Ismail Merchant's feature directorial debut addresses a subject close to his heart: the expressive Urdu language of Northern India, in danger of extinction as political trends and modernization obscure its contributions to Indian culture. Merchant 's treatment is wry and good humored , as his characters - an aging Urdu poet (Shashi Kapoor) and a worshipful young college lecturer - clash despite their shared passion for the beauty of words.
Top Cast
Shashi Kapoor as Nur
Om Puri as Deven
Shabana Azmi as Imtiaz Begum
Neena Gupta as Sarla
Sushma Seth as Safiya Begum
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