Jaanisaar, Muzzafar Ali’s come back?
After 24 years of waiting, Muzzafar Ali, the veteran director who has directed movie like Umrao Jaan, is all set to make a come back with his upcoming movie, “Jaanisaar”. The movie is more of a chemistry of time, a time where there was a change in mind set amongst people since the country just lost its independence to Britishers. “The movie is set in 1877 when our cultural institutions were at risk and Britishers were wanting to create a subjugated country. In this movie, I am trying to deal with a love story between a westerner guy and a girl whose soul is deeply rooted in Lucknow. The movie is about what the man tackles when he lands in Lucknow. It is the transformation of this guy from westerner to revolutionary that the movie focuses on.” says Muzzafar Ali.
Director of Jaanisaar, Muzzafar Ali
Talking about why it took him so long, Ali said, “I am not just picking subjects from road. I try to find something which is in best for the country. Since last 10-12 years I have been writing scripts which are majorly from my journey. This movie is special because it is based in my city Lucknow, shows kathak and other form of arts like poems and also has songs which have adapted poems of great iconic poets.”
Cast of the movie, Imran Abbas Naqvi and Pernia Qureshi
Apart from being set in an era of 1870’s, one would have the chance to experience a slightest glimpse Umrao Jaan. As far as the characters are concerned, Muzzafar Ali shared that the protagonist is somewhat closer to how is grand father was and Imran Abbas Naqvi has done complete justice to it. When we spoke to Imran about how excited was he to get this opportunity to work with Veteran Director Muzzafar Ali, he expressed, “When I was shooting for Creature 3D, I requested our DOP to make me meet Muzzafar Ali sir because I was a big fan of his movie Umrao Jaan. However, when I got to know that he isn’t making any movie, I was upset because I wanted to work with him. However, when I heard that he wants to cast me as a lead in this movie, I was really excited and couldn’t stop myself from saying yes.”
Pernia Qureshi who is playing as a lead against Imran Abbas Naqvi is a trained Kuchipudi Dancer who had to undergo training of Kathak to get into the role of Noor- a courtesan. This is Pernia’s debut as an actor and she is pretty excited to work in such a movie with epic director like Muzzafar Ali. “I feel honored and excited about the fact that I was chosen to play this role. I never planned to be an actor but I guess it was destiny.” Fashion stylist and costume designer by profession, Pernia is quite professional and dedicated says Muzzafar Ali. She has the charm and the Ada to strike the right string of your heart. Commenting on how she feels about being compared to Rekha in Umrao Jaan, Pernia said, “I am not scared of comparison and it is my honour to be compared with her because she is my idol and there is a lot to be learned from her.”
The music of the movie is composed by Shafaqat Amanat Ali Khan and few of the lyrics have been suggested by Muzzafar Ali itself. The dance sequences has been choreographed by none other than the master Birju Maharaj and Kumudini Lakhia who has choreographed Rekha for Umrao Jaan. The movie is produced by Meera Ali, wife of Muzzafar Ali and is expected to release somewhere around 15th of August 2015.
