Cinematic Feed

Gravity-Stabilized Stream

Establishing Link

Note: These servers may trigger pop-ups. If redirected, simply close the new tab and return here.

Watching: In Custody

5.0•1994-04-15•126 min

Overview

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.