Watch The Chess Players

The Chess Players is a 1977 Indian period drama film directed by the legendary director, Satyajit Ray. The movie is set in the 19th century during the reign of the British East India Company in India. The movie is based on a short story titled "Khagam" written by Munshi Premchand, one of the greatest Hindi litterateurs in Indian history.

The Chess Players is a commentary on the lazy and indolent lives of the Indian aristocracy during the British Raj, who were oblivious to the grim realities of that period. The main protagonists of the movie are two nobleman friends, Mirza Sajjad Ali (played by Sanjeev Kumar) and Mir Roshan Ali (played by Saeed Jaffrey), who spend their days playing chess and drinking wine.

The movie opens with the introduction of the two friends playing chess in their palace gardens. While playing, they are unaware of the happenings around them, including the plight of their subjects under colonial rule. They are also oblivious to the increasing British influence in their lives, such as English as a compulsory language in their schools and the spread of western culture.

As the movie progresses, the lives of the two friends take different trajectories. Mirza Sajjad Ali gets involved with a local courtesan called Khurshid (played by Shabana Azmi) who steals his heart away. Meanwhile, Mir Roshan Ali's obsession with chess takes him to the point that he even forgets his marriage anniversary.

In contrast, the British officer General Outram (played by Tom Alter) is shown as a master strategist who adeptly maneuvers political affairs for the benefit of the British East India Company. His scheming nature and manipulation of the local population highlight the power dynamics during the British Raj in India.

Ray uses the game of chess as a metaphor to show the British East India Company's strategic moves on the Indian subcontinent. The movie's climax is when Mirza and Mir Roshan Ali finally recognize the seriousness of the situation around them and are forced to react to the changing geopolitical landscape. The conclusion is left open to interpretation, encapsulated in the final shot where two British officers, Outram and his assistant, leave the palace to be replaced by two Indian soldiers.

The Chess Players received widespread critical acclaim and was considered one of Ray's best works. The movie's screenplay, direction, and performances were widely praised, as were the stunning visuals and music. Ray had already established himself as one of the most significant Indian filmmakers ever, having made legendary films like Pather Panchali (1955), Apur Sansar (1959), Charulata (1964), and Shatranj Ke Khilari (1977).

Despite the movie's themes about colonialism and political unrest, Ray manages to infuse it with a subtle humor that is characteristic of many of his films. The characters are well developed, and the acting is of the highest quality, with Sanjeev Kumar, Saeed Jaffrey, and Shabana Azmi giving memorable performances. The movie's haunting soundtrack by Satyajit Ray himself adds another layer of depth to the narrative.

The Chess Players has since become a cult classic, a cinematic masterpiece that provides a window to an era in Indian history that is both enlightening and entertaining. It remains one of Satyajit Ray's most captivating films, and a landmark in Indian cinema.