The Black Prince
Directed by Kavi Raz
Produced by Brillstein Entertainment Partners Kavi Raz Jai Khanna, Jasjeet Singh, Sherry Hundal.
Starring - Satinder Sartaj, Amanda Root, Jason Flemyng, Atul Sharma, Rup Magon
Music by George Kallis
Cinematography - Aaron C. Smith
The Black Prince Release date 21 August 2017 (India)
Country - India, Britain, US
Language - English, hindi Punjabi
Budget - $5 million
The Black Prince (movie) is a story of the last king of Punjab, Maharajah Duleep Singh and Queen Victoria. His character as it evolves, torn between two cultures and facing constant dilemmas as a result. His relationship with Queen Victoria will be the most impactful relationship in the film, the Queen representing the English culture he was drawn into. The Black Prince begins a lifelong struggle to regain his kingdom. It takes him on an extraordinary journey across the world. 'The Black Prince' Based on the real life story of the last King of Punjab, Maharaja Dalip Singh, The Black Prince will be directed by Kavi Raz and features the acting debut of acclaimed singer-poet Satinder Sartaaj. Brillstein Entertainment Partners executive Jai Khanna will co-produce The Black Prince, written and to be directed by L.A.-based Indian filmmaker Kavi Raz. The bilingual English- Hindi project is budgeted at about $5 million and is out to potential producing partners in India. Set in India and the U.K., Prince is eyeing a late September start date.
'On 29 March 1849, the ten-year-old Maharaja of Punjab, Duleep Singh, was ushered into the Shish Mahal, the magnificent mirrored throne room at the centre of the great fort of Lahore.
The boy's father, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, was long dead, and his mother, Rani Jindan, had been forcibly removed some time earlier, and incarcerated in a palace outside the city. Now Duleep Singh found himself surrounded by a group of grave-looking men, wearing red coats and plumed hats, who talked among themselves in an unfamiliar language. In the terrors of the minutes that followed — what he later remembered as the 'crimson day' — the frightened but dignified child finally yielded to months of British pressure. Within minutes, the flag of the Sikh Khalsa was lowered and the British colours run up above the gatehouse of the fort.
The document signed by the ten-year-old maharaja, later known as the Treaty of Lahore, handed over to a private corporation, the East India Company, great swathes of the richest land in India... At the same time, Duleep Singh was induced to hand over to Queen Victoria the single most valuable object not just in Punjab, but arguably in the entire sub-continent: the celebrated Koh-i-Noor, or Mountain of Light.'
In their telling of the sweeping story of the 'most infamous diamond in the world' (published by Juggernaut Books in December 2016), William Dalrymple and Anita Anand recounted the moment that the Koh-i-Noor passed out of Indian hands into English ones. While nearly every royal owner of the diamond seems to have attracted more than their fair share of misfortune, ill luck, illness, and death, the story of Maharaja Duleep Singh — the last king of Punjab, and the Koh-i-Noor's last Indian owner, seems particularly poignant.
Unlike some of the gem's previous owners, Duleep Singh was neither maimed, nor tortured, nor even killed. But in his lifetime, he experienced a tremendous amount of loss.
The loss of his family, the loss of his throne (which he ascended at the age of five, after the previous claimants, including his half-brothers, died under mysterious circumstances), the loss of his kingdom and the loss of his famed possession the Koh-i-Noor (signed away as part of the Lahore Treaty), the loss of his home country and everything familiar — and all this, before he turned 15.
With his mother, the Rani Jindan, banished into exile, Duleep Singh was raised by his British guardian Dr Login. At the age of 15, he was sent to England, where he became a great favourite of Queen Victoria and later converted to Christianity. He was a star at court, labelled 'The Black Prince of Perthshire' — although, more than a decade later, that narrative began to unravel. After many attempts, Duleep Singh was finally reunited with his mother, rediscovered his Sikh faith, started questioning how the British had taken away what was rightfully his, and demanded recompensation.By the time he died — penniless and alone — in Paris, in 1893, Duleep Singh had gone from being touted as an Imperial success story to a rebellious thorn in the side of the British. His remains were interred in Britain, something he had reportedly expressed his opposition to, during his lifetime.
Such a tragic story lends itself to re-tellings, and Maharaja Duleep Singh's life has inspired many. (Apart from the Koh-i-Noor book), Anita Anand chronicled his daughter, the Princess Sophia's journey; The Singh Twins (Amrit and Rabindra) painted a portrait of the 'Black Prince' that attempted to redress some of the Imperial 'co-opting' of his narrative; a biopic — Maharaja Duleep Singh: A Monument Of Injustice — was made in 2007.
And now, a new film — written and directed by Kavi Raz, and produced by Brillstein Entertainment — is also offering a fresh look at Duleep Singh's life, as also his legacy.Titled The Black Prince, Raz's film traces how the Maharaja was torn between two cultures; comprehensively detailing his early life, his struggle to reconnect with his past and faith, and also, in later years, his valiant fight to free his people and raise the voice of India's Independence.
The story of Maharajah Duleep Singh is relevant today as it was 150 years ago. At its core, this is the story of a man trying to find himself, reconnect with his true identity and faith. As the world is becoming more and more divisive so are factions within our society looking for their own identity. The Sikh nation is good example of that. They want to remain true to who they are and not be overwhelmed by larger factors surrounding their existence. Maharajah Duleep Singh's story is also a reminder of Kingdom of Punjab, Khalsa Raj. It was glorious period in the history of Punjab. For me as a filmmaker, therefore, it was important to tell the story.
We wanted to tell the story that represented that period in history and we also wanted to tell... the truth. Not just the history that we have been taught from a one-sided perspective. Duleep Singh has been the most misunderstood and misrepresented figures of Sikh history. We wanted to get to the truth to dispel the many notions that surround his story. Also the vast expanse of his life presented a challenge to us in terms of what story to tell. We wanted to be comprehensive in representing his life, that was a challenge that we met creatively and with the great deal of passion.
Among the cast of The Black Prince are the poet-singer Satinder Sartaaj and veteran actress Shabana Azmi. What was it like working with them, and what did they bring to their portrayals of Maharaja Duleep Singh and Rani Jindan, respectively?The dynamics of working with these two individuals represented a huge contrast. Satinder Sartaaj appearing in his first film, tackling a very complex character, brought his raw energy and tremendous intelligence to the set. He was a perfect newcomer for me to work with and mould into the character of Maharaja Duleep Singh... On the other hand, Shabana Azmi essaying the role of Maharani Jindan brought with her, her tremendous experience, monumental talent and iconic presence. Being an actor myself, with her I was able to relate at a very different level and draw out perhaps one of the finest performances of our careers, a performance we are all proud of and has been winning accolades everywhere.
What were the source materials you relied on when writing the script for The Black Prince?
The producer of the film has done very detailed research on the subject for that period. His research shattered many myths, corrected many historical misconceptions and enlightened me, presenting new facts. For example, it is widely believed that Duleep Singh died as a Christian. However, our research strongly supports that he indeed died as a Sikh. Another thing we discovered was that he raised a voice for India's Independence and set out to align forces across the subcontinent to fight against the British. You will see this in the film.
To you, what are the most interesting/tragic aspects of Maharaja Duleep Singh's life?The tragedy of his life can be measured at two levels. If you look at the physical aspect, he was a king of the richest and most powerful kingdom and yet he died, lonely and penniless. If you look at the spiritual aspect of his life, no matter how hard the English tried to mold him, change him, squash his faith he embraced Sikhism and breathed his last uttering the words of his Guru, a free and a wealthy man... Chronologically speaking, the voice of India's Independence raised by Maharaja Duleep Singh was then embraced by the mostly Sikh-led Gadar Movement and followed by the Babbar Akali movement, leading up to India's Independence.
The debate around the reparation of the Koh-i-Noor to India has reared its head again. What are your thoughts on the issue?
The Koh-i-Noor diamond was the personal property of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Our in-depth research shows that he had bought this diamond from Shah Suja. Further, our film shows that the diamond was not gifted to Queen Victoria, but was rather deceptively taken from the young Maharaja Duleep Singh.The Black Prince releases worldwide on 21 July 2017, and will be screened in India in English, Punjabi and Hindi. Will it illuminate new chapters from Maharaja Duleep Singh's life?
Brillstein will help shepherd the various international cast, crew and production logistics, as well as begin to secure international sales. The film follows the story of the last Sikh Maharaja Duleep Singh the son of the powerful ruler Ranjit Singh. Maharaja Duleep Singh, who was placed on the throne at the age of 5, after the death of his father. In 1849, Punjab was annexed to British India. The young prince was removed from the throne and eventually sent off to England. His attempts to return to India and reclaim his kingdom were thwarted by the British. He ended up a pauper, dying alone in a Paris hotel in 1893. Satinder Sartaaj who played the lead role in the film has been a big star in India for over a decade, giving traditional Sufi and Punjabi music a contemporary twist and selling out concerts worldwide. "Besides his patrician resemblance to the young Maharaja Dalip Singh, Sartaaj's artistic instincts are highly intelligent and creative," Raz said, "Having read a number of screenplays during the past few years, I found a deep and profound connection with this story," added Sartaaj." It's an emotional journey of identity, dignity and legacy. In the trusted hands of this experienced production team, the decision to come on board was simple."
Cast and crew
Satinder SartaajSatinder Sartaaj is the main cast in 'The Black Prince' a historic biopic of Maharaja Duleep Singh, last King of Sikh Kingdom who was exiled to Britain. His Kingdom was annexed by the British while they were his guardians. Satinder Sartaaj is an Indian Punjabi singer, song writer and poet. He gained fame with his hit song "Sai". Satinder Sartaaj is a rare singer who is highly qualified, having earned a Doctorate. He also taught music at Panjab University. Satinder also completed a Certificate Course and Diploma in Persian language.
Amanda RootAmanda Root has played the role of 'Queen Victoria' in 'The Black Prince' movie. She was born in 1963 in Essex, England. She is known for her work on The Iron Lady (2011), The BFG (1989) and Jane Eyre (1996).
Jason FlemyngJason Flemyng has played the role of Dr Login in 'The Black Prince'. He was born on 25 September 1966 in Putney, London, ]England as Jason Iain Flemyng. He known for Lock, Stock and []Two Smoking Barrels]] (1998), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) and Snatch (2000).
Ameet ChanaAmeet Chana has played Aziz-Ud-din's role in 'The Black Prince' movie. He was Born in Epsom, Surrey, Ameet Chana has lived in various places during his life, including Reading, Berks, Cheam in Surrey, Croydon, and has lived in Harrow, Middlesex for the past 15 years with his parents and sister
Joe EganJoe Egan has played the role of 'Ishris Reval' n 'The Black Prince' movie. He was Born and bred in Dublin, Big Joe, as he is affectionately known, got his first ring baptism of fire when he fought the national junior champion Steve Collins.
David EssexDavid Essex has played the role of 'Colonial Hurban' in '"The Black Prince' movie. He was born on 23 July 1947 in Plaistoe, London, England as David Albert Cook. He is an Singer, Performer and actor, for The Devil's Rejects (2005), That'll Be the Day (1973) and Stardust (1974).
Sha'ori MorrisSha'ori Morris has played the role of 'pauper' in 'The Black Prince' movie. She was born in the UK. She is an actress and producer, known for Wuthering Heights (2018), The Tragedy of King Lear (2017) and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011).
Madhurima TuliMadhurima Tuli has played the role of 'Young Maharani Jinda'. She is an actress, known for Baby (2015), Naam Shabana (2017) and 24: India (2013).
Shabana AzmiShabana Azmi played the role of 'Maharani Jinda' in 'The Black Prince' movie. She is One of the leading lights of the now-largely-defunct Indian New Wave, Shabana Azmi (alongside the late Smita Patil) was one of the main female actors who dominated the films of the so-called "Parallel Cinema" in India in the 1970s and 1980s. Born to noted Urdu progressive poet and lyricist Kaifi Azmi and theatre actress Shaukat Azmi, Shabana has acted in films by virtually all of India's most famous art-house directors including Shyam Benegal, Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Aparna Sen and others. She is also Known as Mrityudand: The Death Sentence (1997) and Godmother (1999).
Keith DuffyKeith Duffy has played the role of 'Casey' in 'The Black Prince' movie. He was born on 1 October 1974 as Keith Peter Thomas Francis John Duffy. He is an actor, known for Coronation Street (1960), Robocroc (2013) and Be More Ethnic (2007).
Anna DawsonAnna Dawson has played the role of Lady in Waiting' in 'The Black Prince' movie. She is known for her work on The Creature Below (2016), Erasure (2013) and Scott and Sid (2017).
Atul SharmaMr. Atul Sharma has played the role of 'Hotel Manager' in 'The Black Prince' movue. He is UK based Actor and Model. He has lived in Beaconsfield London. He has appeared in top Bollywood and Hollywood productions with stars such as Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Colin Firth, Anthony Hopkins and Jude Law. He has also modelled for British Heart Foundation and starred in music videos with One Direction, Sam Smith, Shakka.
Leanne JoyceLeanne Joyce has played the role of 'Ada Wetherill' in 'The Black Prince' movie. She is an actress, known for Untitled (a Film) (2015) and The Royals (2015).
Kumud PantKumud Pant has played the role of 'Arur Singh's protect soldier' in The Black Prince' movie. He is UK based model, actor, and supporting artist. He is from the beautiful Himalayan country Nepal. He was born in a small village in Dang district of Nepal in 1975. In 2014, he starred in the main lead role in a short movie 'The Jungle Fight'. Since then he has recently starred in a Kollywood music video in a comedy act of a guy attempting to pursue a girl and is working on various other projects as well.
The Black Prince Song
'The Black Prince' 's Channa song represent the tragedy of Maharaja Duleep Singh and Vaar is an inperation song of 'The Black Prince'.
- Channa-Satinder Sartaj (Singer/Lyric)
- Vaar (Hari Singh Naluya)-Satinder Sartaj (Singer/Lyric)
David MaceyDavid Macey has played the role of 'Assassin Soldier' in 'The Black Prince' movie. He is known for his work on Transformers: The Last Knight (2017), The Limehouse Golem (2016) and Wuthering Heights (2018).
Jack GoverJack Gover has played the role of 'Gentleman' in 'The Black Prince' movie. He was born on 5 February 1991 in Southampton Hampshire. In 2012 Jack was cast as a young police officer in 'Fred Dinenage murder casebook'. The following year was cast as Conrad in his first feature length Out For Revenge (2013). This lead on to a leading roles in feature films, TV and short films.
James Weber BrownJames Weber Brown has played the role of 'Gernal Charles Caroll Tavis' in 'The Black Prince' movie. He was born on 14 September 1971 in Cuckfield, West Sussex, England. He is an actor, known for Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015), The Oxford Murders (2008) and Silent Hours (2017).
Arinder SadhraArinder Sadhrahas played the role of 'Mangla' in 'The Black Prince' movie. she is an actress, known for Mercy (2011), More (2017) and Second Coming (2014).
Martyn MaygerMartyn Mayger is played the role of 'Priest' in 'The Black Prince' movie. He was born 1955 in West London. After many years working in a wide variety of jobs, he ran his own Record Shop from 1989 until 2007. Also a very experienced drummer and percussionist in various styles of music but working as a Professional Film and TV Extra is now his main occupation.
Matt TownsendMatt Townsend is played the role of 'Library Patron' in 'The Black Prince' movie. He is known for his work on The Legend of Tarzan (2016), Wonder Woman (2017) and Bridget Jones's Baby (2016).
Lyndon OgbourneLyndon Ogbourne has played the role of 'Sir'O Butan' in 'The Black Prince' movie. He was born on 18 May 1983 in Swindon, Wiltshire, England as Lyndon Saul Ogbourne. He is known for his work on White Island (2016), The Cocksure Lads Movie (2014) and Emmerdale (1972).
Sophie StevensSophie Stevens has played the role of 'Baba Mullar' in 'The Black Prince' movie. She is an actress, known for Doctors (2000) and Break.
Rup MagonRup Magon has played the role of 'Arur Singh' in 'The Black Keys Prince' movie. He was born as Rupinder Magon. He is known for his work on Bonjour Ji (2015), Breakaway (2011) and Beeba Boys (2015).
Ranjit Singh ShubhRanjit Singh Shubh has played the role of 'Thakur Singh' in 'The Black Keys Prince' movie. He is a British born Sikh actor from east London, England. He has trained in the Film, Television and the Theatre mediums respectively and his fluent command over the English, Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi languages also adds to his versatility as an actor.
Malcolm FreemanMalcolm Freeman has played the role of 'Birgradier General Hogg' in 'The Black Prince' movie. He was born on 2 March 1960. He is known for his work on The Night Manager (2016), The Drowning of Arthur Braxton (2017) and Bitter Harvest (2017).
Mark Tristan EcclesMark Tristan Eccles has played the role of 'Butler To Queen Victoria' in 'The Black Prince' movie. He was born in Yorkshire, England. His mother, Mollie Eccles, is a stage and screen actress and model, and inspired Mark's early interests in drama. Mark is known for Nick Moran film Ask the Cheat (2017), Memory Lane (2014), Phase Three (2012), and The Bike Thief (2005). His television credits include ITV's Foyle's War as Mr. Corrigan.
Graham CawteGraham John Cawte has played the role of 'British Officer' in 'The Black Prince' movie. He is an award-winning English actor, best known for his critically acclaimed performance in the National Film Academy Best Drama nominated film 'Little Pieces', born in Fareham, Hampshire in 1961, the eldest son of John Cawte and Sheila Geary.
Jobanpreet SinghJobanpreet Singh has played the role of 'Herra Singh' in 'The Black Prince' movie. He is a production manager and actor, known for Dangal.
Emma KennyEmma Kenny has played the role of 'Lady Login' in 'The Black Prince' movie. She is an actress and producer, known for Balcony (2015) and Will Power (2012).
Catalina CarausCatalina Caraus has played the role of 'Princess' in 'The Black Prince' movie. She is a Moldovian/Romanian singer/actress born in a leap year (29 February 1992), in Chisinau, Moldova, being the only child of Constantin and Mariana Caraus. She started her singing career at the age of 16 when she debuted with her first music video. She then moved to England, at the age of 17 and graduated from Bellerbys College (2010) and Kingston University (2013). She is known by role of Rosy (lead) in Mr. Misunderstanding directed by Madras Murali in 2014.
John NevilleJohn Neville has played the role of 'Royal Guest's in 'The Black Prince' movie. He is an actor, known for Allies (2014), Detectorists (2014) and Deathly Desire (2014).
Tony HasnathTony Hasnath has played the role of 'Victer Duleep Singh' in 'The Black Prince' movie. He became an Actor by Accidently. Tony Hasnath has been working professionally for over 16 years with a string of renowned theatre companies to his name- ]National Theatre (Nation), Birmingham Stage (Jungle Book), Phizzical (Cymbeline) and Pilot Theatre (Lord of the Flies) to name a few.
Adeera BrarAdeera Brar has played the role of 'Sophia Duleep Singh' in 'The Black Prince' movie. She was born as Diljot Kaur Brar. She is an actress.
Myrsini TheofanogianniMyrsini Theofanogianni has played the role of 'Victorian Lady' in 'The Black Prince' movie. She is an actress and writer, known for Home Visit (2015), Xenophon and Pinelopi (2009).
Harmeet Singh HayreHarmeet Singh Hayre has played the role of 'Khalsa Soldier' in 'The Black Prince' movie. He is an actor, known for Shaandaar (2015) and Toxic Apocalypse (2016).
Andrew W. KnightAndrew W. Knight has played the role of 'The Russian Doctor' in 'The Black Prince' movie. He an actor, known for We Final Few (2015) and Toxic Apocalypse (2016).
Ana CorreiaAna Correia has played the role of 'Princess Bride Catherine Duleep Singh' in 'The Black Prince'movie. she is an actress, known for Darkland: Ben Drowned and The Royals (2015).
Courtney SinclairCourtney Sinclair had played the roll of 'Victorian Lady' in 'The Black Prince' movie. She is an actress, known for Case Files (2018) and Random Acts: Mundane Brain (2016).
Frances PayneFrances Payne has played the role of in 'The Black Prince' movie. She is an actress, known for 2 Miles Under (2017) and The Wives Did It (2015).
Marwane LemkhanterMarwane Lemkhanter has played the role of. 'French Leader' in 'The Black Prince' movie. He. is an actor, known for Ramanujan (2014) and CIA Declassified (2014).
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