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BEGUM JAAN
ABOUT BEGUM JAAN
A group of foul-mouthed, dogmatic and rebellious women who are dependent on men's fleshly needs to earn a living are the heroines of Srijit Mukerji's melodrama that is set against the backdrop of partition. Begum Jaan’s story set during that particular historical period when the country was being divided into India and Pakistan, and that left millions of our countrymen deeply affected and changed their lives forever. Begum Jaan (Vidya Balan) a self-appointed matriarch for a bunch of sex workers is the central character of the movie.
The remake of Bengali movie Rajkahini, Begum Jaan revolves around the titular character (Vidya Balan) and her bevy of sex workers, who operate in a sprawling old brothel in rural North India in the pre-Independence era. When the Independence of India also marks the Partition of the country in Hindustan and Pakistan, the very existence of the brothel is threatened when the line dividing the two countries is drawn though the brothel.
Government officials of both the countries (Ashish Vidyarthi and Rajit Kapoor) approach the Begum to ask her to vacate the brothel, but on getting a hostile response, the two are compelled to unleash diabolical assassin Kabir (Chunkey Pandey) and his bunch of cut-throats on the women. Will Begum and her girls manage to conquer the enemy?
Vidya Balan is Begam Jaan dives into her character with the fierceness and aggression that her kohl rimmed eyes display. Vidya Balan plays this brusque, impossibly cynical madame of a brothel with a lot of conviction and confidence. But one wishes her talent was used in a better film. Vidya Balan’s raunchy dialogues are too good. The rest of the cast, including Pallavi Sharda, Ila Arun, Gauahar Khan, Rajit and Ashish are good while Chunkey, with his stained teeth and an air of restrained menace, is an absolute pleasure to watch. Naseeruddin Shah, who essays the local emperor, hasn’t put many efforts in the role and performs his minimal best.
Begum’s spirit is infectious though. She looks like a Bengal tigress whether she is defending her body or boundaries. But, trying to retell her virtues through various historical avatars in animation, is far too indulgent. Also chats between officials of the INC and Muslim League, or for that matter between other cardboard cutouts, is superficial. The cinematographer’s effort to capture the Indo-Pak divide with close-ups in half frames, seems inappropriate.
As for the film itself, it has certain influential moments and a lot of good dialogues.
The movie has a very ‘over the top’ feel to it with loads of drama aimed at regular entertainment. Had the filmmaker adopted a restrained approach, the influence might have been much more powerful. The Holi number is lively with arresting visuals.
In general, Begum Jaan is worthy to watch once for its entertaining melodrama and powerful dialogues.
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