In Custody (film)

In Custody / Muhafiz
Directed byIsmail Merchant
Written byAnita Desai
Shahrukh Husain
Based onIn Custody
by Anita Desai
Produced byWahid Chowhan
Paul Bradley (executive)
Donald Rosenfeld (executive)
Starring
CinematographyLarry Pizer
Edited byRoberto Silvi
Music byZakir Hussain
Ustad Sultan Khan
Distributed bySony Pictures Classics (USA)
Mayfair (UK)
Release dates
  • October 1993 (1993-10) (Tokyo Film Festival)
  • 14 May 1994 (1994-05-14) (New York)
  • 3 June 1994 (1994-06-03) (London)
Running time
126 minutes
CountriesUnited Kingdom
India
United States
LanguagesHindi
Urdu[1]
Budget$1 million[2]
Box office$0.1 million (US/UK)

In Custody/Muhafiz is a 1993 film by Merchant Ivory Productions. It was directed by Ismail Merchant, with screenplay by Anita Desai and Shahrukh Husain.[1] It is based upon Desai's 1984 Booker Prize nominated novel In Custody.[3][4]

Plot synopsis

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Deven's (Om Puri) position as a professor of Hindi at a local college is only a means to an end. His first love is the Urdu language and in particular Urdu poetry. Deven's multiple (and often stymied) attempts to interview the great Urdu poet, Nur (Shashi Kapoor), act as a metaphor for the clash between modernization and tradition.

Cast

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Release

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The film opened on 3 screens in New York City on 14 May 1994 and grossed $7,701 for the weekend.[5] It opened on 3 screens in London on 3 June 1994 and grossed £2,814 in its opening weekend.[6] It grossed $92,612 in the United States.[5]

Awards

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Musicians and vocalists

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Vocalists

The film also features poetry by Faiz Ahmad Faiz.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "In Custody (1993 film)". American Film Institute website. AFI Catalog. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Merchant Ivory Productions Budget vs US Gross 1986-96". Screen International. 13 September 1996. p. 19.
  3. ^ a b c d e Caryn James (15 April 1994). "Review/Film; Ismail Merchant Directs First Feature (In Custody - 1993 film)". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  4. ^ In Custody (1993 film) on Complete Index To World Film (CITWF) website Retrieved 23 October 2020
  5. ^ a b In Custody at Box Office Mojo
  6. ^ "UK this week". Screen International. 10 June 1994. p. 34.
  7. ^ Madhu Jain (31 December 1993). "Ismail Merchant captures the crumbling world of a poet". India Today.
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