Shatranj Ke Khilari
Directed by	Satyajit Ray
Written by	Munshi Premchand, Satyajit Ray
Release date(s)	10 March 1977
Running time	129 min
Country	India
Language	Urdu/Hindi
Budget	Rs. 20 lakh ($50,000) [1]

Shatranj Ke Khilari (The Chess Players) is a 1977 Indian film by Bengali director Satyajit Ray, based on Munshi Premchand's short story of the same name. Amjad Khan plays the role of Avadh king Wajid Ali Shah, and Richard Attenborough plays the role of General James Outram. The film also features the actors Sanjeev Kumar, Saeed Jaffrey, Shabana Azmi, David Abraham and Tom Alter.

Unlike most of Ray's films, the dialogue in the film is in Urdu and Hindi. There is little dialogue but the fastidious research and sophisticated portrayal of clashing cultures earned acclaim from both film critics and historians of the period.

The film is set in 1856 and shows the life and customs of 19th century India on the eve of the Indian rebellion of 1857. The focus is on events surrounding the British annexation of the Indian State of Oudh, the politics of colonial expansion by the British East India Company and the deluded divisions of Indian monarchs.

The Chess Players employed stars of the Bombay cinema (Amjad Khan, Shabana Azmi and Amitabh Bachan as a narrator) together with Western actors such as Richard Attenborough. Much of the film was shot on location in Lucknow and Rajasthan. Ray was so impressed with Amitabh Bachchan that he decided to use his voice as commentary in Shatranj Ke Khiladi since he did not find any suitable role for him.[1]

The film went on to win three Filmfare Awards, including the Critics Award for Best Movie, and was a nominee for the Golden Bear for Best Film at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Contents 1 Cast 2 Story 3 Awards 4 Notes 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Cast

• Sanjeev Kumar - Mirza Sajjad Ali
• Saeed Jaffrey - Mir Roshan Ali
• Shabana Azmi - Khurshid, Mirza's wife
• Farida Jalal - Nafisa, Mir's wife
• Amjad Khan - Wajid Ali Shah
• David Abraham - Munshi Nandlal
• Richard Attenbrough - General James Outram
• Victor Banerjee - Prime Minister
• Farooq Shaikh - Aqueel
• Tom Alter - Capt. Weston (Outram's aide de camp)
• Leela Mishra - Hirya, Khurshid's maid
• Samarth Narain - Kallu
• Bhudo Advani - Abbajani
• Amitabh Bachchan - (narrator)

[edit] Story

The film shows in parallel the historical drama of the Indian kingdom Awadh (whose capital is Lucknow) and its Muslim Nawab Wajid Ali Shah who is overthrown by the British, alongside the story of two chess-obsessed noblemen.

The Nawab is portrayed as a debauched but sympathetic figure by Satyajit Ray. He is an artist and poet, no longer in command of events and unable to effectively oppose the British demand for his throne. Parallel to this wider drama is the personal (and sometimes humorous) tale of two rich noblemen of this kingdom, Mirza Sajjad Ali and Meer Roshan Ali. Inseparable friends, the two nobles became passionately obsessed with the game of shatranj (chess), neglecting their wives and failing to act against the real-life seizure of their kingdom by the East India Company. Instead, the two nobles abandon their families and responsibilities, fleeing from Lucknow to play chess in village exile untroubled by greater events. Ray's basic theme in the film is the message that the detachment of India's ruling classes assisted a small number of British officials and soldiers to take over Oudh without opposition.

The role of Captain Weston, so British in his ways, but in love with Urdu poetry, is also worth noting.

In the last scene, after which Mir shoots at Mirza and complains out loud "I won't have a partner to play chess with", Mirza responds to him "but you have one in front of you!" (thus making him understand that he forgives him). He finally concludes that "after nightfall, we will go back home. We both need darkness to hide our faces."

[edit] Awards

Filmfare Awards

• Won, Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie
• Won, Filmfare Best Director Award - Satyajit Ray
• Won, Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award - Saeed Jaffrey

Berlin International Film Festival

• Nominated, Golden Bear for Best Film - Satyajit Ray

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• Andrew Robinson, "Satyajit Ray's The Chess Players", History Today, July 2007

[edit] External links

• Shatranj Ke Khilari at the Internet Movie Database
• "Shatranj Ke Khilari (The Chess Players)". Satyajit Ray official site. http://www.satyajitray.org/films/shatran.htm. Retrieved 2009-04-24. 

Awards
Preceded by Mrigayaa	Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie 1978	Succeeded by Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastaan

v • d • e Films by Satyajit Ray Director & Writer The Apu Trilogy Pather Panchali (1955) • Aparajito (1956) • Apur Sansar (1959) Goopy & Bagha Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne (1969) • Hirak Rajar Deshe (1980) Calcutta Trilogy Pratidwandi (1970) • Seemabaddha (1971) • Jana Aranya (1976) Feluda series Sonar Kella (1974) • Joi Baba Felunath (1978) Other films Parash Pathar (1958) • Jalsaghar (1958) • Devi (1960) • Teen Kanya (1961) • Rabindranath Tagore (1961) • Kanchenjungha (1962) • Abhijan (1962) • Mahanagar (1963) • Charulata (1964) • Two (1964) • Kapurush (1965) • Mahapurush (1965) • Nayak (1966) • Chiriyakhana (1967) • Aranyer Din Ratri (1970) • Sikkim (1971) • The Inner Eye (1972) • Ashani Sanket (1973) • Bala (1976) • Shatranj Ke Khilari (1977) • Pikoo (1980) • Sadgati (1981) • Ghare Baire (1984) • Sukumar Ray (1987) • Ganashatru (1989) • Shakha Proshakha (1990) • Agantuk (1991) Writer Bankubabur Bandhu The Alien (1967) • Bankubabur Bandhu (2006) Feluda series Baksho Rahashya (1996) • Bombaiyer Bombete (2003) • Kailashey Kelenkari (2007) • Tintorettor Jishu (2008) Other films Goopy Bagha Phire Elo (1991) • Target (1995)

v • d • e Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie 1970s Uski Roti (1971) · Ashadh Ka Ek Din (1972) · Maya Darpan (1973) · Duvidha (1974) · Rajnigandha (1975) · Aandhi (1976) · Mrigayaa (1977) · Shatranj Ke Khilari (1978) · Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastaan (1979) 1980s Jeena Yahan (1980) · Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Ata Hai (1981) · Aadharshila (1982) · Masoom (1983) · Sookha (1984) · Damul (1985) · Aghaat (1986) · Om-Dar-Ba-Dar (1989) 1990s Khayal Gatha (1990) · Kasba (1991) · Diksha (1992) · Idiot (1993) · Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1994) · Bandit Queen (1995) · Bombay (1996) · Khamoshi (1997) · Virasat (1998) · Satya (1999) 2000s Sarfarosh (2000) · Halo (2001) · Dil Chahta Hai (2002) · The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2003) · Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2004) · Dev and Yuva (2005) · Black (2006) · Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2007) · Chak De! India (2008) · Mumbai Meri Jaan (2009)