Maqbool

Maqbool, a 2004 Bollywood film directed by Vishal Bharadwaj and starring Pankaj Kapoor, Irfan Khan, Tabu and Masumeh Makhija is an adaptation of the play Macbeth by Shakespeare.

The film had its North American premiere at the 2003 Toronto International Film Festival. Though the film failed to entice much of an audience during its theatrical run in India, critics were appreciative and Pankaj Kapoor went on to win a Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Critics) and a National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.



 Plot
Maqbool (Irfan Khan) is an orphan who was adopted by Abba Ji (Pankaj Kapoor), a powerful underworld don. Maqbool is grateful and feels a close connection and personal indebtedness to Abba ji, and works for him as his right hand man. Nimmi (Tabu) is Abba Ji's mistress, but she secretly loves Maqbool. Maqbool loves Nimmi, too, and they begin a passionate affair which leads to her persuading him to kill Abbaji in order to take over as don, and inherit her as mistress in addition to the fortune, repute and responsibility of leading the mafia. Maqbool is torn between his love for Nimmi and his loyalty to Abba ji, but he begins to prepare the ground for becoming don by ensuring that others in the line of inheritance cannot interfere. Finally, in a dramatic scene, Maqbool murders Abba ji in cold blood while he is bed at night, with Nimmi next to him. Maqbool gets away with it and takes over as don, just as planned; but both he and Nimmi are haunted by guilt, seeing Abbaji's ghosts and unable to wash the blood from their hands. There is also suspicion within the gang of Maqbool's role in the death of Abba ji, and eventually the lovers meet with tragic ends.

In addition to the fantastic portrayals of the three tragic heroes, the film offers stellar performances by supporting cast members, in particular Om Puri and Naseeruddin Shah, who open the film in their roles as black comic relief corrupt police inspectors cum astrologers, who predict the fall of Abba ji--who has them on his payroll--and the rise and fall of Maqbool. Contrary to the original play, the corrupt cops are not just passive soothsayers. In an effort to what they refer as "balancing forces," they also actively involve in shaping events, like aiding in providing information to Abba ji's enforcers to wipe out a rival gang, using subtle nuances in coercing Maqbool to shift loyalties, deliberately botching an "encounter" attempt on Riyaz Boti (Macduff) and subsequently setting up an alliance between a rival politician (to the incumbent one, backed by Abba ji) and a fleeing Guddu (Fleance) and Riyaz Boti against Maqbool.


Cast
Actor- Character in the movie- Character in the play
Irfan Khan- Miyan Maqbool- Macbeth
Tabu- Nimmi- Lady Macbeth
Pankaj Kapoor- Jahangir Khan aka Abbaji- Duncan I of Scotland
Om Puri -Inspector Pandit- Witch (Weird Sisters)
Naseeruddin Shah- Inspector Purohit- Witch (Weird Sisters)
Piyush Mishra- Kaka- Banquo
Ajay Gehi -Guddu- Fleance
Ankur Vikal- Riyaz Boti -Macduff
Pubali Sanyal -Riyaz Boti's wife- Lady Macduff
Masumeh Makhija -Sameera- Abbaji's daughter -
Gyanchand Rikki- Mughal- Macdonwald


Crew
Director: Vishal Bharadwaj
Screenplay: Vishal Bharadwaj & Abbas Tyrewala
Story: Vishal Bharadwaj & William Shakespeare
Dialogue: Vishal Bharadwaj
Producer: Bobby Bedi
Music: Vishal Bharadwaj
Editing: Aarif Sheikh
Cinematography: Hemant Chaturvedi
Stunts: Ravi Shinde
Costume Designer: Payal Saluja
Choreography: Bhushan Lakhandri
Lyrics: Gulzar

Soundtrack
Maqbool

Soundtrack by Vishal Bharadwaj
Released 2004
Recorded Nirvana Studio
Genre Film soundtrack
Label Music Today
The soundtrack features eleven songs composed by Vishal Bharadwaj with lyrics by Gulzar.

"Jhin Min Jhini" – Sadhana Sargam, Ustad Sultan Khan, Anuradha Sriram, Rakesh Pandit
"Ru-Ba-Ru" – Daler Mehndi, Rakesh Pandit, Sabir Khan, Dominique
"Rone Do" – Rekha Vishal
"Dheemo Re" – Ustad Sultan Khan
"The Maqbool Theme" – Instrumental
"Rukhe Naina" – Sanjeev Abhyankar
"Chingari" – Rekha Vishal
"The Killing" – Instrumental
"Nirvana" – Instrumental
"Shoonya" – Instrumental
"Jhin Min Jhini (extended)" – Sadhana Sargam, Ustad Sultan Khan, Anuradha Sriram, Rakesh Pandit