The Chess Players

1977 · directed by Satyajit Ray

Rating

80/100

Hit

yes

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.

The Chess Players (1977), directed by Satyajit Ray, rates 80/100 — a hit. See how its director, cast and crew rate across their careers.

Cast

• Sanjeev Kumar
• Saeed Jaffrey
• Amjad Khan
• Shabana Azmi
• Farida Jalal
• Veena
• David Abraham Cheulkar
• Victor Banerjee
• Farooq Shaikh
• Tom Alter

Crew

• Soumendu Roy — Director of Photography
• Dulal Dutta — Editor
• Satyajit Ray — Original Music Composer
• Satyajit Ray — Screenplay
• Munshi Premchand — Writer

More from Satyajit Ray

1. Pather Panchali (1955) — 99/100 · hit
2. The Hero (1966) — 89/100 · hit
3. The World of Apu (1959) — 88/100 · hit
4. The Stranger (1991) — 87/100 · hit
5. The Music Room (1958) — 86/100 · hit
6. Aparajito (1956) — 86/100 · hit

How these numbers work: Methodology