Sardari Begum (1996) watch online HD

Benegal's 'Sardari Begum' follows the same line of Benegal's 'Zubeidaa'. Both films are said to be part of a trilogy of which the third film is 'Mammo'. I haven't seen 'Mammo' but while both 'Zubeidaa' and 'Sardari Begum' tell the story of an enigmatic woman who lived her life on her own terms, the latter film is a lot less polished and much more raw. This only adds to the somberness and deglamour of the film making it look much more real. While the glamour works very well in 'Zubeidaa' as it deals with the upper class, the lack of it works for 'Sardari Begum' as it deals with the middle class.

Benegal is already known as a masterful storyteller, especially when it concerns women. Here he certainly does not let his viewer down. the writing is brilliant and the characters are very interestingly defined as we see them from different perspectives. The editing is crisp.

He extracts some fine performances from his actors. This is perhaps the first role that does full justice to Kiron Kher's talent. She's simply phenomenal. In the title role, Smriti Mishra does a very good job. Rajeshwari Sachdev too standouts especially in the final sequences. Newcomer Rajina Raj Bisaria adds a freshness with a sincere performance. Rajit Kapoor, Salim Ghouse and Amrish Puri lend sufficient support.

The songs are very simplistic, created with beautiful lyrics and minimal use of instruments. The cinematography, especially the use of the zoomlens shot from multiple angles is very effective.

Like 'Zubeidaa', 'Sardari Begum' is a beautiful film. It's just a different kind of beautiful. Watch it and you will see what I mean.

Maybe it is based on a real life character and thats why there arent very many silly mistakes that most Hindi movies have. Screenplay is very good and the music is absolutely great. The movie reminds one of movies like "Rashomon" by Akira Kurosawa and "Citizen Kane" by Orson Welles. The ending is superb and leaves you with a subjective feeling. This movie is a part of trilogy starting in "Mammo" and ending in "Zubeeida". However, this movie the most independent of the three. The other two have lots of characters that spill over from one movie to the other.

Shyam Benegal is truly one of India's greatest directors.

Great Movie. Indian CInema got a wonderful actress in Kiron Kher after this movie. Though she had done few films before but this was the first time she was noticed.Specially her next door aunt face gave the character a realistic appeal. This movie shows how someone rising from middle class background in a short age profession or one which requires patron may face. Retracing Sardari BEgum's story from different view points was interesting .But I expected her daughter to be bitter towards her which was not the case . Only negative point was the journalist trying to find the real story ,she overacted a bit. Other characters of AMrish Puri , Rajat KApoor, the director of radio station or the lover of Rajeshwari were well scripted & decently performed.