When two experts well-versed in this ageless art of attacks and counterattacks face each other across the board of 64, the thrill and excitement that this game provides; the battle of wit, intellect and mental fortitude that it presents to both the player and his opponent and even the onlooker can hardly be rivaled, let alone bettered by any other. It's something exciting about chess that allows you the full opportunity to plan your moves and also to be silent and patient, while the enemy plans is.... No one ever won a bout of chess by being exactly impatient or by thinking himself or herself above the others... Chess has a way of humbling the greatest and the smartest!
It’s common knowledge that every sport is an opportunity for humans to calibrate their prowess against their peers and contemporaries but there is hardly any game that stands up to chess when it comes to calibrating a man’s mental make-up. Some may argue in favour of Bridge and though I do agree that Bridge is a formidable game, Chess wins in keeping the individualistic streak open (In Bridge, it's a team that's competing). However, its one thing to play chess on the board and consider oneself as the prime among equals when it comes to deciphering hidden moves and plans and strategies on the board and another to actually be astute enough to understand the same in real life. As they say, you can play the game of chess all your life without ever becoming a player.
Politics is the real-time equivalent of chess with far more varieties and variations than can ever be seen on the board and it falls to the astuteness, alertness and intelligence of the player to deduce from what he sees what may be and what can be. Unfortunately there are few, if any, who read correctly the nuances written on the tealeaves of time and still fewer who actually understand them. That maybe the reason why India, though the land where chess originated and reached its pinnacle was easily outplayed by a few intelligent employees of the East India Company to an extent such that the land of the golden bird remained a colony of the imperialistic west for more than 200 years.
The film is based on a short story by the great Munshi Premchand, one of the legends of Indian modern writing. In his own imitable way, the great Premchand has in this brilliant short film of his, woven with a deft hand the circumstances that were in India in the 1850s and how the British, though a handful were able to using the stratagems employed in Chess, able to win over and rule a nation 3 times their size, while the rulers of India failed. Shatranj Ke Khiladi is a grim reminder of the fact that while the rajahs, maharajahs and nawabs of the Indian sub-continent wasted their time in fun and frolic, flying kites, frolicking with courtesans, killing each other to the last person on some perceived notion of slight to self-respect and playing games like chess in their palatial mansions, the actual players of the game, the British continued silently and softly on their mission of subjugation and conquest by gobbling up one state after another while reducing India to the status of a colony in the bargain.
Performance wise, Sanjeev Kumar as the chess-crazy Nawab of Awadh, Mirza Sajid Ali plays the role of the aristocratic nawab to the hilt. As a person who has no qualms whatsoever at playing chess at any cost and in any circumstances – even at the cost of marital discord, Sanjeev is brilliant. The elegance of a Nawab is not only evident but also stamps itself in every scene. You have to just watch the regal bearing the actor brings to his scene to be convinced of his greatness and completeness as an actor.
There are times when I have thought that there must be at least one performance where I will be able to capture a sense of discomfort in this great actor but always I have been forced to eat humble pie. Sanjeev Kumar is a complete actor, whatever the role, whatever the characterization and it's an honour to watch him perform whether as a volcano in Sholay or a lowly stream in Shatranj Ke Khiladi!
Saeed Jaffrey as his partner-in-crime, his partner-in-chess – Mir Roshan Ali is character personified. In his role as an incredulous, bumbling fool, Saeed is exceptionally well cast and he brings to the role the perfect nuance of an unworthy scion of a worthy family. As a person who understands everything on the board but nothing outside it, Saeed is magnificent – easily his best role in Hindi Cinema. The two lead actors complement each other completely. Watch out for their efforts to play chess even oblivious to the death of a lost comrade – a hallmark of excellent performance.
Shabana Azmi as the neglected wife of Sanjeev Kumar plays a terrific cameo in an ill-defined role. Her hatred for the game and efforts at weaning away her husband from his compulsive obsession are well performed. On the other hand, Farida Jalal as the philandering wife of Saeed who intends to keep her husband involved in chess makes good capital of the little scope she gets to perform.
And if any had any doubts about the calibre of Amjad Khan, rest assured it will be forgotten as he chides gently the dancer and then goes on to give an impromptu performance of Kathak - he is an actor to be believed; sadly as usual Hindi Cinema failed his talent as it has many of his talent and standing.
Veena as the Dowager-Queen, the mother of the current Nawab puts in a regal performance. The scene wherein she confronts the English Resident is one of the best in the entire movie and can stand out by itself inspite of so many brilliant performances. Who would have thought that an actress past her prime would prove to be so strong and well-suited to her role as Veena. The imperial gaze reminds us of Taj Mahal, the arrogance and attitude of the woman who portrayed Noor Jehan still lingers, the eyes still smoulder and the voice is imperial as ever.
Richard Attenborough, the great Hollywood actor, writer and director who has done a lot for Indian sensibilities plays the role of the English resident with utmost ease and confidence. Considering the fact that very few Hollywood actors have actually performed a role of substance and performed it well in Hindi Cinema, his performance is exceptionally well crafted and delivered - especially if we remember the utter failure of his fellow actor, Rex Harrison in Shalimar. His performance in the confrontation with Veena is highly recommended for those who feel knowledge of the language is required to shine in a role.
And then there are others; in small cameos but still brilliant whether it is Farooque Sheikh, David, Victor Bannerjee and Agha they all shine in their small roles. Tom Alter, the resident British Indian Actor, one who's more known to Indian films than to British ones as the Secretary to the Resident gives the performance of a lifetime and still proves to be a handful.
Satyajit Ray, considered arguably one of the greatest directors of Indian Cinema proves his commendable hold over the medium of story telling by his expertise on all aspects of filmmaking in this movie. It’s the loss of Hindi Cinema and gain of Bengali Cinema that this director never before and never again weilded the baton in a Hindi film ever again – although he did direct a few short films hereafter. Each and every scene in the movie is an example of a genius at work, one who knows that he's a genius and one on whom genius alights softly on the shoulder, without making a fuss of it.
The juxtaposition of the chessboard with the political conditions of 1857 India, the use of animation and plums to signify the fall of Imperial India and the rise of the British Empire all point towards his extraordinary talent. Unlike many other films, where the casting of the support causes a sort of imbalance in the film, Shatranj Ke Khiladi maintains a perfect consonance of all the actors performing in the movie.
Every scene is a treat for the eyes; the confrontation between the two friends to the extent of causing mortal damage to each other is absolutely a delight to watch, considering the background of the fight. As the friends fight each other on the finer nuances of the game, the British Resident has deposed the Nawab and is taking him prisoner through the roads of his own country and nobody bothers to even pay a second glance to the unfortunate event. Such was the plight of our past!
This movie is a must for all who are citizens of a free country, irrespective of whether the country is India or America.... Do not dismiss it as History for History repeats itself and it severely punishes them who fail to learn its lessons. They all perish in the sands of time that disregard History for History disregards them completely, thoroughly and ruthlessly
As the great poet Iqbal once wrote:
Wataan Ki Fiqr Kar Nadaan, Qayamat Aane Waali Hai,
Teri Barbaadiyon Ka Mashwara Hai Aasmaanon Mein;
Na Samjhoge To Mit Jaaoge, Ae Hindostaan Waalon,
Tumhari Daastaan Tak Naa Hogi Daastaanon Mein
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