Real life courtesans aspire playing reel life Umrao Jaan

Varanasi, Nov 10 (UNI) While film-goers are drawing parallels between Rekha and Aishwarya Rai in the role of Umrao Jaan, real life courtesans have expressed their desire to enact the classic character on the silver-screen.

''Both Rekha and Ash have done justice to the role, especially the former Miss World whose on screen enactment of Umrao Jaan has brought tears to our eyes. But both the seasoned actors have failed to sensitise film-goers to the woeful state of modern day Umrao Jaans,'' said middle-aged Poonam, a courtesan from Gaya.

In the city to participate at the 'Gudiya Mahotsava' organised here by Gudiya -- an NGO working with the sex-workers since 1993 -- Poonam watched J P Dutta's magnum opus at a cinema hall here recently along with others from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.

''Both Rekha and Ash have failed to bring tears to the eyes of the society who is to be blamed for transforming innocent Amirans into raunchy Umrao Jaans. If provided the opportunity, we (modern day courtesans) will be the best actors to play reel life Umrao, whose pains will awaken the masses about our plight,'' she added.

Another courtesan from Saharsa (Bihar), Aruna, whose mother performed in the court of erstwhile Darbhanga estate questioned ''if dreaded dacoit Seema Parihar can enact self in Wounded, the film about her life, why cannot real life Umrao Jaans be chosen by filmmakers to essay the role of the famous courtesan of Avadh.'' ''Agreed we have become old, but the younger ones among us including Neetu from Betiya or Sarita and Savitri from Raisen (Madhya Pradesh) can not only give Rekha and Ash a run for money but portray the true pain of Umrao Jaans of today,'' she added.

The younger ones, however, stayed away from the rhetoric of their seniors. ''Where is a J P Dutta who dares making a film narrating plight of modern day Umrao Jaans, by starring real life courtesans'' said Neetu.

The young courtesans, though, joined their elders in challenging established Bhojpuri singers to match their folk music prowess on the stage. ''We challenge superstars of Bhojpuri music Manoj Tiwari and Kalpana to compete with us on the musical stage and then realise that their vulgar version of Bhopjpuri music will be conquered by the traditional music of the same land that is still worshipped by us,'' said Neetu.

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