Begum Jaan

Great casting! Apt locations! But am I the only one who thinks there was really no story to support the movie? Two aspects that were beyond my understanding - First, I am at a loss to understand a compelling reason for the ladies to live in that house, even at the cost of their lives. It is not as if a rogue neighbor or a local goon was kicking them off their property (and they didn't own the house either; the King did!]). It was a freaking partition of the country! And they weren't the only ones being marginally inconvenienced. Millions of people lost their homes and life savings; hundreds of thousands lost their lives because they couldn't escape early enough. Why did the ladies want to live there? They weren't leaving their farms behind. They could continue with their profession wherever they relocated! Second, the two gentlemen assigned to put a fence along the partition line - what was so compelling that they couldn't move the partition line by 100 meters so the house would safely fall in either of the countries? The ladies did not care if they were in India or Pakistan - all they wanted was live where they were and continue with their lives. What was so important that the country line had to be drawn through their house? What was so important about that piece of land that made it more important than the tens of lives they were willing to sacrifice? There are reasons why people prefer to fight for their rights even at the cost of their lives. And there are principles folks follow even if it costs lives. But neither of these seemed like a valid reason in the story.

This movie is a almost shot by shot remake of the Bengali film Rajkahini by same director and writer.

The Bengali movie has many problems as it doesn't holds up to the level as the story wants. This movie was way better than the the original. The director seems to be corrected all the mistakes and gaps and made it a good movie.

The acting is very good by every one specially Vidya Balan and all the girls are good. The main problem with the original is that it was not well acted by some of the supporting casts. But this one is and it gives every scene more gravitas.

The contract killer character portrayal of Chunky Pandey is not as good as the character portrayal in the original movie by Jisshu Sengupta.

This movie is bold as it can be on the screen. It has heavy dialogues. It is more suspenseful and more gory. The acting is good. Story is fantastic as it is known. Allover it is a very good and corrected remake of an average movie.........7/10...........

Why the rating is so poor when "sex" is a positive religion. No mind thinks twice while sex, what is caste, religion, rich and poor. In my guess, all the reviews were based on Pakistan, these days India has hostile relation with Pakistan. The movie reflects the present situation of women in society, they face sexual harassment in every step. One scene makes my sight so cruel when the old woman and young girl stripped her dress.

India Pakistan partition is back drop of this film. A brothel comes between the border line and then government officers from both side and brothel women stands against each other. It starts with conflict, ends with battle. Characterization is major problem of this film. As writer director had clear cut vision that every person outside the brothel should have been grey or dark. Due to his this point of view most of the characters behave abruptly or turn grey without much logic. When local Inspector fails to evict them, two powerful government officers, rather than seeking help from higher authorities, they jointly decide to take help of a brutal goon, as if they had some personal grievances against the brothel, which is not clear and if they did it, just for their ego satisfaction then they are stone hearted but then they get highly emotionally affected in climax!! Why it was so necessary to demolish the brothel, is not established. Brothel or border fence could have been shifted or at least tried for the same. How and why, brothel care taker Salim had collected so much guns and ammunition is not clear, yes he was dismissed Inspector. Just because of makers had thought to use all this in climax! Director is so desperate to prove himself that he used new way of taking shots and even repeated them many times without thinking of its effect like, India and Pakistan partition offices only half face in frame most of the time when they converse emotional. It could have been bearable just for once but this type of frame has been repeated. Dialogues are very good, especially the line at interval 'Maheena giinne toh hamen khoob aata hai saab......'. Climax is very heavy. Performance wise Vidya Balan as Begum Jaan is first rate. Good performance is the main strength of this film. Gauher Khan as Rubina shines in the scene when she speaks with Surjit at the stone of river. Her performance is very layered. Pallavi Shrada as Gulaboo is fine. Chunkey Pandey as Kabir is brilliant. His looks and expressions, both are terrific which create the much needed terror. Flora Saini as Maina is fine. Pitobash Tripathi as Surjit is impressive.

Really hard to find such movie now a days, which can portray subject so beautifully ..Movie have successfully and strongly passed message to its audience. Its one of the best movie because..

1) Unique story - during independence, where bureaucrats, politician, officers were busy in drawing the partition line, and public were busy in killing their own people in the name of religion. One brothel which somehow going through this line of partition stood up, and didn't allow to demolish it as long as they were alive..

2) True mirror of society - People who do Hindu, Muslim, upper cast,lower cast, temple, mosque, they do visit brothel.. and do not give a damn.. if a prostitute belongs to a specific religion or cast.. In India.. not many such brothels exists openly.. but type of people shown in movie still exists in same way and are in majority.

3 ) People playing social activist , have real face in background, looking for a chance.. to fetch a girl and sell outside... Police, bureaucrats & officers ..are regular visitor for gray market business.. but they enjoy as a free service... Same is happening now .. probably less in brothels..but for rest of the black business also.

4) These prostitutes , neither they were patriotic or religious, were staying in brothel as their own country.. with all freedom inside, and love and respect for each other, and great self esteem.. they died together to protect each other.. and to save their brothel... and outer world.. white color people.. fighting and killing each other for pity matters

5) Each actor have played their role best.. Vidya Balan was in her best.. many dialogues and scenes are mind blowing.. and will be remembered for long time..

6) I salute and thank its director, producers and actors and all involved for creating such great movies...of course it will not be liked by many.. who want to see their own ugly face in mirror..