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Shatranj Ke Khilari (The Chess Players) is a 1977 Indian film by Bengali director Satyajit Ray, based on Munshi Premchand's short story of the same name. Unlike most of Ray's films, the dialogue in the film is in Urdu and Hindi. The fastidious research and sophisticated portrayal of clashing cultures earned acclaim from both film critics and historians of the period. The film is set in 1856 and shows the life and customs of 19th century India on the eve of the Indian rebellion of 1857. The focus is on events surrounding the British annexation of the Indian State of Awadh (also spelt Oudh), the politics of colonial expansion by the British East India Company and the deluded divisions of Indian monarchs. The film went on to win three Filmfare Awards, including the Critics Award for Best Movie, and was a nominee for the Golden Bear for Best Film at the 28th Berlin International Film Festival.
Cast & Crew
Cast
- Sanjeev Kumar · Mirza Sajjad Ali
- Saeed Jaffrey · Mir Roshan Ali
- Amjad Khan · Wajid Ali Shah
- Shabana Azmi · Khurshid, Mirza's wife
- Farida Jalal · Nafisa, Mir's wife
- David Abraham Cheulkar · Munshi Nandlal
- Victor Banerjee · Prime Minister
- Tom Alter · Capt. Weston
- Leela Mishra · Hirya, Khurshid's maid
- Farooq Sheikh · Aqueel
- Richard Attenborough · General James Outram
- Amitabh Bachchan · Narrator
Director
Screenplay
Music
Cinematography
Editing
Producer
Details
- Release Date
- 10 March 1977
- Runtime
- 129 min
- Language
- Hindi
User Ratings & Reviews
1 rating from the community
Community Reviews (1)
'The Chess Players' doesn't have the classy masterstroke which designed the Apu trilogy, and it lacks the energy of 'Charulata' or 'Devi'. The performances in the film are not 'Naayak' and 'Teen Kanya', and yet the film is so much fun! with a moving satire on the Nawabi and a moving depiction of the original Premchand short story, the film comes with its own moments which can well be called some of the most priceless in the Hindi cinema. With an imperative take on the satire oozing through the story and with the performances, especially delivered by the impeccable Shabana Aazmi and Amjad Khan, this is an imperative Ray work which lifts off and soars high. A scintillating and freshly entertaining directorial debut in Bollywood by all means it was.
