UMRAO JAAN UMRAO JAAN ADAADA

AWAIS IDREESAWAIS IDREES10020661-03510020661-035

IntroductionIntroductionUmrao Jaan AdaUmrao Jaan Ada ( (Urdu: : ادا جان ادا امراؤ جان is )is( ( (امراؤ

an an Urdu novel by novel by Mirza Hadi Ruswa (1857–1931), first published in 1899.It (1857–1931), first published in 1899.It is considered the first Urdu novel by is considered the first Urdu novel by many and tells the story of a courtesan many and tells the story of a courtesan and poetess by the same name from and poetess by the same name from 19th century 19th century Lucknow, as recounted by , as recounted by her to the author,while published in her to the author,while published in English in 1970.English in 1970.

AuthorAuthor Mirza Muhammad Hadi RuswaMirza Muhammad Hadi Ruswa ( (Urdu: : رسوا ہادی محمد رسوا مرزا ہادی محمد – – 18571857) () (مرزا

October 21, 1931) was a renowned October 21, 1931) was a renowned Urdu poet and writer of poet and writer of fiction, plays, and treatises (mainly on fiction, plays, and treatises (mainly on religion, , philosophy, and , and astronomy). He remained on the ). He remained on the Nizam of Awadh's advisory 's advisory board on language matters for years. He was well-versed in board on language matters for years. He was well-versed in Urdu, , Persian, , Arabic, , Hebrew, , English, , Latin, and , and Greek

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

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

ThemeTheme The novel is known for its elaborate The novel is known for its elaborate

portrayal of mid-19th century portrayal of mid-19th century Lucknow, its decadent society, and Lucknow, its decadent society, and also describes as a subtext, the moral also describes as a subtext, the moral hypocrisy of the patriarchal system of hypocrisy of the patriarchal system of the times, where Umrao Jaan also the times, where Umrao Jaan also becomes the symbol of a nation that becomes the symbol of a nation that had long attracted many suitors who had long attracted many suitors who were only looking to exploit her.were only looking to exploit 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 Faizabad. 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. 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 Lucknow. There she is sold for 150 rupees to Khanum Jaan, the head to Khanum Jaan, the head tawaif of a of a kothakotha. She is renamed Umrao and . She is renamed Umrao and begins to study begins to study classical music and and dance. Together with the other apprentice . Together with the other apprentice tawaiftawaif and Gauhar Mirza, the and Gauhar Mirza, the mischievous illegitimate son of a local Nawab, she is taught to read and write in both Urdu and mischievous illegitimate son of a local Nawab, she is taught to read and write in both Urdu and Persian. As Umrao . As Umrao grows up, she is surrounded by a culture of luxury, music and poetry. She eventually gains her first client, (earning her grows up, she is surrounded by a culture of luxury, music and poetry. She eventually gains her first client, (earning her the suffix of the suffix of jaanjaan) but prefers the impoverished Gauhar Mirza, her friend.) but prefers the impoverished Gauhar Mirza, her friend.

Umrao Jaan attracts the handsome and wealthy Nawab Sultan. The couple fall in love, but after a jealous customer tries 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 to start a fight with Nawab Sultan, he shoots him and the jealous customer Zabardast Khan dies. He no longer comes to the the kothakotha and Umrao Jaan must meet him secretly , by the help of Gauhar Mirza. As Umrao Jaan continues to see 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 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 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 to travel to Farrukhabad, Khanum Jaan refuses so Umrao Jaan must run away. On the way to Farrukhabad, they are , 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 attacked by soldiers and Umrao Jaan discovers that Faiz is a dacoit and all of his gifts have been stolen goods. Faiz Ali 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 escapes with his 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 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 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 to come with him. He is soon captured and Umrao Jaan, reluctant to return to Khanum Jaan, sets 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 up as a tawaiftawaif in in Kanpur. While she is performing in the house of a kindly . While she is performing in the house of a kindly Begum, armed bandits led by Fazl Ali try to , 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 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 to return to the kothakotha..

Umrao Jaan performs at the court of Umrao Jaan performs at the court of Wajid Ali Shah until the until the Siege of Lucknow forces her to flee the city for Faizabad. 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 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 better off dead. Devastated, Umrao Jaan returns to Lucknow now that the mutiny is over. She meets the Begum from 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 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 Dilivar 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 hung for robbery. With her earnings and the gold that Faiz Ali gave her, she is able to live 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 from her life as a comfortably and eventually retires from her life as a tawaiftawaif..

POETRY OF NOVELPOETRY OF NOVELThe novel consists upon prose and The novel consists upon prose and

poetry both.poetry both.

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

POETRY OF NOVELPOETRY OF NOVEL

POETRY OF NOVELPOETRY OF NOVEL

MEDIAMEDIAOver the years the novel has inspired Over the years the novel has inspired

many films both in many films both in India 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 , aired in 2003.It was directed by Rana Sheikh and the storyline was Rana Sheikh and the storyline was written by poet Zehra Nigah. written by poet Zehra Nigah.

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