In Custody

The first scene of an old man composing a poem, as he looks out the window of his decaying villa at the timeless Indian landscape, establishes that he is a great poet. The rest of the film shows us the price that he has willingly paid for his poetry, and the tragedy of writing in a dying language. The comic efforts of the school teacher to record the old man reading his poetry highlight the tragedy, and as the teacher becomes more and more entangled in the poet's life, he comes to understand (as we do) that none of the poet's sacrifices have diminished him, and that he has no regrets. Perhaps the most poignant scene is the teacher's interview with the poet's young second wife, who (unable to create poetry) performs his poems to music and passes them off as her own. Her response to his charge of plagiarism leaves him speechless, and reveals more about the position of women in Indian society than a dozen feminist studies. Perhaps the reason why this film received poor reviews is that everyone is looking for Hollywood (or Bollywood) stereotypes, and missing a very moving story that is told in a quiet and unpretentious way.

Merchant Ivory movies are often about forgotten times , forgotten cultures and forgotten people. This one is no different. The ever dependable Om Puri plays an Urdu professor who attempts to document a dying but once grand urdu poet Nur (played convincingly by an obese Shashi Kapoor). Through his rather struggling attempt the story portrays the common hurdles which the language - lack of finance, poor understanding of technology and maybe all things modern, the complete ignorance of youth of the art and not to mention the petty selfishness of untalented people trying to hang on to what may be long gone

The film as usual is beautifully art directed. The sets and settings take you right into old Muslim mohallas of a small city in MP.

The performances of almost all are wonderful including an incredible outburst by Nur's second prostitute wife who wished she could have been a poet but couldn't due to the social class that she survives on.

Its a poignant tale of subdued frustration which artists of dying arts often face.It also has some wonderful Urdu Poetry (a little like the more popular Sher o Shairi) A moving and poignant tale of decay, ambition and neglect.Highly recommended to Merchant Ivory, Om Puri and of course urdu fans

Memorable quote " These electronic things electric fans, tape recorder are no good. They only confuse man more." - Poet Nur (Shashi Kapoor)

The Ivory-Merchant duo are known for their luxurious-looking films, the camera often caressing each fish-fork with the same love it displays for the protagonist. It's somewhat refreshing here to see Merchant without Ivory. Merchant's camera displays the same love for detail that the Ivory-Merchant duo's does, except that it is much grittier, caressing the protagonist's vomit with the same attention that it bestows upon his exquisite Jamewaar shawl. I refer to Shashi Kapoor as the protagonist, because he steals the role away from Om Puri. Om Puri plays the timid Deven, a college professor bent on interviewing his idol, the formerly grand but now-alcoholic Urdu poet, Nur. Shashi Kapoor is perfect as the obese, alcoholic, henpecked, decaying poet because his own appearance encapsulates this decay. Those who do not recognize him as the hero in scores of Bollywood films or in many early Ivory-Merchant productions will miss the subtlety of this cinematic reference, because Kapoor's own physical decay perfectly encapsulates the theme of decay that is central to the film. Shabana Azmi is as competent as ever, bringing a hint of feminism to her character's plagiarism of her husband's work, as well as highlighting the inherently masculinist nature of the poetry that confines a woman's role to the object of desire and nothing else.

In Custody is the adaptation of the novel by Anita Desai and revolves around a poet Nur Sahjahanabadi.

Deven(OM Puri) is a Hindi teacher and is in love with the Urdu language and poetry. He wants to take an interview of Nur Shahjehanbadi, the renowned poet. But there are several obstacles in his path. Nur is living a silent life with well wishers but not in a good condition. He refuses to give interview and says Urdu is taking its last breath. So now, what will Deven do?

The movie is an important movie for a lot of reasons. How a declining language affects people, the poet who was once an eminent poet is now almost forgotten. How the family of poet suffer and the feelings of a poet.

Shashi Kapoor as the poet Nur, is just terrific. He is completely convincing and just by looking at him we feel that we are seeing Nur Shahjehanbadi in front of us. He makes us feel that the character of Nur is so real. There is that pain and emotion that reflects on his face.

Om Puri as the college professor is just superb. Shabana Azmi as Nur's wife is terrific. She plays the part of dominating and irritating wife with perfection.

But it's Shashi Kapoor's movie all the way. He just stals the show from all the actors and dominates the screen with his voice, body language and mannerism.

Riding on amazing performance, this movie is an important movie both for cinema lovers and poetry lovers.

Merchant Ivory Productions's adaptation of Anita Desai's novel, 'In Custody' is rawer and grittier than their previous films. Not to put down their previous works, which are gems in their own rights, but such treatment wouldn't have worked for a story like 'In Custody'. Merchant gives it a very lyrical and subtle toned down look. The art direction and props look very authentic. Cinematography has always been a strong point in Merchant Ivory films and here too it is no less stunning.

The film's key theme is that of deterioration. This is reflected in the dying out of the Urdu language that Deven desperately tries to keep alive through Nur's poetry; in Nur's own life (once he was a celebrated poet and now he's merely an over-eating alcoholic has-been who's resented by his own wife) and seeks momentary comfort in his supposed 'fans' who drop by, uninvited, for their own convenience; in Choti Begum who's become the breadwinner as she continues to plagiarize her husbands poems and performs in front of the sleazy men of the village. With Choti Begum, the issue of feminism is touched. When she tells Deven how men were always praised for their poetry while women were merely seen as the object of desire, this does ring true to an extent.

The first rate performances are very natural. Shashi Kapoor performs effortlessly. In a way, 'In Custody' also reflects the deterioration of his physical health. Shabana Azmi also turns in a remarkable performance and Om Puri leads the film with élan.

The poetry is superb. It contributes beautifully. Not only is it a part of the film, but to me the entire picture felt like one poem.