Urdu literature is too aesthetically pleasing but remains undiscovered by the audience until visual adaptations are created. Umrao Jaan Ada is a masterpiece of our historic literature written by Mirza Hadi Ruswa in 1899. It portrayed the culture and lifestyle Indian subcontinent, especially of courtesans. The novel has gone through many film and TV adaptations until now. After all the earlier adaptations, we are going to watch super talented Sajal Aly in Umrao Jaan Ada.
Earlier Screen Adaptations
Many Indian and Pakistani producers have taken this novel in several film adaptations. The first two projects made under the inspiration of Umrao Jaan Ada’s novel were SM Yusuf’s Mehndi and Nakhshab Jarchavi’s Zindagi Ya Toofan. Later, complete film adaptations started appearing on screen in 1972 by Pakistani director, Hasan Tariq, starring Rani in the lead role.
The legendary novel did not remain famous in Pakistan only. Many Indian filmmakers also took to this story. In 1981, Muzaffar Ali presented Umrao Jaan Ada starring Rakhi. Later, we saw Ashwariya Rai Bachan in the film adaptation in 2006. The audience also saw the TV adaptation in 2003 on Geo Tv and as Doordarshan on Indian TV in 2014. India’s famous singers’ duo, Saleem Sulaiman also adapted Umrao Jaan Ada as a stage Musical in 2019.
Producers
Hamid Hussain and Muhammad Yaqoob are producing the latest adaptation of Umrao Jaan Ada under an Abu Dhabi-based South Asian celebrity management agency Action Consultancy. In an interview, Hussain revealed that the project is going to include much more than the earlier adaptations have missed. Moreover, this project will not be a film but an eight-part series. Surprisingly, there will be two lead female roles among whom Sajal Ali is one.
Sajal Aly in Umrao Jaan Ada
Here is what Hussain had to say about Sajal Aly in Umrao Jaan Ada and this project in particular. He said, “I can’t reveal much at this point but yes, we are working on an Umrao Jaan Ada adaptation with Sajal in the lead role.”
He further added, “It’s going to be an eight-part series and not a film. We are working on a two female lead cast for this series and Sajal is one of them.” Upon asking about Sajal Aly’s choice in this project, he said, “It’s an old-school romantic drama, and Sajal has that perfect look. She was the apt choice to nail the regality and elegance required for someone to be cast in Umrao Jaan.”
About the project, he added, “heavily on the original Urdu version of the novel, unlike the film adaptations that had taken creative liberties to fit the story into a film narrative. there is a lot in the novel that has never been shown in an audio-visual project.”
About Action Consultancy
Action consultancy has already managed leading stars from South Asia including Humayun Saeed in “The Crown” and Ahad Raza Mir in ” Resident Evil”. Now we have Sajal Aly appearing in Umrao Jaan Ada in a lead role. She has already appeared in other international projects like Mom, an Indian film with Siri Devi and what’s Love Got To Do With It? a production of Jemima Khan.
There are no further details about the release of this project and other fellow actors. But, this project seems exciting and gathers some high hopes to bring something worth watching as an adaptation of the masterpiece Urdu novel.
