The Chess Players (1977)

7.5Not Rated113 minDirector: Satyajit Ray

1977 film by Satyajit Ray

Shatranj Ke Khilari, also subtitled and later internationally released with the translated title The Chess Players, is a 1977 Indian film written and directed by Satyajit Ray, based on Munshi Premchand's short story of the same name.

Amjad Khan plays the role of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, Nawab of Awadh, and Richard Attenborough enacts the role of General James Outram. The main cast includes actors Sanjeev Kumar and Saeed Jaffrey as the chess players. It also has Shabana Azmi, Farooque Shaikh, Farida Jalal, David Abraham, and Tom Alter. It has Amitabh Bachchan as the narrator.

It was India's entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 51st Academy Awards, but did not receive a nomination.

This is the only full-length Hindi feature film of filmmaker Satyajit Ray. He later made a short Hindi film for TV named Sadgati, another adaptation of Munshi Premchand's short story.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is The Chess Players about?
The Chess Players (1977) — Wazed Ali Shah was the ruler of one of the last independent kingdoms of India. The British, intent on controlling this rich country, had sent General Outram on a secret mission to clear the way for an annexation. While pressure was mounting amidst intrigue and political maneuvers
Is The Chess Players based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is The Chess Players scary?
Content rating: Not Rated. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.