FROM TEXT TO SCREEN: CINEMATIC TRANSLATION OF METANARRATIVES IN UMRAO JAAN

Abstract

This paper explores the cinematic translation of metanarratives in two iconic works of Indian literature, Umrao Jaan, focusing on how these texts are reinterpreted through film adaptations. Both narratives, deeply rooted in India’s cultural and historical contexts, reflect complex themes of love, loss, societal constraints, and identity. By analyzing various cinematic versions of this story this study investigates how filmmaker translate the literary metanarratives into visual and auditory experiences, while negotiating the cultural, temporal, and aesthetic differences between text and screen. The analysis of key adaptation by Muzaffar Ali (Umrao Jaan, 1981), the paper examines how director preserve, modify, or transform the metanarratives within the constraints and liberties of cinema. It discusses how elements like character development, narrative structure, and socio-political themes are reshaped by the visual medium, affecting the viewer’s engagement with the original stories. The paper also considers the role of music, cinematography, and performance in reinforcing or altering the core messages of the literary works. By situating this film within the broader framework of cinematic adaptation theory and metanarrative discourse, this study aims to understand how translation across media impacts the reception and interpretation of these enduring narratives. In doing so, it contributes to the conversation on cultural adaptation, narrative transformation, and the power of cinema as a tool for reimagining literary classics.