Rudaali

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Rudaali
Rudaali.jpg
DVD cover
Directed byKalpana Lajmi
Written byMahasweta Devi (story)
Gulzar
Produced byRavi Gupta
Ravi Malik
NFDC
StarringDimple Kapadia
Raj Babbar
Raakhee
Amjad Khan
CinematographySantosh Sivan
Dharam Gulati
Music byBhupen Hazarika
Release date
  • 18 June 1993 (1993-06-18)
Running time
128 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi

Rudaali is a 1993 Hindi-language Indian drama film directed by Kalpana Lajmi, based on the short story written by famous Bengali author Mahasweta Devi.[1][2] The film was selected as the Indian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 66th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.[3][4]

The film is set in a small village in Rajasthan, India. It tells the story of a woman named Shanichari, who was abandoned by her mother shortly after her father's death. Bad fortune follows her throughout her life.

Cultural background[]

"Rudaali" (roo-dah-lee), literally translated as "female weeper" or "weeping woman", refers to women of lower caste hired as professional mourners in certain areas of Rajasthan. Their job is to publicly express grief upon the death of upper-caste males on behalf of family members who are not permitted to display emotion due to social status.[5]

Plot[]

Ramavtar Singh (Amjad Khan), the zamindar (transl. landlord) of Barna (a village in the desert), on his death bed, bemoans that none of his relatives would shed tears for him. He calls for a famous rudaali named Bhikni (Rakhee), to mourn him after his death. Bhikni stays with the widow Shanichari, who lives in the Thakur's village. As their friendship grows, Shanichari tells Bhikni her life's story, which is revealed in flashbacks.

Shanichari was born on a Shanichar (Saturday), named after the planet Shani (Saturn), considered inauspicious in Hindu astrology. Shanichari is blamed by the villagers for everything bad that happens around her - from her father's death, to her mother Peewli's running off to join a theatre troupe. While still young, Shanichari is married off to Ganju, a drunkard. Her son, Budhua, whom she loves very much, likes to roam around aimlessly, just like Peewli did.

Meanwhile, the Thakur's son Lakshman Singh (Raj Babbar) tells her he likes her and hires her as a maid to his wife. In his haveli, Lakshman tries to get Shanichari to assert herself against social customs and encourages her to "look up" into his eyes when speaking to him. One night, after Shanichari sings at the haveli, he gifts her a house of her own, along with two acres of land.

Ganju dies from cholera at a village fair. After curses and threats from the village pundit for not observing the prescribed customs, she takes a loan of 50 rupees to perform the rituals from Ramavatar Singh and becomes a bonded laborer under him.

Some years later, a grown up Budhua (Raghubir Yadav) brings home Mungri (Sushmita Mukherjee), a prostitute, as his wife. Shanichari attempts to throw her out but relents on learning that she is pregnant with his child. But the snide remarks of the village pundit and shop-owners fuels conflict between the two women and in a fit of rage after a fight, Mungri aborts the child. Budhua leaves home. Shanichari tells Bhikni that none of these bereavements brought her to tears.

One night, Bhikni is called to the neighbouring village by a person named Bhishamdata. Ramavatar Singh passes away a few hours later. Shanichari goes to bid farewell to Lakshman Singh, who has plans to leave the village. A messenger brings the news of Bhikni's death from the plague and tells Shanichari that Bhikni was her mother, Peewli. Shanichari then begins to weep profusely, and takes over as the new rudaali, crying at the Thakur's funeral.[5][6]

Cast[]

Awards and honours[]

Soundtrack[]

The film has music by folk musician Bhupen Hazarika.

All lyrics are written by Gulzar; all music is composed by Bhupen Hazarika.

No.TitleArtist(s)Length
1."Dil Hoom Hoom Kare (Part-1)" (Raga: Bhoopali)Lata Mangeshkar 
2."Dil Hoom Hoom Kare (Part-2)" (Raga: Bhoopali)Bhupen Hazarika 
3."Jhuti Mooti Mitwa" (Raga: Vrindavani sarang)Lata Mangeshkar 
4."Samay O Dhire Chalo (Part-1)" (Raga: Bhimpalasi)Asha Bhosle 
5."Samay O Dhire Chalo (Part-2)" (Raga: Bhimpalasi)Bhupen Hazarika 
6."Moula O Moula"Bhupen Hazarika 
7."Samay O Dhire Chalo (Part-3)" (Raga: Bhimpalasi)Lata Mangeshkar 

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Maanvi (28 July 2016). "Mourning and Revolution: Mahasweta Devi's Legacy on the Screen". The Quint. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  2. ^ Ghosh, Devarsi (28 July 2016). "Mahasweta Devi, RIP: Rudaali to Sunghursh, 5 films that immortalise the author's works". India Today. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  3. ^ Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
  4. ^ Frook, John Evan (30 November 1993). "Acad inks Cates, unveils foreign-language entries". Variety. Retrieved 25 August 2008.
  5. ^ a b "Rudaali". University of Iowa. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  6. ^ "Rudaali Production Details". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  7. ^ "Dimple Kapadia Reacts To Health Rumours: 'I'm Alive And Kicking'". NDTV.com. 17 November 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  8. ^ a b c "Rudaali Awards: List of Awards won by Hindi movie Rudaali", Times of India, retrieved 28 March 2020
  9. ^ "Mourning Becomes Her". The Telegraph. ABP Group. 21–27 November 1993. p. 78. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  10. ^ "Bhupen Hazarika: The Bard of Brahmaputra". Hindustan Times. 17 September 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  11. ^ "Before Gully Boy, these Indian films were sent to the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film Category". News18. 10 February 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.

External links[]

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