At the brothel, run by the strict but wise Khanum Jaan, the girl is renamed Umrao Jaan . Unlike common prostitutes, she is trained as a high-class courtesan (a tawaif )—learning Urdu poetry (shayari), classical music (thumri, dadra), dance (kathak), and etiquette. Her purpose is to entertain nobles and aristocrats, not just for physical pleasure but for art and conversation.
Later, she meets a handsome, rugged bandit named Faiz Ali (played by Raj Babbar). He is a rebel against the British colonial rule and the oppressive landlords. Unlike the polished Nawab, Faiz Ali is raw, passionate, and sees her as a woman, not an object. They have a brief but intense romance. He is eventually captured and hanged by the British.
The 1981 film Umrao Jaan , directed by Muzaffar Ali and starring Rekha, is based on the classic Urdu novel Umrao Jaan Ada by Mirza Hadi Ruswa. Here is the story explained in English, suitable for understanding with subtitles. Setting: 19th century Lucknow, a city of refined culture, poetry, music, and courtesans (tawaifs).
A young girl named Amiran lives a simple life with her family in a small town. Due to a family feud (her father angers a local powerful man), she is kidnapped. She is sold to a brothel in the elite "Chowk" area of Lucknow.
Umrao grows into a stunning, intelligent, and melancholic woman (played by Rekha). She becomes the most famous courtesan in Lucknow. Her poetic performances and beauty attract wealthy and powerful men, including the aristocratic Nawab Sultan (played by Farooq Shaikh).