Look at the hands of the mighty generals
deploying their forces on the battlefield.
We do not know if these hands have ever held real weapons.
But this is not a real battle where blood is shed
and the fate of empires is decided.
Mr. Meer and Mr. Mirza are only playing at warfare.
Their armies are pieces of ivory.
Their battlefield: A piece of cloth.
THE CHESS PLAYERS
Mr. Mirza has given check.
This is the White King, which is open to attack by the Red Minister.
Mr. Meer, save your King.
For if the King is lost, the game is lost.
Poor Maqbool.
How often will he have to attend to those hookahs?
For there will be many more battles fought on that piece of cloth today.
It has been like this since the friends discovered this noble game.
You may ask, "Have they no work to do?"
Of course not! Whoever heard of the landed gentry working?
These are noblemen of the capital of Oudh: Lucknow.
After the passing of the great Moguls in Delhi,
Lucknow became India's bastion of Moslem culture.
Not all their games had the elegance of pigeons
or kite-flying.
That notable culture had its cruel side, too.
This is the throne of King Wajid, who ruled over Oudh.
But the king had other interests, too.
Nevertheless, there were times when King Wajid sat on the throne.
If he was not overfond of ruling, he was certainly proud of his crown.
Only five years ago, in 1851, he had sent it to London
to be displayed at The Great Exhibition.
But listen to what an Englishman in India had to say about it.
The head of the Kingdom of Oudh to be eaten like a cherry?
Alas, words penned by the Governor-General of India,
Lord Dalhousie.
But perhaps Lord Dalhousie was inordinately fond of cherries.
How many he had eaten in ten years:
Punjab, Burma, Nagpur, Satara, Jhansi.
The only one left is the cherry of Oudh,
whose friendship with Britain goes back half a century
to the reign of Nawab Shuja.
Shuja had been unwise enough
to pit his forces against the British. No wonder he was defeated.
But the British did not dethrone him.
All they did
was to make him sign a treaty pledging eternal friendship
and five million rupees compensation.
Ever since, the Nawabs of Oudh have maintained this friendship.
When British campaigns needed money,
the Nawabs opened their coffers.
And whenever British wrath had been aroused
by evidence of Nawab misrule...
OUDH
Nawab Ghaziuddin's generosity so gratified the British
that they gave him the title of king.
It was Ghaziuddin who fashioned the crown
which King Wajid sent to London.
Poor Wajid, if only you knew the mind of the Resident of Lucknow
whose name was General Outram.
Maqbool, bring the hookahs.
Where did you find this piece of calligraphy?
You won't believe I found it in a junk shop, for 50 rupees.
- Do you like it? - It's very good.
No wonder. It's the work of Shamsuddin.
When you come to my house next, I'll show you an even better one.
My wife likes it so much, she's hung it in the bedroom.
I must remind you of an unbreakable rule of chess.
Which rule?
If you touch a piece, you must move it.
But I always -
You don't.
Last time you touched a Knight, hesitated, then moved a Pawn.
And on another occasion -
I'm sorry, Mirza. I'll be more careful.
Well, make your move.
Soldier, advance!
Advance.
Mr. Nandlal is here.
My goodness.
Show him in.
Welcome!
Hello there.
We haven't seen you for ages.
We were just talking about you.
I hope I'm not disturbing you.
Not at all. We're honored.
- Have a seat. - Thank you.
I see you're about to start a game.
Well...
Then I'd better go.
No, it's no trouble.
This is our fourth game of the day.
Do sit down, please.
The game of kings, the king of games.
I'm proud it was invented by an Indian.
Really?
- I thought it came from Persia. - No, it originated in India.
Then it traveled to Europe.
Nandlal, you are clever indeed.
I see you're playing the Indian way.
What other way?
The British way.
Don't say the Company's taken over chess, too.
I learned British chess from Mr. Collins when I taught him Farsi.
How does their game differ from ours?
There's little difference.
The piece we call the Minister is called the Queen in the British game.
And the Queens are placed facing each other.
And the Pawn can move two squares in its first move.
When a Pawn reaches the eighth rank,
it can be exchanged for a Queen.
I must say, the British are clever.
But why change the rules?
It's a faster game.
So they find our game too slow?
Like our transport. Now we're to have railway trains and the telegraph.
The telegraph is here already, and I don't like it.
Bad news travels faster.
Bad news?
Haven't you heard?
We hear nothing when we play.
You can't laugh it off, Mr. Meer.
I hear the East India Company plans to take over Oudh.
Really?
I came to tell you.
You may have learned British chess, but you don't understand their moves.
All these campaigns in Nepal, the Punjab, Afghanistan.
Where do you think the Company gets the money to fight them?
From the King of Oudh, of course.
How?
It's very simple.
Tell the king he's ruling badly. Pay up, or the Company will take over.
The king pays up, the Company hears the jingle of gold,
and everything returns to normal once again.
So you think the Company needs money again?
Of course. Do you think the railway and the telegraph cost nothing?
You may be right.
But I don't trust Lord Dalhousie.
I hear that British forces have reached Kanpur.
Really?
What if war should break out?
Mr. Meer, just take down that sword, will you?
That one.
Sword?
Show it to Mr. Nandlal.
Draw it from its scabbard.
Do you know whose sword that was?
No.
You tell him, Meer.
This sword belonged to Mirza's great-grandfather.
Our great-grandfathers were officers in King Burhan-ul-Mulk's army.
They were so formidable,
they struck terror into the enemy.
In recognition of their valor, the king granted them estates
which we are living off to this day.
So you see whose blood flows in our veins.
Whatever happens, the British can't stop us playing chess.
We're talking of war, and he thinks only of chess.
Don't worry, Mr. Meer.
We may have invented the game, but it's the British who have taken it up.
And made the Pawn move two squares.
- Well, I must take my leave. - So soon?
I feel like an intruder.
Mr. Collins wouldn't answer the door to any callers when we played.
Well, now.
Then Mr. Collins should not only have studied our languages,
but our manners, too.
Yes, indeed.
Good-bye.
While the descendants of Burhan-ul-Mulk's officers fought bloodlessly,
another game was being played elsewhere.
In Calcutta, Lord Dalhousie was preparing an important dispatch.
It was sent by special courier.
Calcutta is 600 miles from Lucknow.
The horsemen covered the distance in seven days.
On the evening of 31 January, 1856,
the dispatch reached General Outram.
Finished already?
You know I'm a light eater.
Line it up properly, will you?
The master wants you.
You should be more careful.
Check.
The mistress wishes to see you, sir.
The mistress wishes to see you.
- What for? - She didn't say, sir.
Say I'm coming.
"Did you enjoy the pilaf, dear?"
Is that what she wants to know?
The master says he's coming.
- When? - He didn't say.
- Hiria. - Yes?
Tell him I have a headache. He must come at once.
Why didn't you tell me? I could have rubbed sandalwood paste on your brow.
Just do as you're told.
The mistress has a headache.
She wants to see you at once.
You'd better look in.
Say I'm coming.
All right.
They don't say a word when you spend the night with a whore,
but when you stay at home and play a clean game, they pester you.
Why not go? It will take me some time to get out of this trap, anyway.
Headache, my foot.
Tell her I thought the food was delicious.
- Don't play around with the pieces. - You know I'd never do such a thing.
- Hiria says you have a headache. - As if you cared.
What?
As if you had the slightest sympathy.
But I -
Even if I were dying, you wouldn't give me a drop of water.
How can you say such a thing?
I left the game because you called.
That stupid game.
Stupid game? Why, it is the king of games.
It was invented in India and now the world plays it.
Then the world is stupid.
Ever since I started to play chess,
my power of thinking has grown a hundredfold.
But you never think of me.
Of course I do. I came rushing as soon as Hiria told me.
It was far better when you spent your nights with that singing woman.
At least I knew you wouldn't be coming home.
But now, even when you're home, we don't see each other.
You just sit hunched over that stupid bit of cloth
and jiggle around those stupid ivory pieces.
And I sit praying to God that you will finish early and come to bed.
But the wretched game goes on and on,
and I go crazy sitting and waiting.
I order Hiria to tell me stories to keep me awake,
but she keeps telling the same stories over and over again.
And you're always playing with your stupid friend.
Dear, don't run down my friend because you're angry with me.
He sits there and doesn't know what game his wife is playing at home.
Now, don't spread gossip.
Gossip?
All Lucknow knows that his wife is carrying on with another man.
Only you and your friend don't know.
If you have a headache -
Who says I do?
I don't.
Then why did you send for me?
Well, I'll go, then.
Please don't go just yet.
What are you looking at?
Your eyes.
My eyes?
They're red from staring at those stupid pieces.
Really?
I won't let you go back tonight.
Yes, but...
Meer is waiting.
Please forget chess tonight.
What are you doing?
It's so chilly.
Don't be angry, darling.
Don't be so glum.
- The thing is - - You don't love me.
I do love you, believe me.
I'll prove it tomorrow.
My mind was elsewhere,
with Meer waiting and the game half finished.
You only care for that game.
Tomorrow I'll finish early
and dine with you.
I'll show you how much I love you. All right?
Yes, madam.
Come and tell me a story.
I must stay awake all night.
A bad headache?
Very bad.
She was flailing her arms about.
I feared she would have a fit.
Check.
Next morning, General Outram had a meeting
with the Prime Minister of Oudh.
This will come to His Majesty as a bolt from the blue.
In his worst nightmares, he could not have dreamt of this from the Company.
I cannot imagine what agonies he will suffer when he hears of this.
Yes, I know about the report.
Colonel Sleeman made his inspection against His Majesty's wishes.
Yet we bore the expense of his tour, for all his 1,100 people.
Tents, elephants, provisions, we gave him everything.
That he gave a bad report is our misfortune.
If he had inspected the Company's Bengal -
Ungrateful knaves!
The house is burgled, yet none of you stirs out of bed.
I'll have you all sent to prison.
I treat you well, and this is how you show your gratitude.
No excuses!
Hello.
Don't stand there. Keep on searching!
Why all the excitement?
Some rascal made off with my chessmen.
My God.
It's my fault. I should have kept them in the safe.
They steal the clothes off your back these days.
What do we do now?
I haven't got a set of my own.
Why don't we go and buy a new set?
Don't you know that shops are closed on Fridays?
And to think that I'd worked out such a beautiful new strategy.
The entire day is ruined.
However, as the poet says...
Mirza, that old lawyer of ours.
Mr. Imtiaz Hussain?
Remember the southeast corner of his drawing room?
The southeast corner?
Indeed I do!
Please be seated. I'll inform the master.
Considering all he's chiseled out of me in legal fees...
What about me, too?
He shouldn't refuse to lend it to us for a day.
I should hope not.
Good morning, Chuttan Mia.
- Is your father in? - Yes, he is.
He's resting.
Father is in bed.
Unconscious.
We've sent for the doctor.
Please make yourselves comfortable.
He was all right in the morning.
Allah willing, he'll recover soon.
God willing.
Let us pray for his speedy recovery.
If you will excuse me.
Certainly. Don't let us detain you.
Soldier, advance!
Father has regained consciousness.
Come, he'll be happy to see you.
Are you sure he's conscious?
Yes, he was just talking to me.
Father,
Mr. Meer and Mr. Mirza have come to pay their respects.
God rest his soul.
O Krishna, I'm so weary
So weary
O Krishna, I'm so weary
So weary
Yet I will not renounce you
O Krishna, I'm so weary
Well?
Come now, that is enough.
The Resident must have been singing ghazals to you.
Nothing but poetry and music should bring tears to a man's eyes.
What is the matter?
Your Majesty...
you shall no longer wear the crown.
Double or quits!
Bet on Sohrab! Bet on Rustum!
- Tell me, which is which? - Sohrab has the black face.
One rupee on Rustum.
Why waste good money? Betting is not for us.
Place your bets and win big!
Come on!
Let's go.
By order of His Majesty the King of Oudh,
the public is warned that there will be severe punishment
for anyone spreading rumors that the Company is taking over our realm.
The Company forces are not marching on Lucknow.
They are passing en route to Nepal.
What is it that makes people spread rumors?
If anyone even mentions a take-over,
I'll pull his tongue out.
What a glorious day, yet we have to spend it in idleness.
For every problem, there is a solution.
One must know where to seek it.
Let's go home.
There.
Yes, sir.
Bring the hookahs.
I take my hat off to you, Mirza.
The Pawns are no problem. Neither are the King and the Minister.
But you have to be careful with the Bishops, the Knights and the Rooks.
Let me see.
Tomato is Bishop, lime is Knight, chili is Rook.
- Is the master back? - Yes, madam.
Is he alone?
No, madam. Mr. Meer is with him.
They're not playing chess, are they?
They are, madam, with nuts, spices and vegetables.
Who knows what magic there is in that game?
Hold on.
That's a Knight.
Lime is Knight, tomato is Bishop.
Who fired that salvo?
Maqbool.
If you don't mind, from tomorrow we'll play in your house.