Sardari Begum


Sardari Begum is a 1996 Indian musical film directed by Shyam Benegal. The film stars Kiron Kher, Amrish Puri, Rajit Kapur and Rajeshwari Sachdev.
The film's lead actress Kiron Kher won the 1997 National [Film Award – Special Jury Award (Feature Film)|National Film Award - Special Jury Award]. Rajeshwari Sachdev won the 1997 National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress.
This film focuses on the complex portrait of family relationships, generational and sexual politics as well as social mores in India.

Plot

The police are called to investigate the death of a woman during a riot in the walled city of Delhi. She was killed by a stone thrown by an agitated mob. The deceased woman is known in the community as "Sardari Begum", a popular singer and courtesan. The religious nature of the incident and the impending elections combine to attract the media's attention. When a young reporter covering the funeral, Tehzeeb Abbasi, discovers her father among the mourners, her curiosity prompts her to investigate further. Then comes the revelation that the singer was in fact her aunt, who was disowned by her family for rebelliously learning music from a courtesan.
The reporter Tehzeeb finds the life of her aunt intriguing and exciting, having an opinion that is totally opposite to her father Jabbar. the brother of the late Sardari Begum. Although he loved and cared for her, he didn't support her ideals, her freedom, her passion for singing. At Tehzeeb's residence, Jabbar tells his daughter about the stubbornness of his elder sister yet also confessing his love for her as she was his only sister. The film goes into flashback where Sardari refuses to take money back she had given to Jabbar for Tehzeeb's education. Jabbar wants to return the money as he thinks it was a debt while Sardari regards it as a gift for Tehzeeb. The argument ends with Jabbar leaving Sardari's home swearing never to come back again.
He also narrates how the younger Sardari turned rebellious in order to pursue her passion for singing when it was not approved by her father. Having Inspired by her story, Tehzeeb decides to dig deeper in her late aunt's life. She decides to write a long article in her memory in the newspaper she works but her editor doesn't not approve. It is revealed that Tehzeeb is in a relationship with her editor boss who is happily married with two kids. Tehzeeb continues her journey interviewing every person who was related to her aunt or knew her closely. However, Sardari's daughter Sakheena does not oblige Tehzeeb's request and ignores her.
Tehzeeb finds out about the fateful night when Sardari ran away from home in Agra. She went to Ittan Bai, who refuses to give her shelter and asks her to go home. Sardari then makes her way at Hemraj's house. Hemraj is a Zamindar who leads a colorful life. Although he is married, he keeps attending gatherings led by courtesans as it would hide her age. Sakeena calls her Appa'Bi. Sardari forced her talent and musical knowledge in establishing Sakeena as the next Sardari which clearly Sakeena was not meant to be. No one ever bothered about Sakeena's hopes and ambitions.
Sakeena narrates an incident where Tehzeeb's father visits them and storms out of the house after an argument with Sardari. Enraged by this, Sakeena calls out 'Sardari' as an arrogant and selfish woman. After the incident, Sakeena stops talking to her and even stops her singing. Now the film comes to the present where Sardari is practicing her singing when she hears a ruckus and goes out to witness and suddenly a stone thrown from the agitated mob hits her hard. Sardari calls out Sakeena who is devastated to see her mother dying. Sardari asks Sakeena if she was a good mother to her to which Sakeena replies positively. Sardari then asks Sakeena to sing one last time for her to which Sakeena obliges. Sardari then dies.
Inspired by her aunt's story, Tehzeeb sends the article to a different newspaper for publishing which she reports to her lover editor. She also breaks ties with him and re-unites with her father. At the end, Sardari's daughter Sakeena is seen practicing singing thus signifying that she would continue to live with mother's legacy as a great singer.

Music

Penned by Javed Akhtar, the songs of the film are composed by Vanraj Bhatia and Ashok Patki.

Awards

The film won 3 awards at the 44th National Film Awards which were presented in July 1997.
;National Film Awards
;Others