Maqbool मक़बूल مقبُول
Directed by	Vishal Bharadwaj
Produced by	Bobby Bedi
Written by	William Shakespeare (play, Macbeth) Vishal Bharadwaj (screenplay & dialogues) Abbas Tyrewala (screenplay)
Starring	Irfan Khan Tabu Pankaj Kapoor Om Puri Naseeruddin Shah Piyush Mishra Masumeh Makhija Deepak Dobriyal
Music by	Vishal Bharadwaj
Cinematography	Hemant Chaturvedi
Editing by	Aarif Sheikh
Distributed by	Yash Raj Films Pvt. Ltd.
Release date(s)	January 30, 2004
Running time	132 mins
Country	India
Language	Hindi/Urdu
Budget	INR 3,00,00,000

Maqbool (Hindi: मक़बूल, Urdu: مقبُول), a 2004 Indian film directed by Vishal Bharadwaj and starring Pankaj Kapoor, Irfan Khan, Tabu and Masumeh Makhija is an adaptation of the play Macbeth by Shakespeare.

The film had its North American premiere at the 2003 Toronto International Film Festival. Though the film failed to entice much of an audience during its theatrical run in India, critics were appreciative and Pankaj Kapoor went on to win a Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Critics) and a National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.

In a review posted on PassionForCinema.com, Amanda Sodhi writes, “Maqbool, an Indianized and refined version of Shakespeare’s tale of an ambitious man who kills all in his path to power under the influence of the woman he loves, is one of the many masterpieces Bharadwaj has offered to Indian cinema. Despite the film being a loose adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth, Bharadwaj brings so much of his creativity to this recreation, that Maqbool easily becomes a classic example of how innovative one can get even with a remake.”^[1]

[edit] Plot

Maqbool (Irfan Khan) is an orphan who was adopted by Abba Ji (Pankaj Kapoor), a powerful underworld don. Maqbool is grateful and feels a close connection and personal indebtedness to Abba ji, and works for him as his right hand man. Nimmi (Tabu) is Abba Ji's mistress, but she secretly loves Maqbool. Maqbool loves Nimmi, too, and they begin a passionate affair which leads to her persuading him to kill Abbaji in order to take over as don, and inherit her as mistress in addition to the fortune, repute and responsibility of leading the mafia. Maqbool is torn between his love for Nimmi and his loyalty to Abba ji, but he begins to prepare the ground for becoming don by ensuring that others in the line of inheritance cannot interfere. Finally, in a dramatic scene, Maqbool murders Abba ji in cold blood while he is bed at night, with Nimmi next to him. Maqbool gets away with it and takes over as don, just as planned; but both he and Nimmi are haunted by guilt, seeing Abbaji's ghosts and unable to wash the blood from their hands. There is also suspicion within the gang of Maqbool's role in the death of Abba ji, and eventually the lovers meet with tragic ends.

In addition to the portrayals of the three tragic heroes, the film offers performances by supporting cast members, in particular Om Puri and Naseeruddin Shah, who open the film in their roles as black comic relief corrupt police inspectors-cum-astrologers, who predict the fall of Abba ji—who has them on his payroll—and the rise and fall of Maqbool. Contrary to the original play, the corrupt cops are not just passive soothsayers. In an effort to what they refer as "balancing forces," they also actively involve in shaping events, like aiding in providing information to Abba ji's enforcers to wipe out a rival gang, using subtle nuances in coercing Maqbool to shift loyalties, deliberately botching an "encounter" attempt on Riyaz Boti (Macduff) and subsequently setting up an alliance between a rival politician (to the incumbent one, backed by Abba ji) and a fleeing Guddu (Fleance) and Riyaz Boti against Maqbool.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Crew

• Director: Vishal Bharadwaj
• Screenplay: Vishal Bharadwaj & Abbas Tyrewala
• Story: Vishal Bharadwaj & William Shakespeare
• Dialogue: Vishal Bharadwaj
• Producer: Bobby Bedi
• Music: Vishal Bharadwaj
• Editing: Aarif Sheikh
• Cinematography: Hemant Chaturvedi
• Stunts: Ravi Shinde
• Costume Designer: Payal Saluja
• Choreography: Bhushan Lakhandri
• Lyrics: Gulzar

[edit] Reception

Maqbool received positive reviews from critics. On IMDB, the movie currently has a rating of 8.3 out of 10.^[2] Rediff described the movie as"a visual gallery that is an intelligent blend of dark, tragic overtones and comic, satirical undertones. ".^[3] Variety wrote that while the visuals are great, audiences might need an understanding of Macbeth to fully enjoy the movie.^[4]

[edit] Soundtrack

Maqbool
Soundtrack by Vishal Bharadwaj
Released	2004
Recorded	Nirvana Studio
Genre	Film soundtrack
Label	Music Today

The soundtrack features eleven songs composed by Vishal Bharadwaj with lyrics by Gulzar.

[edit] See also

William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Maqbool at the Internet Movie Database
• Maqbool at Allmovie
• Review at Rediff.com
• One of the finest movies in Indian Cinema
• Review at Variety.com
• The Hollywood Reporter review

v • d • e William Shakespeare's Macbeth Characters Macbeth · Lady Macbeth · Banquo · Macduff · King Duncan Malcolm · Donalbain · Three Witches · Fleance · Lady Macduff · Macduff's son Scenes and speeches Sleepwalking Scene (5.1) · "Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow" Literary adaptations MacBird · Wyrd Sisters · The Third Witch · The Tragedy of Macbeth Part II Film and theatre adaptations Throne of Blood · Men of Respect · Scotland, PA · Maqbool · M · Macbeth (opera) · Macbeth (Bloch) · uMabatha Macbeth in film 1908 film · 1909 French film · 1909 Italian film · 1911 film · 1913 film · 1915 film · 1916 film · 1922 film · 1948 film · 1954 film · 1960 film · 1971 film · 1987 film · 2006 film · 2009 film