Logo

Since its debut on celluloid, Umrao Jaan has enchanted audiences and critics alike, winning hearts with its nuanced storytelling, haunting melodies, and unforgettable visu als.

Over the decades, it has found new life across mediums—from theatres to television, from vinyl to cassette, from VHS to DVD—and now, in a landmark moment, it returns to the big screen in a newly restored 4K digital format by the National Film Archives of India.

Produced in conjunction with the film’s re-release, this volume is more than a tribute—it is a journey through the many lives of Umrao Jaan. Curated by the film’s director Muzaffar Ali, it is a richly illustrated narrative that captures his vision of poetic realism.

The contributing essays by eminent writers take the readers through the historical and the imaginative breadth and depth of its making: unveiling a culture, in its twilight—of the 1850s Lucknow; the story of Umrao Jaan travelling from the pages of a literary novel to a film screenplay; the intimate, restrained, yet opulent cinematography capturing emotion, framing elegance; the resplendent costumes and jewellery designed with historical reverence and aesthetic intuition; the soul of the film—its music and lyrics, with words becoming the breath and melodies melting into memory. Including memoirs by Rekha who brought the character to life; recounting the quiet conviction of producer SK Jain helping make the ethereal dream of Umrao Jaan possible; and with reflections on its reception upon release, the reviews, awards and accolades, the book celebrates the creation of this cinematic masterpiece.

With rare behind-the-scenes photographs, handwritten notes, costume sketches, calligraphic scripts, and reflective essays, it offers a window into a world where cinema met tehzeeb, and art became eternal.