A comparative study of Macbeth, adapted as Maqbool by Vishal Bharadwaj

William Shakespeare's theatrical works have long been a fertile ground for reinterpretation and transformation. Within his plays, he explored fundamental themes such as love, marriage, family dynamics, issues of race and class, humour, betrayal, malevolence, vengeance, murder, and mortality. Through his masterful storytelling, Shakespeare crafted enduring characters, spanning from common criminals to noble monarchs, who have transcended time to become enduring archetypes in modern drama, while still retaining their relatable human essence. These timeless themes and iconic characters provide filmmakers with a rich reservoir of raw material to create visually captivating cinematic experiences. Renowned director Vishal Bhardwaj garnered substantial critical acclaim for his trilogy, with "Maqbool" drawing inspiration from "Macbeth," "Omkara" from "Othello," and "Haider" adapted from Shakespeare's "Hamlet." Nevertheless, Bhardwaj exercised creative liberties in moulding these narratives to suit his cinematic vision. This article embarks on an exploration of the comparative analysis between Vishal Bhardwaj's "Maqbool" and Shakespeare's "Macbeth." The discussion commences with a succinct overview of comparative literature, progressing to a detailed examination of the opening scenes, the art of characterization, the diverse dramatic techniques employed, the setting, and the denouement. Moreover, it delves into the points of convergence and divergence between the adaptation ("Maqbool") and the original source text ("Macbeth").