Begum Jaan
Mixed
2 of 6 critics recommend it. Average 2.4 out of 5. BMR estimates count a little less than ratings the critics gave, so this can differ slightly from a plain average.
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The story
Hindi film. Included in this director’s filmography; excluded from Bengali-only rankings.
On the eve of Independence, the chairman of the Border Commission, Sir Cyril Radcliffe decides to divide India and Pakistan into equitable halves. What the administration doesn’t account for is the line running through the middle of Begum Jaan’s brothel situated plonk on the border; with one half falling in India and the other in Pakistan.
Directed by Srijit Mukherji. Starring Vidya Balan, Naseeruddin Shah, Pallavi Sharda, Gauahar Khan, Ila Arun, Priyanka Setia.
Begum Jaan movie review: what critics say (6)
How to read the score
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2.5/5BMR estimate
Stutee Ghosh · The Quint · 14 Apr 2017
“The lead actress delivers a riveting and powerful performance, but the narrative suffers from heavy melodrama and overbearing music that overshadow its emotional core.”
Read full review ↗Why this score?
The critic gave no star rating, so BMR estimated one from the words of the review. The critic praises Vidya Balan's riveting tour-de-force performance and a few poignant moments, but criticizes the obtrusive music, melodrama, and schematic storytelling that hamper the narrative. These balanced points match the explicitly printed rating of 2.5 out of 5. How estimates work
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3.0/5
Taran Adarsh · Bollywood Hungama · 13 Apr 2017
“The period drama benefits from powerful acting and a compelling narrative, though it suffers from uneven dramatic tension and some unconvincing plot choices.”
Read full review ↗ -
1.5/5
Suhani Singh · India Today · 14 Apr 2017
“The powerful performances by the lead actresses fail to rescue the heavy-handed drama from its awkward pacing and messy narrative structure.”
Read full review ↗ -
2.5/5
About The Author · Hindustan Times · 14 Apr 2017
“The lead actress delivers a commanding performance, but the narrative suffers from a lack of cohesiveness and overcrowded subplots that dilute its overall impact.”
Read full review ↗ -
1.5/5
Shubhra Gupta · Indian Express · 13 Apr 2017
“The lead performance initially shows promise but ultimately becomes predictable, while the picture suffers from excessive melodrama and a lack of necessary restraint.”
Read full review ↗ -
3.5/5
Meena Iyer · Times of India · 13 Apr 2017
“The lead actress delivers a fully committed performance with powerful dialogue delivery, but the filmmaker struggles to maintain engagement across the rest of the production.”
Read full review ↗
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The verdict in short
What critics say
2.4/5Critics are lukewarm on Begum Jaan, with some disagreement. 6 critics average 2.4/5. Highest: 3.5/5 from Meena Iyer. Lowest: 1.5/5 from Suhani Singh. Praise goes to performances and emotion. Complaints focus on the script and pacing. 2 of 6 rate it 3.0/5 or higher.
- Praisedperformances (4)
Highest 3.5/5 · Meena Iyer · The Times of India
“The lead actress delivers a fully committed performance with powerful dialogue delivery, but the filmmaker struggles to maintain engagement across the rest of the product”
Read the review ↗
Lowest 1.5/5 · Shubhra Gupta · The Indian Express
“The lead performance initially shows promise but ultimately becomes predictable, while the picture suffers from excessive melodrama and a lack of necessary restraint.”
Read the review ↗
How is this worked out?
Average of 6 scored reviews, spread 1.5 to 3.5. Praise and complaints are the themes that appear most in the review excerpts, so they reflect only what the excerpts say.
Automatic summary from the scores and review excerpts. Updated 1 second ago.
What viewers say
Nobody has rated Begum Jaan yet. Be the first. The audience score appears once 3 viewers have rated it.
How is this worked out?
Too few ratings for a fair audience score.
Automatic summary from the scores and review excerpts. Updated 1 second ago.
Cast and crew
Vidya BalanBegum Jaan
Naseeruddin ShahRajaji
Pallavi ShardaGulabo
Gauahar KhanRubina
Ila ArunAmma
Priyanka Setia
Flora SainiMaina
Ridheema TiwariAmba
Mishti ChakravartyShabnam
Raviza ChauhanLata
Gracy Goswami
PitobashSurjeet
- Director
- Srijit Mukherji
- Music directors
- Anu Malik, Indraadip Dasgupta, Khayyam
- Writers
- Srijit Mukherji, Rahat Indori, Kausar Munir, Niranjan Iyengar
- Cinematographer
- Gopi Bhagat
- Editor
- Monisha R Baldawa
- Producers
- Mukesh Bhatt, Vishesh Bhatt
What else the data says
- DirectorSrijit Mukherji's other 15 scored films here average 3.4 out of 5.
Questions about Begum Jaan
Is Begum Jaan worth watching?
Begum Jaan has a BMR score of 2.4 out of 5 (Mixed), calculated from 6 scored reviews. This includes 1 labelled BMR estimates for reviews without published star ratings; those numbers are our interpretations, not ratings given by the critics. The score uses weighted averaging; read the original reviews to decide whether it suits you.
What do critics say about Begum Jaan?
5 collected reviews give published critic ratings, ranging from 1.5 to 3.5 out of 5. Another 1 reviews have labelled BMR estimates rather than ratings supplied by their authors. Follow the original review links above for each critic's reasoning.
Is Begum Jaan a hit or a flop?
BMR does not yet have enough verified collection and budget data to give Begum Jaan a box office verdict.
What is the box office collection of Begum Jaan?
BMR has not yet verified an India net collection figure for Begum Jaan. This is a gap in our records, not a claim that no figures have been published. The collection page shows the source and any available day-wise breakdown.
When did Begum Jaan release?
Begum Jaan released in cinemas on 14 April 2017.
Who is in the cast of Begum Jaan?
The cast of Begum Jaan includes Vidya Balan, Naseeruddin Shah, Pallavi Sharda, Gauahar Khan, Ila Arun, Priyanka Setia.
Who directed Begum Jaan? Who wrote it?
Begum Jaan is directed by Srijit Mukherji. It is written by Srijit Mukherji, Rahat Indori, Kausar Munir and Niranjan Iyengar.
Where can I watch Begum Jaan online? Is Begum Jaan on OTT?
Begum Jaan released in cinemas on 14 April 2017. BMR has not yet verified its current streaming availability. A missing listing here does not mean an OTT release has not happened.
What is Begum Jaan about?
On the eve of Independence, the chairman of the Border Commission, Sir Cyril Radcliffe decides to divide India and Pakistan into equitable halves. What the administration doesn’t account for is the line running through the middle of Begum Jaan’s brothel situated plonk on the border;...
How long is Begum Jaan? What is the runtime?
Begum Jaan is listed at 2h 8m.