Remembering Shyam Benegal: Revisiting 'Zubeidaa', The Maverick Filmmaker's Timeless Classic

Shyam Benegal undertook a venture over two decades ago by creating a movie with patriarchal norms as its only villain.

The classic 'Zubeidaa', directed by Benegal, was based on an unconventional story for the period. 

Source : IMDb

Why This Week's Pick Is Zubeidaa

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In the wake of Shyam Benegal's passing on Monday (December 23), we pay tribute to the legendary filmmaker's enduring legacy by revisiting one of his most cherished films, 'Zubeidaa' (2001). This poignant biographical drama, which tenderly explores the life of actress Zubeida Begum, exemplifies Benegal's masterful storytelling.

New Delhi: Women-focused films are huge right now in Hindi cinema. With the backing of its strong performances, flawless screenplays, and some commercial successes, the sub-genre of films has made its way into mainstream cinema. Whether it was 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' by Sanjay Leela Bhansali or 'Thappad' by Anubhav Sinha, these films left an impression on the audience. They showed that not every film calls for a 'hero' to shine. 

Shyam Benegal, a maverick director, undertook a venture over two decades ago by creating a movie with patriarchal norms as its only villain. Despite countless films addressing the challenges faced by women, women-centric was hardly a household term back then. The classic 'Zubeidaa', directed by Benegal, featured an unusual cast, including Karisma Kapoor, Rekha, and Manoj Bajpayee, and was based on an unconventional story for the period. 

The director, who has won 15 national awards, is renowned for his offbeat films like 'Manthan', 'Mandi', and many others. However, this not-so-hidden gem, a love story unlike any other, is also featured in his vast filmography. In this movie, the filmmaker's distinctive style of storytelling did hold the attention of the audience and many women could relate to Zubeidaa, the untamed woman who finds herself shackled by society.

The first of three films depicting the real-life experiences of Muslim women in Independent India that journalist and filmmaker Khalid Mohamed and director Shyam Benegal was titled 'Mammo'. 'Zubeidaa', a prequel to 'Mammo', was filmed by Benegal in 2001 based on a story penned by Mohamed. Benegal's romantic flick had an engaging story, powerful acting, and other factors that made it an outstanding cinematic experience and a film that was ahead of its time.

'Zubeidaa' opens with the tale of a young guy named Riyaz (Rajit Kapoor), who longs to find out more about his mother, played by Karisma Kapoor. She is introduced as a young Muslim woman from a middle-class household who aspires to work in the film industry one day. Her son embarks on a mission to track down the one footage of his mother acting in a movie, and while on this journey, he runs into Zubeidaa's close companions. Benegal shows Zubeidaa's battle to break free from patriarchal restraints as a rebellious and open-minded woman, and he does so with remarkable beauty. With Javed Akhtar's lyrics for songs like 'Mehndi Hai Rachnewali', 'Main Albeli', and 'Dheeme Dheeme' blended in with the background music and unmatched soundtrack by A.R. Rahman, the movie will always be cherished. 

The character Zubeidaa, who is partially based on Mohamed's mother, takes a chance to escape her hostile father and a forced marriage and marries a Rajput king as his second wife. She is forbidden by Suleman Seth (Amrish Puri) to follow her passion for starring in films, and he right away plans her marriage to the son of one of his friends. She divorces her first spouse after a brief period of unsteady marriage during which they had a son, Riyaz. Zubeidaa finds affection and companionship in Maharaja Vijayendra Singh of Fatehpur (Manoj Bajpayee) after annulling the marriage. She gets charmed by Victor and leaves her son so she can accompany him to Jodhpur, where she hopes to find the fairytale she has been yearning for. 

Tragically, Zubeidaa finds herself ensnared in a different kind of cage while assuming that she had escaped society's stifling notions by marrying the person she truly loved despite status and religion. She realises that the royal family's values prevent their members from embracing her as one of their own, nor do they allow her to fulfil her desire of having a place in Victor's life. Zubeidaa stays hidden in a luxurious but lonesome palace, while the latter's first wife, Maharani Mandira Devi (Rekha), remains to be accepted in society.

Karisma Kapoor, who built a name for herself in Bollywood through big-budget, mainstream films, broke from the norm and took on a role in a project by a director known for his parallel cinema. The movie, which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi, also gave the actor the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. It's hailed as one of Kapoor's best performances in addition to being one of Benegal's best films for straddling the barriers between mainstream and independent cinema. 

Even after more than 20 years since its release, 'Zubeidaa' feels painfully familiar. Be it the suffocating nature of society that seeks to mould an ideal woman or the lack of agency women get to partake of in their own lives.