Anjuman
In
986 Muzaffar Ali embarked on his fourth feature film Anjuman, on his favourite
theme-exploitation of women, craft and Lucknow- the craft being chikan in
the case.
Anjuman is society, it is contemporary Lucknow .Anjuman is a young girl of
old Lucknow who dares to dream of changing her life and those around her.
Anjuman lives with her mother, who has been deserted by her husband, and her
brother and sister with her maternal uncle in a crumbling yet picturesque
pre-mutiny house in Kashmiri Mohalla of old Lucknow, which has seen no development
since the suppression of the 1857 revolt. It is the life of genteel poverty
made all the more difficult by the constant barbs and stings from her aunt
who resents the burden Anjuman and her family have placed on the frail economy
of her household.
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Anjuman and her mother eke out their existence by doing chikan embroidery.
They are paid a pittance for this painstaking work that takes a terrible toll
on their eyesight. Their world is the world of women like themselves - poor,
insecure and helpless. Their world is the world of narrow squalid streets,
stifling houses, black burqas, rigid conventions, and ruthless exploitation.
But is also a world of strong cultural traditions, colourful festivals and
much humour. A young eye doctor, Suchitra Sharma, who sees the spark in Anjuman
and succeeds in fanning it, helps her in her struggle against the chikan merchants.
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Romance enters Anjuman’s life with Sajid, the young aristocrat, the roof of
whose palatial house adjoins hers. But there are more walls that separate
them and Sajid lacks the courage to fight the social barriers.
Disappointed in love, Anjuman continues her fight for justice undeterred and
her own courage inspires not only other women but Sajid as well.
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Anjuman, a document of Lucknow today was dedicated to Faiz Ahmad Faiz, was
written as a story by Muzaffar Ali with dialogues by Rahi Masoom Raza. The
lyrics are by Shahryar with a poem by Faiz Ahmad Faiz. The music was by Khayyam,
with Shabana Azmi singing her own songs and a special debut by Khayam singing
Faiz with his wife Jagjit Kaur...Kab haath mein tera haath nahin
The cinematography was done by Ishaan Arya. The film stars Shabana Azmi, Farouque
Shaikh, Rohini Hathangadi, Shaukat Kaifi, introducing Mushtaque Khan and several
artistes from Lucknow.
Anjuman though not released yet was selected for the Indian Panorama at the
11th International Film Festival, New Delhi 1986. It was the inaugural film
for the Indian Festival at Mauritius. It also represented India at the Vancouver
Film Festival and the International Film Festivals at Cairo and Teheran in
1987.
