Directed by: Shyam Benegal
Produced by: Farouq K. Rattonsey
Music: A.R. Rahman

Shyam Benegal is the eternal journeyman of parallel cinema. From Ankur to Sardari Begam it has indeed been a long journey for him. From moulding fiction to portray contemporary social morass to basing his tales on the backdrop of real issues, the czar of parallel cinema has tried it all. Now it’s Zubeidaa – a wholly commercial effort with the full paraphernalia of Bollywood: with tinsel town heroes and heroines and with song and dance routines. Ritu Verma does a preview.

The film was not with it’s own share of troubles with some stars reportedly not consenting to acting in the film. However, all that is past now. Zubeidaa has hit the screen.

Karishma Kapoor’s pulsating performance in Fiza made the showgirl a darling of parallel cinema. Her mettle as an actress will be tested again as she plays the title role in Zubeidaa.
Zubeidaa is the story of a Riyaz, a young man, and his quest to recover the memory of his mother Zubeidaa about whom he never knew. She was killed in an air-crash in the early 1950s. Troubled by his scant knowledge of her, he sets about trying to piece her life together from the people who knew her and the belongings she left behind. What he discovers is a passionate though tragic story of a vivacious, impulsive and daring young woman who opposed convention and dared to live life on her own terms.

The story is set in early post Independence years of 1950s. India had still not come out of the ‘Maharaja’ hangover. Princely states had not relinquished their crowns then. It is in this backdrop that Zubeidaa is set.

Karishma portrays Zubeidaa, the only daughter of a filmmaker called Suleman Seth (played by Amrish Puri). Always inspired by the arclights she breaks the shackles of her father when she acts in a film without his knowledge. Suleman is upset when he comes to know this and he forbids Zubeida from acting in films. Soon Zubeidaa gets married to Mehboob Alam. Zubeidaa does not know of this prior arrangement and agrees to the destiny arranged by her father. Soon after they are wedded, Zubeidaa and Mehboob have a son, Riyaz. Tragedy strikes when due to a misunderstanding, Mehboob divorces Zubeidaa and the shocked girl retreats into a shell.

Life changes once more for Zubeidaa when she meets maharaja Vijayendra singh (portrayed by Manoj Bajpai) at a polo match. The maharaja is spell bound by the beauty of Zubeidaa. He proposes to marry her. In the beginning she is hesitant but later agrees to marry her. But the question is of the responsibility of her son Riaz. Riyaz is to be left with Zubeidaa’s mother for his upbringing.

Zubeidaa leaves for Fatehpur to start her new life. But, life in Fatehpur has more stepping-stones for Zubeidaa. In Fatehpur, she is confronted by Mandira (Rekha), the Maharaja’s first wife. Mandira introduces her to the customs and etiquette of the palace life. All in all Zubeidaa was happy as the romance between her and Vijayendra continues, but not for long.

What next? One needs to see the justice done by each of the actors to his or her role. Karishma looks stunningly beautiful, a real princess. Rekha is unbeaten in her beauty and roles played by her come naturally to her. Manoj Bajpai is all set to give another of his good performances.
Who wants to miss a movie directed by Shyam Benegal. However, it remains to be seen whether the film turns out to be a box office bonanza or whether people reject the parallel touch in a commercial movie.