Written by: Taniya Chopra
4 min readJul 24, 2025 11:04 AM IST
First published on: Jul 13, 2025 at 11:43 PM IST
Umrao Jaan recently returned to movie theatres. And with its return brought nostalgia and a reminder of the great Urdu literature that once inspired Indian cinema’s most poetic moments. Muzaffar Ali’s Umrao Jaan, adapted from Mirza Hadi Ruswa’s novel Umrao Jaan Ada, is much more than a cinematic gem. It is Urdu literature in motion. Lyrical and laced with longing.
Urdu literature, widely known for its poetry, has some powerful novels that are largely overlooked. Umrao Jaan has had its moment on screen and many other Urdu novels, equally cinematic, are waiting for their big screen debut. So, as we swoon once more over the song, Dil cheez kya hai, here are some must-read Urdu books.
The Crooked Line
The Crooked Line by Ismat Chughtai (Source: amazon.in)
A nation on the brink of change. A woman trying to find herself in the chaos. As India battles for independence, Shamman, a young woman, breaks away from purdah and dives into politics. But her passion for her country’s independence is entangled with her love for an Irish journalist. With wit and honesty, Chughtai shows a woman’s inner rebellion through love and the tug of war between desire and duty. A bold and way ahead of its time story.
Basti
Basti by Intizar Husain (Source: amazon.in)
What happens when the world you belong to begins to disappear? In Basti, Zakir drifts between memory and reality, love and loss. Cities collapse and nations fracture around him. Intizar Hussain paints a haunting portrait of dislocation of home, time, identity and faith. Very detailed and very introspective. Basti is perfect for a slow, dreamlike cinematic adaptation. The kind that stays with you long after the screen fades.
The Weary Generations
The Weary Generations by Abdullah Hussein (Source: amazon.in)
Naim rises from a peasant’s son to a war hero. He marries into privilege. But none of it saves him from the weight of history. His love with Azra falters. His ideals collapse. His homeland becomes unfamiliar. What begins as a story of hope takes a twisted turn. The Weary Generations is a powerful tale. A love story between two very different people, just like the uneasy relationship between the British and their empire. A novel that aches to be adapted for the screen.
The Women’s Courtyard
The Women’s Courtyard by Khadija Mastur (Source: amazon.in)
Inside the walls of a haveli, a young woman watches the world fall apart. In The Women’s Courtyard, Aliya grows up in a divided household full of secrets and sacrifices. This book shows what Partition looked like from the inside. From kitchens, balconies and broken dreams. As the men chase politics and ideals, the women are left to bear the cost. It’s political and it’s personal. This is a story that belongs on screen, told through the eyes of women holding everything together as it all falls apart.
(The writer is an intern with indianexpress.com)
Umrao Jaan returns to the big screen and now restored in 4K, bringing new life to an old classic. (Express archive photo) 
The Crooked Line by Ismat Chughtai (Source: amazon.in)
Basti by Intizar Husain (Source: amazon.in)
The Weary Generations by Abdullah Hussein (Source: amazon.in)
The Women’s Courtyard by Khadija Mastur (Source: amazon.in)
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