Rekha’s Umrao Jaan all set for European premiere at UK Asian Film Festival
The restored 4K print of Rekha’s Umrao Jaan will have its European premiere at the Tongues on Fire UK Asian Film Festival in London. The screening aims to celebrate South Asian stories.
A newly restored print of Muzaffar Ali Umrao Jaan It is set to have its European premiere at the Tongues on Fire UK Asian Film Festival, which starts in London next week.
A 4K restoration of the 1981 period musical drama – which stars Rekha as a Lucknow prostitute and poetess – has been commissioned by the National Film Archive of India. Ali will speak after the screening at the BFI IMAX.
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It is part of a wider series celebrating South Asian stories at the film festival, which this year revolves around the theme “Stories that bind us”.
“We are proud to present a program that celebrates bold and sublime storytelling, fosters important and difficult conversations and showcases the extraordinary work of established and emerging filmmakers,” UKAFF Founder and Director Dr Pushpinder Chaudhary said in a statement quoted by PTI.
Now in its 28th year, the festival will also host the UK premiere of the acclaimed Bengali film baksho bondi (Shadowbox), directed by Tanushree Das and Soumyanand Sahi and starring Tillotama Shome.
Beyond the cinema, the 2026 lineup features a live music tribute, magical tunesCelebrating OP Nayyar, Dharmendra and Asha Bhosle.
As part of its British Asian strand, the festival will also host screenings at the Kiln Theatre, showcasing stories based on the lived experiences of South Asian communities in the UK, including British Punjabi drama. never got a chance By Jazz Bhalla.
UKAFF Creative Director Sameer Bhamra said, “From intimate family dramas to fearless new voices in South Asian cinema, our selection reflects life in all its complexities. These films remind us that storytelling isn’t just entertainment – it’s a way to see each other again.”
The festival will conclude with the UKAFF Awards on 10 May, where Muzaffar Ali will be honored with the Golden Flame Lifetime Achievement Award.
Everything about Umrao Jaan
Umrao Jaan is a 1981 period musical drama starring Rekha in the lead role. Based on Mirza Hadi Ruswa’s 1899 Urdu novel Umrao Jaan Ada, the film depicts the journey of a Lucknow prostitute and poetess as she rises to fame.
The film received widespread praise and several honors. It won four awards at the 29th National Film Awards, including the Best Actress award for Rekha. It also earned three nominations at the Filmfare Awards, winning Best Director for Ali and Best Music Director for Khayyam.