Inseparable friends, the two nobles are passionately obsessed with the game of shatranj ( chess). Parallel to this wider drama is the personal (and humorous) tale of two rich, indolent noblemen of this kingdom, Mirza Sajjad Ali and Mir Roshan Ali. He is a languid artist and poet, no longer in command of events and unable to effectively oppose the British demand for his throne. The film shows in parallel the historical drama of the Indian princely state of Awadh (whose capital is Lucknow) and its Nawab, Wajid Ali Shah who is overthrown by the British, alongside the story of two noblemen who are obsessed with shatranj, i.e., chess.Īmjad Khan plays the ruling Nawab of Awadh, Wajid Ali Shah. It was India's entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 51st Academy Awards, but did not receive a nomination. The Chess Players employed stars of the Bombay cinema ( Amjad Khan, Shabana Azmi and Amitabh Bachchan as a narrator) together with British actors (such as Richard Attenborough). The daily life of two wealthy men who are devoted to chess is presented against the background of scheming officials of the British East India Company, the history of its relations with the Indian ruler of Awadh, and the ruler's devotion both to his religious practice and the pursuit of pleasure. The British are about to annex the Oudh State (also spelled Awadh). The film is set in 1856 on the eve of the Indian rebellion of 1857.
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