In Custody
Synopsis
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.
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Release History & Theatrical Window
April 15, 1994
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Ismail Merchant
- Screenplay & Story
- Anita Desai, Shahrukh Husain
- Original Score
- Ustad Sultan Khan, Zakir Hussain
- Original Title
- In Custody
- Country of Origin
- India
- Spoken Languages
- Hindi, Urdu
- Runtime
- 2h 6m
- Production Studios
- Merchant Ivory Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Ismail Merchant
Anita Desai, Shahrukh Husain
Ustad Sultan Khan, Zakir Hussain
Larry Pizer
Roberto Silvi
Wahid Chowhan, Donald Rosenfeld
Department Leadership Roster
Larry Pizer
Director of Photography
Ismail Merchant
Director
Wahid Chowhan
Producer
Ustad Sultan Khan
Original Music Composer
Zakir Hussain
Original Music Composer
Anita Desai
Writer
Shahrukh Husain
Writer
Roberto Silvi
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
Universal — Suitable for all audiences.
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for In Custody.
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BD Release: 1991-1995
Movies released in 4K Blu-ray format - 1991-1995
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Frequently Asked Questions About In Custody
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is In Custody about?
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.
Who directed In Custody?
In Custody was directed by Ismail Merchant.
Who stars in In Custody?
The principal cast of In Custody includes Shashi Kapoor, Om Puri, Shabana Azmi, Neena Gupta, Sushma Seth.
When was In Custody released and how long is it?
In Custody was released in 1994 with a total runtime of 2h 6m.
Who composed the musical score for In Custody?
The original motion picture soundtrack for In Custody was composed by Ustad Sultan Khan, Zakir Hussain.
Is In Custody based on a book or true story?
In Custody is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Anita Desai".
What is the age rating and content advisory for In Custody?
In Custody holds official age classifications: GB: U (Universal — Suitable for all audiences.); US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).