The Chess Players
शतरंज के खिलाड़ी
“Satyajit Ray's First Hindi feature Film”
Synopsis
In the year 1856, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah is the King of Awadh, one of the last independent kingdoms of India. The British intend to control this rich land and send General Outram to clear way for an annexation. Pressure is mounting amidst intrigue and political maneuvers, but the Nawab whiles away his time in pursuit of pleasure and religious practice. The court is of no help either — noblemen Mir and Mirza ignore all duties and spend their days playing endless games of chess.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
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Why did you make The Chessplayer ?
Type: Featurette • Published 2023-04-27
Top Cast
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Sanjeev Kumar
Mirza Sajjad Ali
Saeed Jaffrey
Mir Roshan Ali
Amjad Khan
Wajid Ali Shah
Shabana Azmi
Khurshid
Farida Jalal
Nafisa
Veena
Queen Mother
David Abraham Cheulkar
Munshi
Victor Banerjee
Prime Minister
Farooq Shaikh
Aqueel
Tom Alter
Capt. Weston
Leela Mishra
Hirya
Barry John
Richard Attenborough
General Outram
Samarth Narain
Kallu
Bhudo Advani
Abbajani
Kamu Mukherjee
Uttamram Nagar
Khairatilal Lahori
Release History & Theatrical Window
May 17, 1978
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Satyajit Ray
- Screenplay & Story
- Satyajit Ray
- Original Score
- Satyajit Ray
- Original Title
- शतरंज के खिलाड़ी
- Country of Origin
- India
- Spoken Languages
- Hindi, Urdu
- Runtime
- 2h 9m
- Production Studios
- Devki Chitra
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray, Munshi Premchand, Shama Zaidi, Javed Siddiqui
Satyajit Ray
Soumendu Roy
Dulal Dutta
Suresh Jindal
Department Leadership Roster
Satyajit Ray
Director
Satyajit Ray
Screenplay
Suresh Jindal
Producer
Munshi Premchand
Writer
Shama Zaidi
Costume Design
Dulal Dutta
Editor
Soumendu Roy
Director of Photography
Satyajit Ray
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Universal Public Exhibition — Unrestricted family viewing.
Production Stills & Gallery
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Featured In Curated Collections
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Classic Indian Cinema
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Chess Players
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Chess Players about?
In the year 1856, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah is the King of Awadh, one of the last independent kingdoms of India. The British intend to control this rich land and send General Outram to clear way for an annexation. Pressure is mounting amidst intrigue and political maneuvers, but the Nawab whiles away his time in pursuit of pleasure and religious practice. The court is of no help either — noblemen Mir and Mirza ignore all duties and spend their days playing endless games of chess.
Who directed The Chess Players?
The Chess Players was directed by Satyajit Ray.
Who stars in The Chess Players?
The principal cast of The Chess Players includes Sanjeev Kumar, Saeed Jaffrey, Amjad Khan, Shabana Azmi, Farida Jalal.
When was The Chess Players released and how long is it?
The Chess Players was released in 1977 with a total runtime of 2h 9m.
Who composed the musical score for The Chess Players?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Chess Players was composed by Satyajit Ray.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Chess Players?
The Chess Players holds official age classifications: IN: U (Universal Public Exhibition — Unrestricted family viewing.).