| Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, sits on the throne of Avadh, in his capital Lucknow. The year is 1856. A patron of poetry and music, the Nawab is an indifferent ruler. Also in Lucknow are his two friends, Mirza Sajid Ali and Mir Roshan Ali, Their only occupation is to play chess. While Mirza’s neglected wife, Khurshid tries to wean him away from his compulsive playing, Mir’s wife Nafeesa urges him on with the game, for she is playing a game of her own, she is having an affair with her cousin. A bigger game of chess is being played in the political field. The British are plotting to overthrow Wajid Ali Shah. And when British troops approach Lucknow, the two friends, afraid of being called to battle, run away from home to continue their bloodless battle of the chessboard. |
|
