Umrao Jaan Premieres Again: Rekha, Asha Bhosle & Stars Shine at Grand Mumbai Tribute

On June 26th, Mumbai hosted a grand function celebrating the iconic film "Umrao Jaan," marking its enduring legacy in Indian cinema. The film was digitally restored and was being re-released 44 years after it first hit the silver screen.

The event attracted a glittering array of stars. There were, of course, those associated with the film like Rekha, Muzzafar Ali, Raj Babbar, Talat Aziz, and Asha Bhosle. Many others, including the genial Farooq Sheikh, were deeply missed.

Stars Across Eras Pay Tribute to Rekha’s Legacy

There were also so many others of all generations. In no particular order, there were: Alia Bhatt, Jitendra, Rakesh Roshan, Jackie Shroff, Tabu, Hema Malini, Simi Grewal, Salim Khan, Akbar Khan, Johny Lever, Ramesh Sippy, Kiran Juneja, Nusrat Barucha, AR Rehman, Nimrit Kaur, Sunil Grover, Tanuja, Jahnvi Kapoor, Manish Malhotra, Prachi Desai etc who paid homage to the film's profound impact. Several were accompanied by their family members. Some, like Alia Bhatt, even pay tribute to Rekha in their attire.

The evening was filled with performances, heartfelt tributes, and nostalgic moments, underscoring the film's significance and its place in the hearts of audiences. There was also the launch of a coffee table book with many stories associated with it.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Just Too Filmy (@justtoofilmy)

The literally goosebumps moment for me was nearly 92-year-old Asha Bhosle ji singing, 'Yeh kya jagah hai doston'. It took her a few seconds to get into the groove, and then it was the same magic, that too without the support of any musical instruments. As she said in an informal interaction with me, "Yeh Awaaz hi to rah jayegi". Then it was Rekha reciting a long Gulzar nazm without the aid of any script or teleprompter.

The film itself is exquisite - an ode to the Awadh and its heritage & culture of yore. Brings back the lost magic of my hometown, Lucknow.

As Muzaffar Ali said about his vision for the film, "I was a painter trying to see life differently, driven by poetry, charged by music, and inspired by dance."

For Rekha, it represented the apex of an outstandingly successful career. It is to her what 'Mother India' was to Nargis or 'Pakeezah' to Meena Kumari.

The film won 4 National Film Awards:

• Best Actress for Rekha,
• Best Music Director for Khayyam,
• Best Female Playback Singer for Asha Bhosle ("Dil Cheez Kya Hai"),    
• Best Art Direction for Manzur

Being a Delhi guy, this was my first experience at such a star-studded affair. Memories of a lifetime!

By Sanjeev Mehra

Read also:

• Bhavika Sharma on Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Mein's Intriguing Promo
• John Abraham Opens Up About Bollywood Struggles: 'To Stay Alive...'
• First Glimpse of 'Vishwambhara' Released on Chiranjeevi's Birthday
• Priyanka & Kareena Reduce Fees for Madhur Bhandarkar's Film