaan BISMILLAH JaanBISMILLAH Jaan And OthersAnd Others

Plot SummaryPlot Summary Umarao Jaan is born as Amiran to a modest family in Umarao Jaan is born as Amiran to a modest family in FaizabadFaizabad. After the criminal Dilivar Khan is released from jail he . After the criminal Dilivar Khan is released from jail he

decides to get revenge as her father witnessed against him in court. Khan kidnaps Amiran and decides to sell her in decides to get revenge as her father witnessed against him in court. Khan kidnaps Amiran and decides to sell her in Lucknow. She is imprisoned with another girl, Ram Dai, but the two are separated when Dilivar Khan takes her to Lucknow. Lucknow. She is imprisoned with another girl, Ram Dai, but the two are separated when Dilivar Khan takes her to Lucknow. There she is sold for 150 There she is sold for 150 rupeesrupees to Khanum Jaan, the head to Khanum Jaan, the head tawaiftawaif of a of a kothakotha. She is renamed Umrao and begins to study . She is renamed Umrao and begins to study classical musicclassical music and and dancedance. Together with the other apprentice . Together with the other apprentice tawaiftawaif and Gauhar Mirza, the mischievous illegitimate son of and Gauhar Mirza, the mischievous illegitimate son of a local Nawab, she is taught to read and write in both Urdu and a local Nawab, she is taught to read and write in both Urdu and PersianPersian. As Umrao grows up, she is surrounded by a culture . As Umrao grows up, she is surrounded by a culture of luxury, music and poetry. She eventually gains her first client, (earning her the suffix of of luxury, music and poetry. She eventually gains her first client, (earning her the suffix of jaanjaan) but prefers the impoverished ) but prefers the impoverished Gauhar Mirza, her friend.Gauhar Mirza, her friend.

Umrao Jaan attracts the handsome and wealthy Nawab Sultan. The couple fall in love, but after a jealous customer tries to Umrao Jaan attracts the handsome and wealthy Nawab Sultan. The couple fall in love, but after a jealous customer tries to start a fight with Nawab Sultan, he shoots him and the jealous customer Zabardast Khan dies. He no longer comes to the start a fight with Nawab Sultan, he shoots him and the jealous customer Zabardast Khan dies. He no longer comes to the kothakotha and Umrao Jaan must meet him secretly , by the help of Gauhar Mirza. As Umrao Jaan continues to see Nawab and Umrao Jaan must meet him secretly , by 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, 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 showers Umrao Jaan with jewels and gold, but warns her not to tell anyone about his gifts. When he invites her to travel to FarrukhabadFarrukhabad, Khanum Jaan refuses so Umrao Jaan must run away. On the way to Farrukhabad, they are attacked by , Khanum Jaan refuses so Umrao Jaan must run away. On the way to Farrukhabad, they are attacked by soldiers and Umrao Jaan discovers that Faiz is a soldiers and Umrao Jaan discovers that Faiz is a dacoitdacoit and all of his gifts have been stolen goods. Faiz Ali escapes with his and all of his gifts have been stolen goods. Faiz Ali escapes with his brother Fazl Ali and she is imprisoned, but luckily one of the brother Fazl Ali and she is imprisoned, but luckily one of the tawaiftawaif from Khanum Jaan's from Khanum Jaan's kothakotha is in the service of the Raja is in the service of the Raja whose soldiers arrested her so Umrao Jaan is freed. As soon as she leaves the Raja's court, Faiz Ali finds her and gets her whose soldiers arrested her so Umrao Jaan is freed. As soon as she leaves the Raja's court, Faiz Ali finds her and gets her to come with him. He is soon captured and Umrao Jaan, reluctant to return to Khanum Jaan, sets up as a to come with him. He is soon captured and Umrao Jaan, reluctant to return to Khanum Jaan, sets up as a tawaiftawaif in in KanpurKanpur. . While she is performing in the house of a kindly While she is performing in the house of a kindly BegumBegum, armed bandits led by Fazl Ali try to rob the house, but leave when , armed bandits led by Fazl Ali try to rob the house, but leave when they see that Umrao Jaan is there. Then Gauhar Mirza comes to Kanpur and she decides to return to the they see that Umrao Jaan is there. Then Gauhar Mirza comes to Kanpur and she decides to return to the kothakotha..

Umrao Jaan performs at the court of Umrao Jaan performs at the court of Wajid Ali ShahWajid Ali Shah until the until the Siege of LucknowSiege of Lucknow forces her to flee the city for Faizabad. There 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 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 dead. Devastated, Umrao Jaan returns to Lucknow now that the mutinymutiny is over. She meets the Begum from Kanpur again in 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 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 Dilivar Khan is arrested and Sultan and the two are now married. Another ghost of Umrao Jaan's past is put to rest when Dilivar Khan is arrested and hung for robbery. With her earnings and the gold that Faiz Ali gave her, she is able to live comfortably and eventually retires hung 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 from her life as a tawaiftawaif..

POETRY OF NOVELPOETRY OF NOVEL

The novel consists upon prose and poetry The novel consists upon prose and poetry both.both.

It has beautiful poetry as well as prose.It has beautiful poetry as well as prose.

POETRY OF NOVELPOETRY OF NOVEL

POETRY OF NOVELPOETRY OF NOVEL

MEDIAMEDIA

Over the years the novel has inspired Over the years the novel has inspired many films both in many films both in IndiaIndia and Pakistan. and Pakistan. First it was made into a Pakistani film in First it was made into a Pakistani film in 1972, 1972, Umrao Jaan AdaUmrao Jaan Ada, starring Rani and , starring Rani and Shahid and directed by Hasan Tariq,then Shahid and directed by Hasan Tariq,then into three Indian films: into three Indian films: MehndiMehndi (1958) by (1958) by director S.M. Yusuf, the 1981 film director S.M. Yusuf, the 1981 film Umrao Umrao JaanJaan, made by Muzaffar Ali and , made by Muzaffar Ali and Umrao Umrao JaanJaan by J.P. Dutta by J.P. Dutta

PAKISTAN(1972)PAKISTAN(1972) Screen Play:SAIF-UD-DIN SAIFIScreen Play:SAIF-UD-DIN SAIFI Directed by:HASSAN TARIQDirected by:HASSAN TARIQ STARRING:STARRING: RaniRani ShahidShahid Agha TalishAgha Talish Nayyar SultanaNayyar Sultana RangeelaRangeela And Others….And Others….

PAKISTAN(2003)PAKISTAN(2003)TELEVISIONTELEVISION

The novel was also the theme of a The novel was also the theme of a Pakistani television serial, Pakistani television serial, Umrao Jan Umrao Jan AdaAda, aired in 2003.It was directed by Rana , aired in 2003.It was directed by Rana Sheikh and the storyline was written by Sheikh and the storyline was written by poet Zehra Nigah. poet Zehra Nigah.

Cast:Bushra Ansari, Atiqa Odho, Meera, Cast:Bushra Ansari, Atiqa Odho, Meera, Resham, Amina Bano, Sadia Imam, Resham, Amina Bano, Sadia Imam, Adnan Siddiqui, Humayun Saeed, Gia AliAdnan Siddiqui, Humayun Saeed, Gia Ali

INDIA(1981)INDIA(1981)

Made by Muzaffar AliMade by Muzaffar AliStarring:Starring:RekhaRekhaNASIR-UD-DUN ShahNASIR-UD-DUN ShahFarooqe ShaikhFarooqe ShaikhAnd Others….And Others….

INDIA(2006)INDIA(2006)

Made by:J.P.DuttaMade by:J.P.DuttaStarring:Starring:Ashwariya RaiAshwariya RaiAbhishaik BachanAbhishaik BachanShabana AzmiShabana AzmiSunail ShaithiSunail ShaithiAnd OthersAnd Others

ENDEND

UMRAO JAAN ADA is not only a novel, UMRAO JAAN ADA is not only a novel, but it shows us the picture of old and but it shows us the picture of old and traditional sub-continent especially traditional sub-continent especially LUCKNOW….LUCKNOW….

THANK YOUTHANK YOU