Customer Reviews

Umrao Jaan

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Having been a fan of the 1981 classic starring Rekha in the title role, I wasn't sure what to expect, but was more than staisfied by the amazing performances in this movie. The story centers around an aging courtesan Umrao Jaan Ada who tells her life story to another poet through a series of flashbacks.

The title character is played to convincing effect by Aishwarya Rai. It is not just her luminous beauty that shines through here - every facial expression, the lift of an eyebrow, her smile, her tears, are all beievable in conveying her character's emotions. The dance sequences were also very good - I never thought of Aishwarya as a great dancer until this movie, the movements are so natural, and authentic. Rekha, in the original was an amazing dancer too, and both in their own unique ways bring the character of Umrao Jaan to glorious life on screen.

Umrao Jaan's love interest, Nawab Sultan is played convincingly by Abshishek Bachchan, and their on-screen chemistry practically sizzles [they are now a real-life married couple]. Each love scene is beautifully and subtly done, and comes across as tender with an underlying passion that is hard to miss.

There are also secondary characters in this movie that deserve mention - namely, the brothel owner, Khanum Sahib, played by veteran actress Shabana Azmi. Her character's greed for wealth is also touched by some shred of humanity, and very well done. Sunil Shetty plays the dacoit who lusts after Umrao, and his character comes across as savage and ruthless whilst also tender when faced by Umrao's dazzling beauty and finesse.

The songs are all beautiful, and the costumes and sets simply sumptuous. This is definitely one of the best Bollywood musicals to come along, enhanced by a compelling plot and credible acting. Highly recommended period piece!

This film is quite possibly Aishwarya Rai's greatest performance. She easily holds this film together in the title role and lends an enormous dignity to the character of Umrao Jaan. She wonderfully translates the feeling of a woman who just can't fight her fate. Beautiful piece of cinema.

I agree that this is perhaps Aishwayra Rai's finest work (and I've seen most of them). Umrao Jaan's story is fascinating, uplifting, and heartbreaking all at the same time. The photoggraphy, costumes, and music are spectacular. The way the two stars express their character's love for each other, using nothing but their eyes, is sheer brilliance.

I was lead by the ratings, fine actors and description to try this movie. I have been heavily into Bollywood of late.
I was disappointed in this one - not because it wasnt well done. It was but my taste, I now find, is more modern. This is more traditionally Indian in its solo female dances, presentation etc. The songs are almost entirely of the female voice and there are none of the group dances I love.
The chemistry between Ahbishek and Aishwarya is more powerful than they've often done (was this when they were dating?), and the acting throughout was excellent, yet for me there was a sameness to the movie and I found myself bored.
From the other critiques I see this is about my taste and not the movie.
So I am just posting this for others like me looking at Bollywood. If your taste is more modern and popular this may not be for you either. If you like traditional and arthouse this may be just the thing you're after -and it is well done.
Perhaps I shouldnt have made it the next one to watch after Jodha Akbar which, while having an arty historical feel I found very compelling and memorable. Perhaps that was a hard act to follow.

This movie was amazing. Aishwarya did a wonderful job as Umrao Jaan! Its sad that this movie did not get what it deserved at the box office- this is one of the most underrated movies. The story is a classic, so you know that there will be no flaw there- the movie lies in the acting and songs- which are amazing. Aishwarya gave an outstanding performance, the movie was very beautiful (the colors and sets are gorgeous). Aishwarya looked stunning in this movie.
This movie is one of the best bollywood movies!

A beautiful but sad story of a courtesan played very well by Aishwarya. Can't be said of Abshishek though, I always thought his acting were rather stilted in other movies and in this one he is pretty much the same! Aishwarya danced so well and so authentically like a true classical Indian dancer. Watch this movie for Aishwarya's performance, the costumes,the story, the music scores and the dancing of course, thus earning a 4 star from me but could have been a 5 star if it wasn't for Abshishek's bland performance!

I love the love story this movie potrayed. The customes were the best as well as the music. I did not cared if I had to read the Subtittles. If you love romace, the culture of India you will enjoy Umrao Jaan.

This movie is the most beautifully shot movie I have ever seen. (And I've seen many.) Not "cool" shots or anything like that, just beautiful. Full of color, scenery, and architecture.

Some reviews say about how great the dancing was. I disagree. I thought it was kinda lame. But she's so beautiful why not focus on her face?!

It has a great story line. Actually interesting and not fluff. I love Bollywood movies but they do tend to be corney. This one is not.

The soundtrack is by Anu Malik, whose music I've grown to love (The asoka soundtrack was awesome!) And you can choose to listen to just the songs on the menu. Still has the talking in it though.

This movie's running time is over three hours. The audio and video is superbly done on this DVD. No cheap crackling sound or graining picture.

The film is a remake of a 1981 Bollywood picture by the same title and both are based on the 1905 novel Umrao Jaan Ada about the life of a famous courtesan in the Indian city of Lucknow in the mid-1800s. Real-life husband and wife Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai play the romantic leads--and they are as gorgeous together onscreen as they are off. Rai's portrayal of the hapless Umrao is creditable, but Bachchan brings little to his role, other than looking dashing in period attire and staring at his co-star like he wants to devour her. The film's biggest problem, however, is the lack of strong conflicts to drive the story, as it merely recounts a long series of tragedies that devastate Umrao. Still, the movie is set in an enchanting time and place in India's history, when Lucknow's brothels were the epicenter of culture. The sumptuous costumes and traditional dances alone are fascinating. - The Bollywood Ticket: The American guide to Indian movies (Subscribe: The Bollywood Ticket)

This remake of a classic period peice is beautiful. Its not the flashy song and dance explosion you expect in a bollywood film, but endears itself to you with it's realistic drama, brillant acting by all and huanting story. If you think bollywood is all melo-drama and cheeze, this movie proves you wrong with a film worthy of the Bard himself.