Checkmate Chronicles

Reflections of nineteenth-century Awadh in Satyajit Ray's 'Shatranj ke Khilari'

Abstract

“Shatranj ke Khilari,” or ‘The Chess Players,’ is a historical drama set in 1856 during the colonial era, directed by the legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray, and based on the short story of the same name by renowned twentieth-century novelist Munshi Premchand. It is the only full-length Hindi feature film directed by Ray. The story depicts the contemporary aristocracy engrossed in luxuries, starkly detached from ground realities. The narrative focuses on two feudal lords from Awadh—Mirza Sajjad Ali and Mir Roshan Ali—who become consumed by shatranj (chess) while remaining completely unaware of the socio-political chaos unfolding around them. British East India Company troops move toward Awadh, while its extravagant Nawab, Wajid Ali Shah, stays indifferent, indulging in luxury and ignoring both his people’s suffering and his kingdom’s safety. Ray employs an allegorical representation of the chess game to illustrate how the Awadh nobility remained ignorant and complacent about the looming British annexation. The movie presents an intricate examination of noble extravagance set against the struggles faced by ordinary people, which worsened under British oppression. The work depicts cultural confrontations, where British principles and modernity face off against traditional Indian customs and values. “Shatranj ke Khilari” serves as a poignant commentary on Awadh’s decline and the broader impact of colonialism on Indian society, using the metaphor of chess to explore power dynamics, politics, and historical change. It masterfully mirrors the socio-political scenario of nineteenth-century Awadh. In this paper, I explore the use of symbolism in the film, correlate the film with factual information, and examine the historicity of this path-breaking movie.