The Chess Players

Name: The Chess Players
Director: Satyajit Ray
Released: 1977
Duration: 129 min
Rating: 7.5
Cast: Sanjeev Kumar, Saeed Jaffrey, Shabana Azmi, Farida Jalal, Veena

1977 · 129 MIN · IMDB 7.5 · 4,228 VOTES · DIR. Satyajit Ray

Overview

In the year 1856, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah is the King of Awadh, one of the last independent kingdoms of India. The British intend to control this rich land and send General Outram to clear way for an annexation. Pressure is mounting amidst intrigue and political maneuvers, but the Nawab whiles away his time in pursuit of pleasure and religious practice. The court is of no help either — noblemen Mir and Mirza ignore all duties and spend their days playing endless games of chess. Based on Munshi Premchand's short story of the same name. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in partnership with The Film Foundation in 2010.

Dialogue Timeline — 806 lines

A SAMPLE ACROSS THE RUNTIME — EVERY LINE IS SEARCHABLE

00:00:19 Look at the hands of the mighty generals

00:07:52 But perhaps Lord Dalhousie was inordinately fond of cherries.

00:18:20 But I always -

00:20:17 I learned British chess from Mr. Collins when I taught him Farsi.

00:22:44 But I don't trust Lord Dalhousie.

00:25:22 In Calcutta, Lord Dalhousie was preparing an important dispatch.

00:29:57 But I -

00:32:11 Please don't go just yet.

00:37:32 In his worst nightmares, he could not have dreamt of this from the Company.

00:42:47 What about me, too?

00:52:46 Nothing but poetry and music should bring tears to a man's eyes.

00:56:56 No, madam. Mr. Meer is with him.

01:01:17 For a time, at least.

01:04:12 Suddenly, the clerk's voice seemed to fade away.

01:07:17 Some of the Company's best soldiers are from Oudh.

01:18:14 He's with his friend. He's never played here before.

01:20:58 Who's after him?

01:23:17 Me? What a notion!

01:25:55 We'll take a mat and a couple of hookahs.

01:31:44 you can take away my crown...

01:35:47 You can come to my house, sir.

01:42:25 No wonder, these mosquitoes are draining my blood.

01:45:42 You forget that your ancestors were nothing but grass-cutters.

01:51:32 for all time.

Cast & Characters

Sanjeev Kumar Mirza Sajjad Ali Saeed Jaffrey Mir Roshan Ali Shabana Azmi Khurshid, Mirza's wife Farida Jalal Nafisa, Mir's wife Veena Queen Mother David Abraham Munshi Victor Banerjee Prime Minister Farooq Shaikh Aqueel Tom Alter Capt. Weston (Outram's aide de camp) Leela Mishra Hirya, Khurshid's maid

Dialogue Record

Lines indexed806

Dialogue density6.2 lines / min

First line00:00:19

Final line01:51:32

Production Record

DirectorSatyajit Ray

LanguageHindi

IMDb votes4,228