Lucknow’s Umrao Jaan has no visitors
As youngsters across Delhi are making a beeline outside cinema halls to watch the remake of Filmmaker Muzzaffar Ali’s “Umrao Jaan” of the eighties, the real life courtesan has no visitors to her tomb in Lucknow’s Karbala Azeemullah Khan, a graveyard.
Umrao Jaan’s story has helped both actresses and filmmakers win fame and fortune, but none of them has taken time off to even light a candle of remembrance at her tomb here.
A visit to her tomb may leave anyone of her admirers shocked by its dilapidated state.
The tombstone, which was laid with the name “Umraon Jaan” inscribed on it, is not there anymore. It broke as a road was built over a part of the tomb. Today, only a small portion reveals the coutesan’s burial spot.
According to Hashim Hussain, the 75-year-old caretaker of Karbala Azeemullah Khan, the mausoleum was built even before he was born. The stone broke after a road was built over the mausoleum, leaving only a part of it visible to tell the tale of the courtesan.
“The mausoleum was made in the manner of other mausoleums. There was a stone on which the name of Umraon Jaan was engraved. But the stone broke after this road was made,” said Hashim Hussain.
Today, no relative of Umraon Jaan visits the mausoleum nor anyone lights a candle or offers prayers at her grave.
The caretaker says that no efforts of reconstructing the mausoleum have been taken by anyone including film makers who have capitalised on her name and fame with movies based on the life of Umrao Jaan.
“A great injustice has been done. The filmmakers could have at least done something for reconstruction of the mausoleum just the way a mausoleum has been made of Mirza Ghalib,” rued Hashim Hussain.
Bollywood actress Rekha played the unforgettable role of Umrao Jaan and won huge accolades from film critics for her stellar performance in the 1981.
Actress Rekha had portrayed beautifully the character of Umraon Jaan in her film ‘Umrao Jaan’.
The film is about a 19th century courtesan who earned fame but was forsaken by her loved ones.
The latest release has been remade for the modern-day audience and Miss Universe-turned model-actress Aishwariya Rai is playing the role of Umrao Jaan.
— ANI
Would you please give me some more details of Umrao Jaans tomb and where exactly the grave is in Lucknow so that i can visit it
Thank You