Anjuman (1986 film)

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Anjuman
Directed by Muzaffar Ali
Screenplay byMuzaffar Ali
Story byMuzaffar Ali
Produced byMuzaffar Ali
Starring Shabana Azmi
Farooque Shaikh
Rohini Hattangadi
Cinematography Ishan Arya
Music by Khayyam
Shahryar (lyrics)
Release date
  • 1986 (1986)
CountryIndia
LanguagesHindi
Urdu

Anjuman (English: Congregation) is a 1986 Hindi drama film directed by Muzaffar Ali, starring Shabana Azmi, Farooque Shaikh and Rohini Hattangadi in lead roles. Set in Lucknow, it deals with exploitation of women and problems of local "chikan" embroidery workers. [1] [2]

Contents

Anjuman has music by Khayyam, with lyrics by noted Urdu poet Shahryar, with three songs sung by lead actress Shabana Azmi, who agreed to do playback singing. [3] Noted actor Farooque Shaikh worked in three films with Muzaffar Ali, with the others being Gaman (1978) and Umrao Jaan (1981). [4]

Plot

Set in the old city of Lucknow, Anjuman follows the story of Anjuman (Shabana Azmi), a young chikan embroidery worker who supports her family after her father abandons them. Working under exploitative traders who control the embroidery business, she becomes aware of the deep-rooted injustice faced by women artisans.

Encouraged by Dr. Suchitra (Rohini Hattangadi), a progressive eye specialist, and supported by her kind-hearted neighbour Sajid (Farooque Shaikh), Anjuman transforms from a quiet worker into a voice of resistance. Her activism for fair wages and dignity provokes powerful interests, including the manipulative trader Banke Nawab (Mushtaq Khan), who seeks to silence her through deceit and coercion.

When pressured into marrying Banke Nawab for her family’s survival, Anjuman publicly rejects the union, asserting her self-respect and independence. The film ends with her continuing the struggle for justice, symbolising the awakening of women’s empowerment within traditional society. [5] [6]

Cast

Production

Much of the film was shot in old Lucknow, and principal cinematography was done by Ishan Arya. [6] The film also marked a notable moment when lead actress Shabana Azmi agreed to sing her own playback songs under composer Khayyam. Also with lyrics by Shahryar, the film's director continued a creative partnership first seen in Ali’s Umrao Jaan (1981) [6]

Music

The music was by Khayyam, with lyrics by Shahryar and Faiz Ahmad Faiz, [7] with three song sung by Shabana Azmi, a rare feat for her career.

References

  1. ↑ Anuradha Dingwaney Needham; Rajeswari Sunder Rajan (28 December 2006). The Crisis of Secularism in India. Duke University Press. pp. 235–236. ISBN   0-8223-8841-3.
  2. ↑ Yves Thoraval (2000). The cinemas of India. Macmillan India. p. 191. ISBN   978-0-333-93410-4.
  3. ↑ "Shabana Azmi mourns the death of Umrao Jaan writer". Rediff.com movies. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  4. ↑ "We shared mutual passion for cinema: Muzaffar Ali on Farooque". Zee News. 29 December 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  5. ↑ Ayesha Kidwai (24 June 2023). "Anjuman (1986): A forgotten feminist classic by Muzaffar Ali". Free Voice. Retrieved 26 October 2025. Set in Lucknow's chikan embroidery community, the film portrays Anjuman's journey from a worker to a leader fighting for women's dignity and fair wages.
  6. 1 2 3 "Anjuman (1986)". IndianCine.ma. IndianCine.ma Archive. Retrieved 26 October 2025. A Lucknow-based story of love, labour, and awakening, focusing on chikan workers exploited by traders and a woman's assertion of identity.
  7. ↑ Gaekwad, Manish (29 September 2015). "When Shabana Azmi sang on the job". Scroll.in.


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