by: Shuchita

Starring: Rekha, Karisma Kapoor, Manoj Bajpai, Surekha Sikri - Rege, Rajit Kapoor, Amrish Puri
Music by:A R Rahman
Produced by:Farouq Rattonsey
Director And Editor- Shyam Benegal

Ratings: ***(TimePass)
 A little bit of art in your film, a little bit commercial in your film, a little bit of this and that and yet nothing much...that's Zubeida, directed by Shyam Benegal.Like they say...the best of everything does not mean a best product. With actors so stunning and even a screenplay to match, Zubeida falls short of expectations on many counts. One, casting of the male characters, Manoj Bajpai and Rajit Kapoor and two, lack of chemistry in the scenes that involve them.

Zubeida (Karisma Kapoor) is the only child of a studio magnate (Amrish Puri) and her passion for dancing is immense. With a little help from her father's friend she lands up a role in a film. Her joy is short lived as her father discovers this and puts an end to her acting career. To ensure that a stunt like this is not repeated, he gets her married at a very young age. Tragedy strikes yet again when her hubby divorces her and moves on to Pakistan, leaving her with a young child.

 As time goes by, the Maharaja of Fatehpur (ManojBajpai) walks in to her life. This king who is Hindu and already married to Rekha falls prey to her charms and gets married to her. Zubeida leaves her two and a half year old son with his grandmother and moves to the Fathehpur palace. Zubeida dares to dream again but things change again.The son has grown up and tries to piece her life together discovering some truths as he moves on. And the saga of Zubeida goes on....

Wrong casting has made a mess of this movie. Manoj Bajpai certainly does not look like a prince. Wearing good clothes does not create an attitude and he is miscast in the role. The same can be said for Rajit Kapoor who seems to have run out of emotions or is terribly underplaying his character as Zubeida's son.Karishma is perfect with her understanding of the role and getting into the costumes. Rekha exudes royalty as ever. The film takes a beating as the son sets out to discover the truth.

This unfolding drama is highly ineffective. The pathos of a young mother going through a divorce that she never wanted is well brought out.The costumes of this time drama deserve a mention. The realism is well brought out in the film. The film is slow at places and does not have the ingredients of a masala movie that the present generation likes. If the film had a better hero from the current crop of stars the film had better prospects.Khalid Mohamed's script is based on his own life.

 Shyam Benegal's direction is imaginative as he forays into the commercial world with an arty subject. Technically the film is above average. A R Rahman's music and background score are apt and fit the film like a glove.The film has taken a cold opening and word of mouth will help the film to a certain extent in metro cities. So if the khichdi of art and commercial cinema is not your idea of fun then Zubeida is a film best left to art lovers.

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