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Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Rekha's gun-wielding fans turned up on Umrao Jaan sets, Muzaffar Ali recalls how he made them a part of shoot: Umrao Jaan re-release
For those who have seen Muzaffar Ali's melancholic opus Umrao Jaan, with Rekha inhabiting the titular role like a faded dream, it is nearly impossible to move beyond its spell. The film simmers, its frames soaked in poetry, its sorrow rendered with grace. Rekha's performance aches tacitly, Asha Bhosle's voice weaves through Shahryar's verses like silk through smoke, and the Urdu… it breathes. And now, for those who have only heard of its legend, scratches of its songs, the verses of ghazals played late into the night, it is a moment to look forward to. Umrao Jaan returns to the screen on June 27th, inviting both the old lovers and the curious new to lose themselves once again. In a conversation with SCREEN, at his equally sumptuous villa in Juhu, Ali reflected on what first inspired him to adapt Umrao Jaan Ada, the novel on which his film is based. 'My passion has always been Awadh, Lucknow, its people, its culture,' he said. 'That's what I carried with me, even when I was in Calcutta watching Satyajit Ray at work. He was deeply devoted to Bengal, to its spirit. And I knew then, I wanted to do something about Awadh, to tell one of its stories. The idea was always about this girl, set a hundred years ago, yet facing something timeless. Torn from her roots, raised and sold into a kotha. And from there, becoming a creative force in her own right, shaping her own story. That moved me.' He found that story in Mirza Hadi Ruswa's Umrao Jaan Ada, 'a book,' he said, 'that truly inspired me.' Responding to Rekha's remark in an old BBC Urdu interview, where she humbly claimed she did nothing to deserve the National Award for Umrao Jaan, crediting instead the film's triumph to the craftsmen and technicians behind it, Ali agreed with her sentiment, yet offered a deeper view. 'Of course,' he said, 'she had to prepare on many levels. Language, singing, dancing. Yes, there were people to guide her, but she performed beyond expectations.' Expanding on this, Ali reflected, 'You see, Rekha understood from the very beginning that this film would matter. She sensed that it would give her a chance to express something deep within her. She honoured that instinct from the first frame. Working with her was a gift, because this film is woven from quiet emotions. And it takes an actor like her to absorb those feelings and translate them onto the screen.' Also Read | Rekha and Umrao Jaan: The story of women who learn to live with broken hearts Recalling another moment from the shoot, Ali spoke about an incident Farooq Sheikh once recounted, when a group of Rekha's fans reportedly turned up with guns, eager to catch a glimpse of the shoot in progress. Laughing, Ali said, 'It wasn't as scary as it sounds. But yes, there was a little episode. We were shooting in Malihabad, and some locals, clearly excited, showed up wanting to watch. So I let them in.' 'They were thrilled,' he smiled. 'And later, I even cast them in the film. You see, I made them all decoys, using the very same guns they'd brought.' Speaking about Sheikh, whom Ali had earlier directed in his debut film Gaman, he said, 'Farooq was a remarkably natural actor. He brought a sense of realism to his roles. He wasn't like anyone else I could have imagined.' 'There was a softness in him,' Ali continued, 'an aristocratic grace paired with a subtle sophistication. And yet, nothing about him felt 'filmy.' Even in Gaman, he carried a different kind of rawness, windblown, a little lost. In Bombay, people often grow hard. But Farooq held on to his gentleness, that innocence. That's what I needed in my characters, and he brought it beautifully.' While talking about Sheikh and Rekha, it is impossible not to mention the legendary song 'In Aankhon Ki Masti Ke', which was shot in long takes, as if the camera were soaking in all the grief and romance that hung in the air. Explaining this visual choice, he said, 'You have to bring out the meaning of the words, you have to bring out the language of the face, or the story on the face. So I think the face became a very important element; the stories are in the eyes. You have to dwell on that to be able to tell the story. You couldn't have had a quick, fast-paced film or too many movements. The movements are any way happening within the frame.' There is also a certain perception among audiences that Umrao Jaan was, even if subconsciously, inspired by Kamal Amrohi's Pakeezah. However, Ali denied any such influence, saying, 'I don't think Pakeezah had anything to do with this film. Because, you see, the character has a different look and feel. The film also has a different style. I don't think you'll find any frame where you feel it's inspired by Pakeezah. Except for the fact that this is a courtesan, and that was a courtesan. But that was a very commercial kind of treatment of the subject. In this, the treatment is very individualistic and abstract.' As the film gears up for a re-release, he shared how the entire cast and crew are planning to come together to watch the film with the audience, to live it all over again and witness its reception now. He also mentioned that the film might be best suited for OTT, as it's a reflective, mood-driven piece, ideal for personal, intimate viewing. But for now, he's glad it isn't on any platform, as that absence has created a thirst among audiences to see it again on the big screen. And as a filmmaker, what more could he ask for, 44 years after its release?
Express Tribune
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
IAEA refutes Indian media reports of radiation leak in Pakistan
Listen to article As Pakistan and India trade accusations over nuclear weapons mismanagement, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that 'no radiation leakage or incident has been detected at any nuclear site in Pakistan,' BBC Urdu reported on Thursday. The issue came up after unverified reports emerged in Indian media, alleging that Indian airstrikes targeted Pakistan's Kerana Hills, where a stockpile of nuclear missiles is reportedly located. Amid the media speculation, the IAEA confirmed to the British broadcaster that 'based on available data, no radiation leakage or incident has been detected at any nuclear site in Pakistan.' The Indian Air Force also denied striking any nuclear facility. Earlier, Indian Air Marshal AK Bharti was asked at a press briefing whether reports of a strike on the Kirana Hills nuclear site were accurate. 'Thank you for informing us that there is a nuclear facility there—we didn't know,' he said sarcastically, adding, 'we did not target Kirana Hills, regardless of what is or isn't there.' India and Pakistan traded accusations of nuclear weapons mismanagement on Thursday, days after reaching a ceasefire agreement following days of escalation. India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the IAEA should take control of Pakistan's nuclear weapons—just days after the two nuclear-armed neighbours concluded one of their worst military escalations in nearly three decades. 'Are nuclear weapons safe in the hands of such an irresponsible and rogue nation?' Singh asked while addressing soldiers in Srinagar, the capital of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). 'I believe that Pakistan's nuclear weapons should be taken under the supervision of the IAEA.' Pakistan responded firmly, calling the remarks 'provocative' and aimed at undermining the credibility of its nuclear deterrent. The Foreign Office strongly condemned the Indian Defence Minister's comments, labelling them 'irresponsible' and reflective of India's 'frustration and insecurity.' 'These remarks are not only misleading but also reflect a lack of understanding of the IAEA's mandate,' said the FO spokesperson, adding that Pakistan does not rely on nuclear blackmail to maintain deterrence—unlike India. The statement further noted that India's remarks expose 'growing insecurity over Pakistan's robust conventional and nuclear deterrence,' while also citing past instances of nuclear material mishandling in India to question New Delhi's own safety protocols. The Indian minister's statement comes at a sensitive time, as both countries attempt to maintain the 2021 ceasefire agreement along the Line of Control (LoC). Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar announced that the militaries of India and Pakistan have agreed to extend last week's ceasefire until Sunday, May 18. Addressing the Senate on Thursday, he said the extension paves the way for renewed political dialogue. Meanwhile, the Pakistani military's chief spokesperson has cautioned that any serious escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours could have catastrophic consequences. 'The world now recognises the extent of the nuclear threat [in the region]. Any sane player, like the USA, understands this absurdity and what the Indians are trying to do here,' DG ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry told Sky News in an interview on Thursday. 'If India thinks that it can carve out a space for war between India and Pakistan, it is actually a recipe for carving out mutual destruction,' he added.
India Today
08-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Pak MP admits to India targeting Jaish chief Masood Azhar under Op Sindoor
Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar was targeted in the precision strikes carried out by India under Operation Sindoor, Pakistan MP Malik Muhammad Iqbal admitted in the national assembly, a section of the Pakistan media reported on response to the deadly Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, India launched precision strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under Op Sindoor on about the operation in the Assembly the Pakistani MP reportedly said, "India attacked Bahawalpur, targeted a mosque and a madrasa, and attacked Maulana Masood Azhar. If the country is in danger then we are all together." On Wednesday, Masood Azhar reportedly said that as many as 10 members of his family and four aides were killed in Indian strikes in Pakistan's Bahawalpur. Those killed include Azhar's elder sister and her husband, his nephew and his wife, another niece and five children of his family, BBC Urdu reported, citing a statement by the JeM InMust Watch
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'It felt like the sky turned red', says witness to India strike in Pakistan
On Wednesday morning, dozens of people gathered on the perimeter of a sprawling complex in the Pakistani city of Muridke to see the damage for themselves. Overnight, Indian missiles had pounded buildings at this site, which lies not far from the border with India in Pakistan's Punjab region, and just a short drive from the major city of Lahore. No one was being allowed into the complex - but even from a distance as BBC reporters peered through the barbed wire fence surrounding it, the damage was unmistakable. The BBC spoke to people on the ground who witnessed the bombardment first-hand. "It was the main mosque that got targeted," one man said. "The sky lit up and it felt like the sky turned red." Another said: "A sudden missile appeared and there was a blast. I immediately got out the house. "I had only reached the mosque near my house when there were three more consecutive blasts. I heard all three, they were really loud." When a BBC team arrived in Muridke, security service personnel were closely controlling access to the site. [BBC Urdu] From a road surrounded by dense housing, the BBC's team could see a partially collapsed building and rubble spread over a huge area. Emergency workers were still searching the wreckage for any injured or dead. This complex houses a hospital, school and mosque, while India said it had hit sites linked to what it calls terror organisations - so why was it targeted? The answer appears to lie in its past. Until a few years ago, it was originally used by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a Pakistan-based militant group which is designated as a terror organisation by the United Nations. It was later used by Jamaat-ud-Dawa, which observers have described as a front group for LeT. Both groups have been banned by the Pakistani government, which has since taken over the facilities in Muridke. [EPA] But on Tuesday night, this complex was in the crosshairs of an Indian military which has vowed to respond to the killing of tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir last month. India's government says its strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir targeted what it described as terrorist infrastructure. Pakistan's government has denied any links to the Pahalgam attack. One man told us the Muridke complex usually houses children from miles around who come to study at the madrasa, though it was largely evacuated a week ago. Later in the day, camera crews were allowed to access the site and see the damage up close. The roof of one building had crumpled under the force of an explosion. Holes had been torn through the walls of another and a large amount of debris was scattered across the ground. Across this region, people are hoping there is not more debris before long.
New Indian Express
07-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Jaish chief Masood Azhar says 10 family members, four aides killed in Operation Sindoor: Report
Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar has admitted that 10 members of his family and four close associates were killed in Indian strikes on the terror outfit's headquarters in Bahawalpur, Pakistan. The admission came through a statement issued by Azhar and reported by BBC Urdu and PTI on Wednesday, a day after India launched Operation Sindoor, its targeted retaliation to the Pahalgam massacre. According to the statement, those killed in the strike on the Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah campus included Azhar's elder sister and her husband, a nephew and his wife, another niece, and five children from his extended family. Also among the dead were a trusted aide of Azhar and his mother, along with two other close companions. The Subhan Allah complex in Bahawalpur was one of the key targets in the coordinated Indian military operation that began at 1:05 am on Tuesday. It was one of two high-impact hits as part of India's cross-border strike on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Indian forces targeted nine locations linked to Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen in response to the April 27 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people — mostly tourists — were gunned down by Pakistan-backed terrorists. Bahawalpur, the 12th largest city in Pakistan and located roughly 400 km from Lahore, has long served as the epicentre of JeM's activities. The Bahawalpur strike was particularly significant as the Subhan Allah campus, also referred to as the Usman-o-Ali campus, functioned as JeM's ideological and operational hub. Spread across 18 acres, the campus housed a mosque and facilities used for recruitment, indoctrination, and fundraising.
