THE CINEMATIC REPRESENTATION OF THE TAWAIF: PROTO-FEMINISM AND PATRIARCHAL CONSTRAINTS IN MUZAFFAR ALI’S UMRAO JAAN (1981)

Abstract

Muzaffar Ali’s  Umrao Jaan (1981), an adaptation of Mirza Mohammad Hadi Ruswa’s Urdu novel, immortalizes the life of a 19th-century Lucknow courtesan, Umrao Jaan Ada. This paper examines the film as a cinematic exploration of the tawaif’s paradoxical existence within a patriarchal society, where she is both revered and commodified. Through a feminist lens, the study analyzes Umrao’s transformation from a victim of abduction to a culturally refined poet and performer, arguing that she embodies a proto-feminist defiance against systemic oppression. However, the film also underscores the futility of her aspirations for social legitimacy, trapping her within the confines of her role. By situating Umrao Jaan within the socio-historical context of Avadh’s cultural decadence, this paper highlights the film’s nuanced portrayal of gender, agency, and resistance, contributing to discourses on courtesan narratives in Indian cinema.