Umrao Jaan Ada (TV series)

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Umrao Jaan Ada
Umrao Jan Ada (Geo Entertainment).jpg
Based on Umrao Jaan Ada
by Mirza Hadi Ruswa
Screenplay by Zehra Nigah
Directed byRaana Sheikh
StarringAmina Bano
Bushra Ansari
Faisal Qureshi
Imran Abbas
Humayun Saeed
Sadia Imam
Country of originPakistan
Original languageUrdu
No. of episodes20
Original release
Network Geo Entertainment
Release2003 (2003) –
2003 (2003)

Umrao Jaan Ada is a Pakistani television series based on Mirza Hadi Ruswa's novel Umrao Jaan Ada . It is directed by Raana Sheikh and the script was written by Zehra Nigah. It first aired on Geo Entertainment in 2003. Aamina Bano played the title role of a mid 19th-century tawaif from Lucknow, with Bushra Ansari, Faisal Qureshi, Imran Abbas, Humayun Saeed and Sadia Imam in prominent roles. [1] Made with a heavy production budget, it is one of the expensive television series made in Pakistan. [2]

Contents

The series was noted as too bold for the Pakistani audiences due its strong language, depiction of pioneering portrayal of extramarital romantic relationships, especially after Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq's Islamisation era, and several mujra performances. [3] The series is considered one of the most faithful adaptations of Ruswa's novel.

Premise

The plot revolves around a young girl from Faizabad who is sold off in a kotha(brothel) of Lucknow due to revenge that has to be taken from her father. There, she becomes an expert courtesan and poetess. After a painful journey of several years, she finally returns her house where her loved ones don't accept her.

Cast

Production

Umrao Jaan Ada was based on Mirza Hadi Ruswa's eponymous novel. The screenplay was written by poet Zehra Nigah, marking her screenplay debut. [4] Nigah began the scriptwriting in late 1999, and the principal photography commenced in March 2002 in Lahore. [4] The series marked the acting debuts of actors Imran Abbas [5] and Fahad Mustafa. [6]

Reception

A letter to the Dawn criticized the show for using words like "randi" (prostitute) and "mujra", with critics arguing for content warnings, but the newspaper defended it as a portrayal of 19th-century courtesan life, citing Ruswa's novel's context and criticizing growing conservatism in Pakistan. [7]

Of the many other adaptations of the novel, Aamer Hussein found the series as one of the most faithful adaptations of Ruswa's novel. [8]

Analysis and themes

Umrao Jan Ada portrays sexuality and sexual freedom through the lens of a courtesan's life. [9] The series explores how the tawaif is a stock character in South Asian literature, used both as a symbol of sexual service and literary appreciation. [10] The series brings the courtesan’s world into television, sparking debate on morality, sexuality, and gender politics in contemporary Pakistan, where extramarital sex is legally condemned, especially at a time after Hudud Ordinances enacted by Zia-ul-Haq were still resonate. [10]

Awards and accolades

Umrao Jaan Ada received two nominations at the 3rd Lux Style Awards. [11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Umrao Jaan Ada. OCLC   61497212.
  2. ↑ Newsline. Newsline Publications. 2003.
  3. ↑ "Remembering a friend". The News (newspaper). 15 January 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Pakistan poet Zehra Nigah scripts screenplay for Mirza Ruswa's Umrao Jaan Ada for TV play". India Today. 28 January 2002. Archived from the original on 11 November 2022.
  5. ↑ Saira Agha (3 August 2018). "pride of Pakistgan: Imran Abbas". Daily Times .
  6. ↑ Anwer, Uzair (24 October 2020). "Then And Now: Debut Projects That Launched These Leading Heroes". Galaxy Lollywood. Archived from the original on 14 January 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  7. ↑ "DAWN - Features; July 26, 2003". Dawn . 26 July 2003. Archived from the original on 14 January 2023.
  8. ↑ Aamer Hussein (14 July 2024). "column: the literary courtesan". Dawn.com.
  9. ↑ "Column: Respectability has many forms: remembering Sara Shagufta By Kamran Asdar Ali". Dawn. 1 July 2013. Archived from the original on 10 July 2013.
  10. 1 2 Kamran Asdar Ali (2005). "Courtesans in the Living Room" (PDF). Archived from the original on 6 March 2007.
  11. ↑ Athar Khan. "LUX Style Awards for the year 2004". Archived from the original on 22 August 2025.
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