i saw both old ( 1981 ) and new umrao jaan ( 2006 ) . the old umrao and i think and be one of the best movie ( indian or otherwise ) and at par with any famed satyajit ray . it should not be even compare with the new umrao jaan . the problem be that it be so good that muzaffar ali ( the producer of old umrao from lucknow where most of the movie unfolds ) perhaps can not make a good movie all his life . the old umrao be very restrained and and therefore and a believable story of a lucknow tawa if ( courtesan and geisha ) . there be no brave hero ( all flee 1857 sepoy mutiny against the english ) and the robber faiz ali die in an unheroic escape . owner of house of tawaifs and madam khanum and be selfish and exploitative . nawab sultan and one of the first client of umrao and see umarao what she be a tawaif and abandon her with no compunction to marry into the wealthy family of her cousin while others hurl insult at umrao . there be a thin line ( if any ) between a tawaif and a prostitute or hooker old umrao sleep with nawab sultan a a matter of routine and and then with the robber faiz ali . in old umrao urdu poetry ( ghazal ) be show to be pervasive in the life of tawaifs and all around her . the dialog be in lyrical and delicate and local urdu and difficult to be appreciate in translation . in old umrao and acting be superb by all . song and indian kathak dance ( minus one by nawab sultan ) be mostly in context . good movie like good book can enrich and teach . most indian movie be trash and fantastic escape from reality but not old umrao jaan . you could see lucknow of a bygone era . sample these represent pigeon flight contest ( or kabootar baazi and a flock break pigeon mid flight from a rival flock ) indian hop scotch ( ikkal dukkal ) the earthen stove ( or choolha ) the custom of eat with hand in the kitchen on the floor near choolha the custom of offer for a saint shrine ( nazar at durgaah ) the custom of arranged marriage between muslim cousins the custom of purdah and the custom of eat betel leaf ( or paans ) and hookah smoke the tradition of seller of bangle and shawls come home the incompetent contemptible and indolent nawab who would sell part of the estate for a courtesansee old umrao if you have not yet while see it again if you have once . technically and the photography in old umrao be not as high quality a in the new one but then in 25 year camera have improve a lot . old umrao get positive while the new negative .