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The Chess Players

Original title: Shatranj Ke Khilari
  • 1977
  • Not Rated
  • 2h 9m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
3.9K
YOUR RATING
The Chess Players (1977)
Wazed Ali Shah was the ruler of one of the last independent kingdoms of India. The British, intent on controlling this rich country, had sent General Outram on a secret mission to clear the way for an annexation. While pressure was mounting amidst intrigue and political maneuvers, Ali Shah composes poems and listens to music, secluded in his palace. The court was of no help, as exemplified by nobles Mir and Mirza, who, ignoring the situation of their country and all of their duties towards their families, spend their days playing endless parties of chess.
Play trailer1:33
1 Video
33 Photos
ComedyDramaHistory

Wazed Ali Shah was the ruler of one of the last independent kingdoms of India. The British, intent on controlling this rich country, had sent General Outram on a secret mission to clear the ... Read allWazed Ali Shah was the ruler of one of the last independent kingdoms of India. The British, intent on controlling this rich country, had sent General Outram on a secret mission to clear the way for an annexation. While pressure was mounting amidst intrigue and political maneuvers... Read allWazed Ali Shah was the ruler of one of the last independent kingdoms of India. The British, intent on controlling this rich country, had sent General Outram on a secret mission to clear the way for an annexation. While pressure was mounting amidst intrigue and political maneuvers, Ali Shah composes poems and listens to music, secluded in his palace. The court was of n... Read all

  • Director
    • Satyajit Ray
  • Writers
    • Munshi Premchand
    • Satyajit Ray
    • Shama Zaidi
  • Stars
    • Sanjeev Kumar
    • Saeed Jaffrey
    • Shabana Azmi
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    3.9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Satyajit Ray
    • Writers
      • Munshi Premchand
      • Satyajit Ray
      • Shama Zaidi
    • Stars
      • Sanjeev Kumar
      • Saeed Jaffrey
      • Shabana Azmi
    • 29User reviews
    • 29Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins & 3 nominations

    Videos1

    The Chess Players (1977) Trailer
    Trailer 1:33
    Watch The Chess Players (1977) Trailer

    Photos33

    Shabana Azmi, Victor Banerjee, and Amjad Khan in The Chess Players (1977)
    Sanjeev Kumar in The Chess Players (1977)
    Sanjeev Kumar in The Chess Players (1977)
    Sanjeev Kumar in The Chess Players (1977)
    Sanjeev Kumar in The Chess Players (1977)
    Shabana Azmi, Victor Banerjee, and Amjad Khan in The Chess Players (1977)
    The Chess Players (1977)
    Richard Attenborough in The Chess Players (1977)
    Tom Alter in The Chess Players (1977)
    Richard Attenborough in The Chess Players (1977)
    Victor Banerjee in The Chess Players (1977)
    Amjad Khan in The Chess Players (1977)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Sanjeev Kumar
    Sanjeev Kumar
    • Mirza Sajjad Ali
    Saeed Jaffrey
    Saeed Jaffrey
    • Mir Roshan Ali
    Shabana Azmi
    Shabana Azmi
    • Khurshid, Mirza's wife
    Farida Jalal
    Farida Jalal
    • Nafisa, Mir's wife
    Veena
    Veena
    • Queen Mother
    David Abraham
    David Abraham
    • Munshi
    Victor Banerjee
    Victor Banerjee
    • Prime Minister
    • (as Victor Bannerji)
    Farooq Shaikh
    Farooq Shaikh
    • Aqueel
    • (as Farooque Shaikh)
    Tom Alter
    Tom Alter
    • Capt. Weston (Outram's aide de camp)
    Leela Mishra
    Leela Mishra
    • Hirya, Khurshid's maid
    Barry John
    Samarth Narain
    • Kallu
    Bhudo Advani
    • Abbajani
    • (as Budho Advani)
    Kamu Mukherjee
      Uttamram Nagar
      Khairatilal Lahori
      Pradip Shankar
      Ashfaq Mirza
      • Director
        • Satyajit Ray
      • Writers
        • Munshi Premchand
        • Satyajit Ray
        • Shama Zaidi
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        Satyajit Ray's only Hindi movie.
      • Quotes

        Mir Roshan Ali: Jinse apni biwi-yan nahin sambhli woh angreaz fauz se kya ladenge. Translation : Those whom couldn't even care for their wives, would not be able to fight the British army.

      • Connections
        Featured in Celluloid Man (2012)

      User reviews29

      Review
      Review
      Featured review
      8/10
      Checkmate? You better check your wife, mate!
      Shatranj Ke Khilari is Sayajit Ray's first Hindi movie. It is, though a bit too slow at points, special, different, comic, and as a result unusually entertaining. This satirical drama is humorous, interesting and impressive, and Ray's direction is excellent. It is evidently well invested, with glossy sets and costumes. The writing is superb, with the brilliantly-written dialogues surpassing the storyline itself, and the culture and the atmosphere of those times is captured exceedingly well. All these aspects, along with the music composed by Ray and the fantastic narration of Amitabh Bachchan, create an engagingly artistic and poetic piece. Ray casts some of the most talented leading actors from the Hindi film industry, all of whom suit their roles and do a wonderful job. Amjad Khan is great as Nawab Wajid Ali Shah. Sanjeev Kumar and Saeed Jaffrey are exceptional as the chess-obsessed noblemen, who ironically indulge in ceaseless chess playing while showing minimal interest in the state of their marriages, wives and even their nation. Shabana Azmi and Farida Jalal play their neglected wives, and they excel in their very tiny roles (each has only a few minutes on-screen). Azmi is convincing as the frustrated Khurshid and Jalal is awesome as the unfaithful wife who has an affair with her husband's nephew Aqueel. Richard Attenbrough and Victor Banerjee provide great support. Shatranj Ke Khilari is a nice little film. It is not among the very best of Ray, but it is certainly a worthy picture and of the most strikingly unique films of those times.
      helpful•16
      3
      • Peter_Young
      • May 29, 2010

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      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • October 3, 1977 (India)
      • Country of origin
        • India
      • Languages
        • Hindi
        • Urdu
        • English
      • Also known as
        • Die Schachspieler
      • Filming locations
        • Indrapuri Studios, Calcutta, West Bengal, India(studio: Indrapuri Studios, Calcutta)
      • Production company
        • Devki Chitra
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Technical specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        2 hours 9 minutes
      • Sound mix
        • Mono

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