Maqbool
Encyclopedia
Maqbool a 2004 India
n film directed by Vishal Bhardwaj
and starring Pankaj Kapoor
, Irfan Khan
, Tabu
and Masumeh Makhija
is an adaptation of the play Macbeth
by Shakespeare.
The plot of the film faithfully follows that of Macbeth
with regard to events, and characterisation. The film did not perform remarkably at the box office, but won director Vishal Bhardwaj
international acclaim. Apart from directing it, he had also composed the background score and songs for the film. Bhardwaj then moved on to adapting William Shakespeare
's Othello
in his 2006 film Omkara
which won him commercial as well as critical success. The critical success of which, was responsible for winning Francis Ford Coppola
's attention.
The film had its North American premiere at the 2003 Toronto International Film Festival
. Though the film failed to entice much of an audience during its theatrical run in India, critics were appreciative and Pankaj Kapoor
went on to win a Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Critics) and a National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.
) is a right hand man of Jahangir Khan (alias Abba Ji) (Pankaj Kapoor
), a powerful underworld don
. Maqbool is grateful and feels a close connection and personal indebtedness to Abba Ji.
The movie gains pace with two corrupt police-men (played by Om Puri and Naseeruddin Shah) predicting that Maqbool would soon take over reins of Mumbai Underworld from Abba Ji.
These two thus play a role akin to the three witches in the original play.
Nimmi (Tabu
) is Abba Ji's mistress, but she secretly loves Maqbool. Maqbool loves Nimmi, too. Nimmi also encourages Maqbool's ambitions and persuades him to kill Abba Ji in order to take over as don. Maqbool is torn between his love for Nimmi and his loyalty to Abba Ji, but he begins to prepare the ground for becoming don by ensuring that others in the line of inheritance cannot interfere. Finally, in a dramatic scene, Maqbool murders Abba Ji in cold blood while he is bed at night, with Nimmi next to him. Maqbool gets away with it and takes over as don, just as planned; but both he and Nimmi are haunted by guilt, seeing Abbaji's ghosts and unable to wash the blood from their hands. There is also suspicion within the gang of Maqbool's role in the death of Abba Ji, and eventually the 2 lovers meet with tragic ends.
In addition to the portrayals of the three tragic heroes, the film offers performances by supporting cast members, in particular Om Puri
and Naseeruddin Shah
, who open the film in their roles as black comic relief corrupt police inspectors-cum-astrologers, who predict the fall of Abba Ji—who has them on his payroll—and the rise and fall of Maqbool. Contrary to the original play, the corrupt cops are not just passive soothsayers. In an effort to what they refer as "balancing forces," they also actively involve in shaping events, like aiding in providing information to Abba Ji's enforcers to wipe out a rival gang, using subtle nuances in coercing Maqbool to shift loyalties, deliberately botching an "encounter" attempt on Riyaz Boti (Macduff) and subsequently setting up an alliance between a rival politician (to the incumbent one, backed by Abba Ji) and a fleeing Guddu (Fleance) and Riyaz Boti against Maqbool.
with lyrics by Gulzar
.
Cinema of India
The cinema of India consists of films produced across India, which includes the cinematic culture of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. Indian films came to be followed throughout South Asia and...
n film directed by Vishal Bhardwaj
Vishal Bhardwaj
Vishal Bhardwaj is an Indian film director, writer, screenwriter, music composer and playback singer.-Early life:Bhardwaj was born in Bijnor but raised in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh to Satya Bhardwaj, a homemaker, and Ram Bhardwaj, a popular poet and lyricist. His father was a government employee and...
and starring Pankaj Kapoor
Pankaj Kapoor
Pankaj Kapur is an Indian theatre, television and film actor from Ludhiana, Punjab, India. He has appeared in several television serials and films. His most acclaimed film roles to date have been that of Dr...
, Irfan Khan
Irfan Khan (actor)
Sahabzade Irrfan Ali Khan, popularly known as Irrfan Khan , is an Indian actor in film, television and theatre. He received recognition for his roles in The Warrior , Maqbool , Haasil , The Namesake , A Mighty Heart , Life in a.....
, Tabu
Tabu (actress)
Tabu is an Indian film actress. She has mainly acted in Hindi films, though she has also starred in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Bengali language films, as well as one American film...
and Masumeh Makhija
Masumeh Makhija
Masumeh Makhija, also known as Masumi Makhija, is an award winning Bollywood actress. She was born in Canada and came to India when she was one year old. She started her career as a child artist appearing in commercials and T.V. shows. She made her film debut in Chupke Se and has since appeared...
is an adaptation of the play Macbeth
Macbeth
The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
by Shakespeare.
The plot of the film faithfully follows that of Macbeth
Macbeth
The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
with regard to events, and characterisation. The film did not perform remarkably at the box office, but won director Vishal Bhardwaj
Vishal Bhardwaj
Vishal Bhardwaj is an Indian film director, writer, screenwriter, music composer and playback singer.-Early life:Bhardwaj was born in Bijnor but raised in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh to Satya Bhardwaj, a homemaker, and Ram Bhardwaj, a popular poet and lyricist. His father was a government employee and...
international acclaim. Apart from directing it, he had also composed the background score and songs for the film. Bhardwaj then moved on to adapting William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
's Othello
Othello
The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1603, and based on the Italian short story "Un Capitano Moro" by Cinthio, a disciple of Boccaccio, first published in 1565...
in his 2006 film Omkara
Omkara (film)
Omkara is a 2006 Indian film adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello, co-written and directed by Vishal Bhardwaj. It starred Ajay Devgan, Saif Ali Khan, and Kareena Kapoor in the lead roles, supported by Vivek Oberoi, Naseeruddin Shah, and Konkona Sen Sharma with a cameo role from Bipasha Basu...
which won him commercial as well as critical success. The critical success of which, was responsible for winning Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. He is widely acclaimed as one of Hollywood's most innovative and influential film directors...
's attention.
The film had its North American premiere at the 2003 Toronto International Film Festival
Toronto International Film Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival is a publicly-attended film festival held each September in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In 2010, 339 films from 59 countries were screened at 32 screens in downtown Toronto venues...
. Though the film failed to entice much of an audience during its theatrical run in India, critics were appreciative and Pankaj Kapoor
Pankaj Kapoor
Pankaj Kapur is an Indian theatre, television and film actor from Ludhiana, Punjab, India. He has appeared in several television serials and films. His most acclaimed film roles to date have been that of Dr...
went on to win a Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Critics) and a National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Plot
The Film is based on William Shakespeare's Macbeth and in this movie the backdrop is Mumbai underworld. Maqbool (Irfan KhanIrfan Khan (actor)
Sahabzade Irrfan Ali Khan, popularly known as Irrfan Khan , is an Indian actor in film, television and theatre. He received recognition for his roles in The Warrior , Maqbool , Haasil , The Namesake , A Mighty Heart , Life in a.....
) is a right hand man of Jahangir Khan (alias Abba Ji) (Pankaj Kapoor
Pankaj Kapoor
Pankaj Kapur is an Indian theatre, television and film actor from Ludhiana, Punjab, India. He has appeared in several television serials and films. His most acclaimed film roles to date have been that of Dr...
), a powerful underworld don
Indian mafia
The term Indian mafia refers to certain criminal organizations found in some of India's major cities. The "Indian Mafia" also refer to powerful families that have criminal aspects to it.- Mumbai underworld :...
. Maqbool is grateful and feels a close connection and personal indebtedness to Abba Ji.
The movie gains pace with two corrupt police-men (played by Om Puri and Naseeruddin Shah) predicting that Maqbool would soon take over reins of Mumbai Underworld from Abba Ji.
These two thus play a role akin to the three witches in the original play.
Nimmi (Tabu
Tabu (actress)
Tabu is an Indian film actress. She has mainly acted in Hindi films, though she has also starred in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Bengali language films, as well as one American film...
) is Abba Ji's mistress, but she secretly loves Maqbool. Maqbool loves Nimmi, too. Nimmi also encourages Maqbool's ambitions and persuades him to kill Abba Ji in order to take over as don. Maqbool is torn between his love for Nimmi and his loyalty to Abba Ji, but he begins to prepare the ground for becoming don by ensuring that others in the line of inheritance cannot interfere. Finally, in a dramatic scene, Maqbool murders Abba Ji in cold blood while he is bed at night, with Nimmi next to him. Maqbool gets away with it and takes over as don, just as planned; but both he and Nimmi are haunted by guilt, seeing Abbaji's ghosts and unable to wash the blood from their hands. There is also suspicion within the gang of Maqbool's role in the death of Abba Ji, and eventually the 2 lovers meet with tragic ends.
In addition to the portrayals of the three tragic heroes, the film offers performances by supporting cast members, in particular Om Puri
Om Puri
Om Puri is an Indian actor who has appeared in both mainstream Indian films and art films. His credits also include appearances in British and American films. He has received an honorary OBE.-Early life:...
and Naseeruddin Shah
Naseeruddin Shah
Naseeruddin Shah is an Indian / Bollywood film actor and director. He is considered to be one of the finest actors of Indian cinema. In 2003, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan for his contributions towards Indian cinema.-Early life:...
, who open the film in their roles as black comic relief corrupt police inspectors-cum-astrologers, who predict the fall of Abba Ji—who has them on his payroll—and the rise and fall of Maqbool. Contrary to the original play, the corrupt cops are not just passive soothsayers. In an effort to what they refer as "balancing forces," they also actively involve in shaping events, like aiding in providing information to Abba Ji's enforcers to wipe out a rival gang, using subtle nuances in coercing Maqbool to shift loyalties, deliberately botching an "encounter" attempt on Riyaz Boti (Macduff) and subsequently setting up an alliance between a rival politician (to the incumbent one, backed by Abba Ji) and a fleeing Guddu (Fleance) and Riyaz Boti against Maqbool.
Cast
| Actor | Character in the movie | Character in the play |
|---|---|---|
| Irfan Khan Irfan Khan (actor) Sahabzade Irrfan Ali Khan, popularly known as Irrfan Khan , is an Indian actor in film, television and theatre. He received recognition for his roles in The Warrior , Maqbool , Haasil , The Namesake , A Mighty Heart , Life in a..... |
Miyan Maqbool | Macbeth Macbeth The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607... |
| Tabu Tabu (actress) Tabu is an Indian film actress. She has mainly acted in Hindi films, though she has also starred in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Bengali language films, as well as one American film... |
Nimmi | Lady Macbeth Lady Macbeth Lady Macbeth may refer to:*Lady Macbeth, from William Shakespeare's play Macbeth**Queen Gruoch of Scotland, the real-life Queen on whom Shakespeare based the character... |
| Pankaj Kapoor Pankaj Kapoor Pankaj Kapur is an Indian theatre, television and film actor from Ludhiana, Punjab, India. He has appeared in several television serials and films. His most acclaimed film roles to date have been that of Dr... |
Jahangir Khan (Abbaji) | Duncan I of Scotland Duncan I of Scotland Donnchad mac Crínáin was king of Scotland from 1034 to 1040... |
| Om Puri Om Puri Om Puri is an Indian actor who has appeared in both mainstream Indian films and art films. His credits also include appearances in British and American films. He has received an honorary OBE.-Early life:... |
Inspector Pandit | Witch (Weird Sisters Three Witches The Three Witches or Weird Sisters are characters in William Shakespeare's play Macbeth . Their origin lies in Holinshed's Chronicles , a history of England, Scotland and Ireland... ) |
| Naseeruddin Shah Naseeruddin Shah Naseeruddin Shah is an Indian / Bollywood film actor and director. He is considered to be one of the finest actors of Indian cinema. In 2003, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan for his contributions towards Indian cinema.-Early life:... |
Inspector Purohit | Witch (Weird Sisters Three Witches The Three Witches or Weird Sisters are characters in William Shakespeare's play Macbeth . Their origin lies in Holinshed's Chronicles , a history of England, Scotland and Ireland... ) |
| Piyush Mishra Piyush Mishra Piyush Mishra is an Indian film and theatre actor, music director, lyricist, singer, scriptwriter.-Early life and education:He spent his early life in Gwalior, where he received his education... |
Kaka | Banquo Banquo Banquo is a character in William Shakespeare's 1606 play Macbeth. In the play, he is at first an ally to Macbeth and they are together when they meet the Three Witches. After prophesying that Macbeth will become king, the witches tell Banquo that he will not be king himself, but that his... |
| Ajay Gehi | Guddu | Fleance Fleance Fleance is a figure in legendary Scottish history. He was depicted by sixteenth century historians as the son of Banquo and the ancestor of the kings of the House of Stuart. In reality both Banquo and Fleance are likely fictional. Fleance is best known as a character in William Shakespeare's play... |
| Ankur Vikal Ankur Vikal Ankur Vikal is a renowned Indian theatre and film actor. He graduated from the National School of Drama , New Delhi in 2000, after studying Architecture at M.S. University, Baroda... |
Riyaz Boti | Macduff Macduff (thane) Macduff, the Thane of Fife, is a character in William Shakespeare's Macbeth . Macduff plays a pivotal role in the play: he suspects Macbeth of regicide and eventually kills Macbeth in the final act... |
| Shammi Narang Shammi Narang Shammi Narang is a voice-over artist and emcee based in Delhi, best known for raising the standards of news-casting in India. Graduating with an engineering degree, Narang first got into the voice-over profession by working in the Hindi division of Voice of America... |
Mr. Bhosle | - |
| Masumeh Makhija Masumeh Makhija Masumeh Makhija, also known as Masumi Makhija, is an award winning Bollywood actress. She was born in Canada and came to India when she was one year old. She started her career as a child artist appearing in commercials and T.V. shows. She made her film debut in Chupke Se and has since appeared... |
Sameera, Abbaji's daughter | - |
| Pubali Sanyal | Riyaz Boti's wife | Lady Macduff Lady Macduff Lady Macduff, a character in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, is the wife of Macduff, the Thane of Fife, and the mother of an unnamed son and other children. Her appearance in the play is brief: she and her son are introduced in Act IV Scene II, a climactic and tragic scene that ends with both her and her... |
| Master Raj | Riyaz Boti's son | Macduff's son Macduff's Son Macduff's son is a character in William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth . His name and age are not established in the text, and, typical of Shakespeare's child characters, the boy is cute and clever... |
| Gyanchand Rikki | Mughal | Macdonwald |
Crew
- Director: Vishal BhardwajVishal BhardwajVishal Bhardwaj is an Indian film director, writer, screenwriter, music composer and playback singer.-Early life:Bhardwaj was born in Bijnor but raised in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh to Satya Bhardwaj, a homemaker, and Ram Bhardwaj, a popular poet and lyricist. His father was a government employee and...
- Screenplay: Vishal Bhardwaj & Abbas TyrewalaAbbas TyrewalaAbbas Tyrewala is an Hindi film storywriter, screenwriter, dialogue writer and director. After making his mark as a screenwriter and dialogue writer in early 2000s, with award winning films like Maqbool , Munnabhai M.B.B.S. , he made his debut as a director with a breezy romantic comedy, Jaane Tu...
- Story: Vishal Bhardwaj & William ShakespeareWilliam ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
- Dialogue: Vishal Bhardwaj
- Producer: Bobby Bedi & Vishal Bhardwaj
- Music & Background Score: Vishal Bhardwaj
- Editing: Aarif Sheikh
- Cinematography: Hemant ChaturvediHemant ChaturvediHemant Chaturvedi is an Indian cinematographer in the Hindi film industry, he received great critical acclaim for his first feature, Company . "His frames thrive on the sense of realism, wrote The Hindu, "and the colours capture the gore, dust and highways of the crime world effectively"...
- Stunts: Ravi Shinde
- Costume Designer: Payal Saluja
- Choreography: Bhushan Lakhandri
- Lyrics: GulzarGulzar (lyricist)Sampooran Singh Kalra , known popularly by his pen name Gulzar , is an Indian poet, lyricist and director. He primarily writes in Hindi-Urdu and has also written in Punjabi and several dialects of Hindi such as Braj Bhasha, Khariboli, Haryanvi and Marwari.Gulzar was awarded the Padma Bhushan in...
Reception
Maqbool received positive reviews from critics. Rediff described the movie as"a visual gallery that is an intelligent blend of dark, tragic overtones and comic, satirical undertones." Variety wrote that while the visuals are great, audiences might need an understanding of Macbeth to fully enjoy the movie.Soundtrack
The soundtrack features eleven songs composed by Vishal BhardwajVishal Bhardwaj
Vishal Bhardwaj is an Indian film director, writer, screenwriter, music composer and playback singer.-Early life:Bhardwaj was born in Bijnor but raised in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh to Satya Bhardwaj, a homemaker, and Ram Bhardwaj, a popular poet and lyricist. His father was a government employee and...
with lyrics by Gulzar
Gulzar (lyricist)
Sampooran Singh Kalra , known popularly by his pen name Gulzar , is an Indian poet, lyricist and director. He primarily writes in Hindi-Urdu and has also written in Punjabi and several dialects of Hindi such as Braj Bhasha, Khariboli, Haryanvi and Marwari.Gulzar was awarded the Padma Bhushan in...
.