In Custody | Rotten Tomatoes

In Custody

PG

Released Jun 8, 1994

2h 5m

Drama

List

67%

Tomatometer

6 Reviews

62%

Audience Score

50+ Ratings

Family man and professor Deven (Om Puri) lands his dream writing gig: He is to interview the legendary, aging poet Nur (Shashi Kapoor). But the task proves to be anything but pleasurable, as Nur is a bloated alcoholic who continually frustrates his two wives, Imtiaz (Shabana Azmi) and Safiya (Sushma Seth). Deven is disappointed but doesn't give up, returning time after time so he can capture whatever essence remains of the poet. But in his devotion to Nur, Deven begins to neglect his own family.

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Sheila Johnston

Independent (UK)

It feels like a slender short story spun out close to breaking point. An honourable debut, though.

Nov 13, 2017

Full Review

Marc Savlov

Austin Chronicle

Rated: 3/5

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Rated: 2/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Quentin Curtis

Independent on Sunday

Ismail Merchant's directing debut, In Custody, is a lively, sharply-observed adaptation of Anita Desai's novel.

Dec 7, 2017

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Jul 6, 2005

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

I guess to really enjoy this film you would have to speak the language of Urdu to understand its poetical nuances...

Rated: C

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

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Audience Member

Sublime. Poignant. Engaging... A hidden gem!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

not too bad comedy/drama from merchant/ivory.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Well told tale of the one mans struggle against society to preserve its own history. There's some good quirky characters too.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is a homage to Urdu poetry, Indian multiculturalism and to the forgotten people and forgotten times. Why is there a trend to pay respects to poets (and other artists) only after their death?

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A very interesting, engaging and a silently funny film. All the actors at their peak here. One advice: the urdu spoken in the film is quite hardcore, so having English subtitles would be a great help.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

as with most adaptations, the book is even better

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

Full Review

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Ismail Merchant

Director

Shashi Kapoor

Nur

Shabana Azmi

Imtiaz Begum

Om Puri

Deven

Sushma Seth

Safiya Begum

Neena Gupta

Sarla

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Synopsis

Family man and professor Deven (Om Puri) lands his dream writing gig: He is to interview the legendary, aging poet Nur (Shashi Kapoor). But the task proves to be anything but pleasurable, as Nur is a bloated alcoholic who continually frustrates his two wives, Imtiaz (Shabana Azmi) and Safiya (Sushma Seth). Deven is disappointed but doesn't give up, returning time after time so he can capture whatever essence remains of the poet. But in his devotion to Nur, Deven begins to neglect his own family.

Director: Ismail Merchant
Producer: Paul Bradley, Donald Rosenfeld
Screenwriter: Shahrukh Husain
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Merchant Ivory Productions, Channel Four Films
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Hindi
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 8, 1994, Original
Release Date (DVD): Aug 10, 2005
Runtime: 2h 5m
Sound Mix: Dolby