J P Dutta's Umrao Jaan is an adaptation of Mirza Hadi Ruswa's novel Umra-O-Jaan-E-Ada. He was really moved by the story of Umrao's story. It's about a common small town girl Amiran who is abducted from her home and sold in the bazaars of Lucknow.

When quizzed about it Dutta Says, "I was sure that I wanted my film to be about Amiran, the woman, and not Umrao Jaan, the courtesan that the world saw. I wanted to showcase the person rather than the persona. "

It's a mainstream film according to Shabana Azmi who adds that Umrao in this film is a nautch girl. Music is its highlight.