National Highway
Umrao Jaan, 2006 | Sep 22nd 2006
I love Muzaffar Ali’s Umrao Jaan so obsessively, have watched it god knows how many times, and especially the songs, oh I’ve listened to them more often than any other songs in the world! Walking by the streets, my day is made if I get to hear from a radio in a general store the words Dil cheez kya hain (lyrics) or the equally brilliant In ankhon ki masti (lyrics). Fittingly, this happens more frequently in Lucknow t
han in Delhi, as if Lucknow collectively apologises to her via rememberance.
And so it is that I was disappointed to hear that they were remaking Umrao Jaan with Aishwariya Rai. Why? Why do they have to do this?
Now that the movie is about to be out, I have to say one thing. Aishwariya Rai does look incredibly beautiful. Rekha did, too. But no comparisons please, okay?
32 Comments
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I agree. Similar feelings I had when I first heard about Ash as Umrao Jan. One wonders whether the film will live up to expectations. And what about lyrics….will they be a match to Shaharyar’s poetry!
Comment by Adnan — September 22, 2006 @ 1:46 pm
Will they be a match for Shaharyar’s poetry? They will not, of course.
Comment by Shivam Vij — September 22, 2006 @ 2:33 pm
Respect your love for the old golds but we should accept the change. Didn’t we accept Devdas, Legend of Bhagat Singh, Parineeta and many more… I have seen Umrao Jan (Rekha) so many times and now I am waiting for new version.
Comment by Pratyush Ranjan — September 22, 2006 @ 5:32 pm
These two songs play just as frequently in Delhi too, if not more than in Lucknow. Well at least in Jangpura. Almost every other day in fact, you’ll hear them floating out of a balcony in a lane parallel to your’s, usually around 9 am. Now perhaps you can tell me what vabasta means. Nobody else could thus far, and I have asked many
Comment by Lesley — September 22, 2006 @ 8:11 pm
Pratyush: Parineeta worked, but the other two films didn’t. I have a gut feeling the new Umrao Jaan will be a disappointment, and if it is, then I will finally get around to reading Khushwant Singh’s translation of Umrao Jaan Ada, the novel.
Lesley: Your first comment here!! Don’t make it the last. I must loiter around the paralell lane more often. And vabasta means ‘taluk rakhna, to have acquaintance. ‘In ankhon se vabasta deewanay hazaron hain,’ meaning thousands have associated with these eyes.
And they indeed have.
Comment by Shivam Vij — September 22, 2006 @ 9:58 pm
I am crazy about Umrao jaan not because i come from the place she orignaly belonged i.e. faizabad but that era crated by mujaffar ali cannot be created again. umrao jaan was not the most beautiful women of her time, what stood out was her virtues. A face like aishwarya can only add beauty to a frame, not the substance…and people alka yagnik is no patch on Asha bhosale’s orignal rendiations. She sounds squeaky in the song to say the least.
Comment by Viva — September 22, 2006 @ 10:08 pm
Vive: exactly. But do you also find it interesting that Asha Bhosle’s voice today is simply not the voice that sings In ankhon ki masti? Lata Mangeshkar’s voice, on the other hand, is great even today, though it has changed too, over the years.
Alka Yagnik, yuck!
Comment by Shivam Vij — September 22, 2006 @ 10:52 pm
I have similar views as well. This Umrao Jaan is going to disappoint us.
Also, we just can’t match the two leading ladies. Agreed, Ash is beautiful but she looks regal not the one what character demands in the film. Rekha had played a dusky girl coming from a middle class family, Ash just can’t look like that character. The emotions portrayed by Rekha were unmatched.
Again, it is ridiculous to compare Alka Yagnik with Asha Bhosale. Asha still rocks.
Comment by Cuckoo — September 22, 2006 @ 11:05 pm
Cuckoo: Did you just call Rekha dusky? Whaaaaat????
Comment by Shivam Vij — September 22, 2006 @ 11:09 pm
yeh kya jagah hai doston, ye kaun sa dayaar hai?
hadde nigah sab talak ghubar hi ghubar hai.
apne sheher se door, ham is naye aalam ke naye sheher main jazz sunte hain, whiesky peete hain, aur jangpura ke beetey dinon ko yaad karte hain.
palli waali gali ko bhi.
Comment by anand — September 22, 2006 @ 11:28 pm
Anand, you are raising homesickness to the level of an art. You will soon be writing ABCD diasporic novels rather than papers about the ruins of Delhi.
This Umrao Jaan song is sung by Talat Aziz and will brighten your mood a bit: http://66.45.233.12/umrao_jaan_(1981)_-_zindagi_jab_bhi.mp3
Comment by Shivam Vij — September 22, 2006 @ 11:51 pm
All ye REKHA fans get together.There is NO comparison whatsoever.The beauty,the grace,the VOICE of Rekha is eternal.Aishwarya is a plastic,artificial doll.The songs and rendition of the 1st(One and only )Umrao jaan are sacrosanct!!Theres no question of any expectation.
Comment by Dolly Saluja — October 4, 2006 @ 3:41 pm
Actually, with all due respect the Umrao Jaan with Rekha was Muzaffar Ali’s most commercial venture and not as critically acclaimed as Gaman (which also boasted superior music) There was much criticism of Rekha who with her 1980s Jane Fonda exercise regime and make up really looked nothing like the original Umrao Jaan (who was fairly plain) nor suggested a feel for delicacy or poetry. Even her recitation was not exactly authentic. Further, Umrao’s original poetry could not be used in the film kind of diluting it. So Rekha’s version itself is a “filmi” version and perhaps Ash’s is just a gaudier, glitzier version in line with our times (Devdas, Parineeta et al). Can’t quite imagine Urdu lines from Ash’s mouth either. The sole actress who perhaps comes closest to Ruswa’s book is the young Meena Kumari…too bad no one put her on film as Umrao.
Comment by shama — October 10, 2006 @ 9:24 am
You guys have some good points. Rarely does remakes come out better than the original. Very rarely. I don’t believe this will be the case with Umrao Jaan. Umrao Jaan is a classic.
Asha Bhosle did her thing with the songs, lowering her pitch, and showing everyone that she does have something on her big sister. Although beautiful, Aishwarya Rai can’t compare to Rekha. It’s just that people like Asha, Rekha, and the original movie itself are now legends, and you just shouldn’t try to replace or make it over. Leave it as is.
Comment by Alex — October 13, 2006 @ 6:07 pm
ITS ONLY A FILM, JESUS!
Comment by ALL OF U SHUT IT — October 25, 2006 @ 9:22 pm
Why bring JESUS into it ? You can say ITS ONLY A FILM ALLAH!
Jesus is White Man’s God, and we are talking about a Muslim film set in Brown Man’s land.
Comment by Concerned — October 31, 2006 @ 12:28 am
Ooh my god I`m sorry to say but Alka s voice sounds discusting. She screams. Everyone in Holland is talking about Aishwaria while nobody speaks about Alka.
In Pakeezah all the credits went to Lataji. Ashaji received the national award for Umraojaan.What will happend with Alka. I Dont understand why Unnu chose Alka voice? Look Alka is a very good singer but she is not versatile. Her songs became very popualir like gali men aaj chand nikla. But when she sing western base songs the lady yell.
Like in Judaai she sounds very bad.Alka voice suits typical romantic indian songs. In all other style she sings off key.
Now in Umraojaan i dont thinks she will be rembered. She must have sung with great love but still her voice is not suiteble. There is no sweetness in her voice at all. I dont understand why the makers have not ask Kavita Krishnamurthy to sing. Her voice suits Aishwaria and Kavita is farmost the best singer whe have now.
KAvita can take easely the microphone away from all the singers whe have today. Alka is nothing to her. For example , take the songs from ‘roop ki rani choron ka raja’ the title is Mai Hoon roop ki Rani - the song went un noticed, it was a froud opera song , but after listening to it you wil noticed that only a good singer like Kavita Krishnamurthy can sing it so well.
no other singre but Kavita can do justice to such songs. Im dispointend that Alka has sung for such a great project. But i m sure Aish will not lose her beauty nomather who is singing for her. The great Lataji make history with pakeezah andso did nightingale Asha Bhosle with Umraojaan. But belive - Alka will not be remembered for her singing in this new project. Alka bohot cheekti hain aur uski awaaz men kujch mitaas nehin hain —— from Rajesh
Comment by radjesh — November 4, 2006 @ 3:05 pm
[...] does anybody know who is doing the costumes for umrao jaan (2006)? reading this blog made me wonder if the new movie will do justice to the fabulous muzaffar ali costumes of the original movie.-shahpar [...]
Pingback by remaking classics - another subcontinent forums — November 6, 2006 @ 2:45 pm
I think over all the movie is good but with lots of flaws.The main reason behind the sucsess was it’s melodious music,lyrics,songs and voice of Asha bhonsle.But the reasons behind the failure of this umraojan is too it’s ordinary music.Ofcourse lyrics is superb.But the selection of Anu Malik as a composer was wrong.So far he has not shown his ability in indian classical or semi classical music.So Ismail darbar or Jatin lalit or others could have been a better options.Same as Alka Yagnik’s voice doesnt suits to Ash and alka have not proved herself in classcal or semi classical songs.The perfect voice for Ash is kawita krishnamurty who sings so flawless and has temper in voice flexibility as Asha ji.She could have done ful justice.U know when the film was announced,that time only i expected that Kavita will sing for the movie.Well Alka’s voice go too thik sometimes.Although she is also good singer but not a versatile singer.Or Asha ji herself was a perfect choice once again.So i think the unsucsess of movie is due to music.I am amazed why these graet director’s take these risky choices?
Comment by Pankaj — November 8, 2006 @ 11:56 pm
Previous Umrao jaan was a good movie.
The new one - sucks !!
-10 to JP Dutta.
Comment by vinay — November 12, 2006 @ 8:15 pm
ash looks stunning in the movie and i know its sad but i havn’t watched the old umrao jaan im only 16 so i cant compare, and i have not watched the new film either
but the more i read your messasges the more i want to watch both old and new
Comment by pogo — November 13, 2006 @ 3:16 am
[...] He writes in his post Umrao Jaan, 2006 as Aishwariya Rai does look incredibly beautiful. Rekha did, too. But no comparisons please, okay? [...]
Pingback by India Blog Watch - — November 15, 2006 @ 11:31 am
most of us have seen umraojaan before but what about the new generation ,we should encourage the new version of umraojaan which became the center of attarction for new genration as it includs their superstars and plus it repeats the history again to agar purani story ko nai cast mill gai to kai bura hai ismain kam se kam hum apni traditional history ko spread to kar rahey hain na ohh comeon yaarroon!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by ambreen — November 22, 2006 @ 11:43 pm
Pankaj i agree with you.
Alka voice irritates me. Kavita would have been a better choice. And Shivan Vij no mather what say or think Melody Queen Lata Mangeshkarji and Nightingale Asha Bhosle are still the best. I bet they both sounds younger then you!
Comment by radjesh — December 7, 2006 @ 2:11 am
Good movie! I also LOVE Alka Yagnik’s voice in the songs! It shows how much dedication she put into the album! I hope she gets a national award for the songs. I read somewehre that pehle pehel was the hardest song to render, but Alka managed to sideline the difficulties! Awesome job Alka! And btw, Kavita sucks so no wonder she never got chosen to do the album..god she’s horrible..and you say Alka has no versatility? LOL..no other singer could do the album, except maybe anuradha paudwal. Alka is the best singer we have today NOT kavita krishnamurthy! all kavita can sing is “maar daala..blah blah blah”..even devdas can’t compare to umrao jaan..alka was excellent! Come on alka! win the national award for this album!!
Comment by Kesar — December 7, 2006 @ 2:10 pm
i just watched the film produced by muzzafar ali, i really want to read the novel, does anyone know where i can get an english translation from???
Comment by kaz — December 7, 2006 @ 10:18 pm
If you dont compare, the movie wasnt that bad.
Ash didnt do her normal over the top acting, and they did well in the roles, the songs werent great ( i did like the jhute ilzam one out of all of them thought).
Now if you compare the two, you cant because no one can touch rekha’s acting. as pretty as ash is, she cant really act deep (she cries well though). By the way did anyone notice how uneven her eyebrows were through out the ENTIRE movie? in one scene the right one is thicker in the next the left one is, who was her pencil person very bad job.
ANyway, the orignal has the touch that Rekha gives to every movie she does, the shairs used through out the film were superb where in the 2006 one not so great. Nothing can and ever will compare to the original, one of the best movies ever.
Comment by It wasnt so bad — December 11, 2006 @ 4:11 am
Kesar are you deaf
Let alka sings ‘mai hoon roop ki rani or dabal ghumad bhar aye from Saaz. KAvita is simply the best. Alka sucks. Even asha bhosleji likes kavita more then alka. If alka is so good why do composer always choose kavita to sing difficult classical songs. Even simple songs like Pehle pehel is difficult for alka let alone the more diffucult songs Kavita sings. alka ooh my god i m sick and tired hearing her screaming all the day. Bless kavita. I like to say that i am nt really a fan of kavita. Bt i feel that i am honest by chosing her. Lataji and ashaji are still my favourite. But if you ask me to compare kavita en alka i easely choose for kavita. One must be stupid not to feel the same. Great meastro like salil chowdary, op nayyar hemant kumar, mukesh , mannay dey, lata mangeshkar and Rajkumari prefered to work with kavita. So what are you talking about little fellow. I bet you dont even know what comes after do re mi!
Comment by radjesh — December 18, 2006 @ 1:58 pm
stfu rad shit..asha NEVER said that ya liar! KAVITA SUCKS! so does do you..go marry her ya douche bag!
Comment by Kesar — December 27, 2006 @ 11:18 am
yaa kesar is deaf . otherwise how can kavita be so cheaply written going by his analysis. alka is always and will be for cheap songs. kavita’s singing is impeccable. thank god
anu’s ego and alka’s bullshit attitude is shown in their
vainful attempt at classical music and same goes with
j.p dutta who any way can never be a sanjay leela bhansali atleast in music sense.
Comment by srikanth — December 28, 2006 @ 2:27 am
I agree with kesar. Alka did awesome in the songs. Kavita sounds too old. They could have also tried Sunidhi Chauhan or Anuradha Paudwal for the songs..both would also prove to be awesome but definately not kavita. We don’t need bhoodiya singing in movies with young stars..hmmm ok?
Comment by Pooja — January 2, 2007 @ 10:50 am
There have been enough comments above by the marketeers of the new Umrao Jaan and fresh new comments are not being approved. Please fuck off. The new Umrao Jaan is fuck-all crap. Period. This comments thread is being closed.
Comment by Shivam Vij — January 6, 2007 @ 3:17 pm