Begum Jaan

Begum Jaan, a prostitute owning a brothel in a village, trying to save her house at the time of Partition of India. A movie staring Vidya Balan, Chunky Pandey, Gauahar Khan, Sumit Nijhawan, directed by Srijit Mukherji where Vidya Balan has done an amazing work.

The Radcliffe Line divided one nation into two parts: India and Pakistan. Director Srijit Mukherji’s film Begum Jaan featured a group of men and women living in a house situated right in the middle India and Pakistan. Here lives a virago, Begum Jaan, with her girls who are either abandoned, riot victims or some are simply thrown out of their houses and some have failed in love.

In the beginning when we meet Begum Jaan, we see her slapping a new girl ruthlessly, as if preparing her for the volcanic eruption. The movie has many

dialogues which has the power to move the audience. Each and every girl had put down their best and the results are worth watching. The film also shows the image of the people facing partition. Many people were homeless, many were killed, many were against the idea.

The film begins with an elderly woman offering her body to a group of potential rapists in order to protect a younger woman in 2016’s Delhi suggesting the power dynamics haven’t changed much since Independence. Begum Jaan and her girls fight patriarchy with all their might. She says, “Aazaadi keval mardon ke liye hoti hai,” and sets the ball rolling.

As the house of  Begum Jaan was situated right in the middle of the Radcliffe line, she fought for her house and honour. Begum Jaan was supported by the local kings, so even the locals and administration was scared of her. But later when the King was not in position to save her house she understood that all the things are now depended on her and she must fight with all her might to save her house. The one of  the dialogue delivered by Begum Jaan was “Ab Jo Bhi Ho, Bheekmangon Ki Tarah Nahe, Rani Ki Tarah Marungi… Apne Mahal Mein…” This one really touched my heart. This movie shows how women were treated as commodity and were abused and so on, and these things still prevail in our society. 

This movie deserve one watch surely, the acting done by each and every woman especially Vidya Balan is admirable.