Markets

The Red Sea International Film Festival (Red Sea IFF) will be welcoming iconic Indian actress Rekha (Bhanurekha Ganesan) to this year’s edition of the festival. Described by critics as one of India’s finest ever actresses, Rekha will attend the Festival to present her restored 1981 classic ‘Umrao Jaan’ in its international premiere.

Showing as part of the festival’s Treasures programme, the film is a beloved heritage work set in 1857 Lucknow and tells the story of a local tawaif and poet, and her rise to fame. It is considered one of India’s greatest cinematic achievements and its director, Muzaffar Ali, will also attend the Red Sea screening.

“'Umrao Jaan' is intrinsically woven into the very fabric of my soul,” said Rekha in a statement. “She is not just a character; she serves as a mirror reflecting the depths of my emotions and dreams. In fact, one could say that she mirrors my soul through the echoes of many lifetimes, portraying a narrative that transcends millions of heartbeats. The opportunity for this soulful film to find a new life after 45 years and connect with a fresh audience at the prestigious Red Sea Film Festival is exhilarating and profoundly meaningful. And witnessing an unprecedented moment when a 1981 classic, Umrao Jaan, is featured in the Festival's Treasures strand alongside a film by the luminary filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock is not only a blessing but humbling to the core.”

"Umrao Jaan" is an adaptation of Mirza Hadi Ruswa's 1899 Urdu novel "Umrao Jaan Ada", considered a classic of Indian cinema immortalised by the music of Khayyam, the Urdu poetry of Shahryar, Asha Bhosle, and the exquisite beauty and iconic performance by Rekha in the lead role.

“To discover an audience today that still resonates deeply with the narrative and emotional core of this film fills my heart with unparalleled joy, pride and a sense of hope for the future,’ she added. ‘It reassures me that there will always be stories and emotions that do not merely fade with the passage of time, but instead linger in the gentle whispers of the wind and the shifting sands of memory. These timeless tales wait patiently for the right moment to burst forth, capturing the imaginations of new generations and allowing them to be rediscovered and appreciated in all their glory. For this remarkable phenomenon, I am eternally grateful, as it highlights the universality of human experience, reminding us that while time may change our circumstances, the essence of our stories—and the emotions they evoke are written on every wave of the sea, every particle of sand, every relic, every stone, every cloud in the sky and every shining star from here to eternity…and that is Umrao Jaan.”