Safeguard what you have!

Shatranj Ke Khilari  (The Chess Players, Urdu; 1977)
Direction, Screenplay, Music: Satyajit Ray

As the English were sharpening their steely knives to rape and rob India of their wealth, the Indian monarchs and noblemen are more interested in pleasures of the skin, the sheer enjoyment of the arts and of course Chess. The decadence of administration and those in power squarely brought the nation down.
This film boasts of high historical accuracy in its storyline and an array of a star-studded cast. Amitabh Bachchan narrates (Ray could not find a suitable role for him), Sanjeev Kumar, Shabana Azmi, Amjad Khan, Fareeda Jalal and Richard Attenborough star.

The time is pre-1857 before The Sepoy Mutiny when Lord Dalhousie and his generals are trying to hoodwink the Nawab of Oudh of his land.

The Nawab (Amjad Khan) is more interested in poetry and music than ruling over his subjects. Even when, critical history-altering decisions had to be made, he is humming tunes and composing poems in his mind. He unapologetically admits to his Prime Minister that he is incapable of ruling and he is a misfit. On a parallel story, two noblemen (Mirza -Sanjeev Kumar and Meer - Saeed Jeffrey) are obsessive chess players. Praising the great nation for inventing the excellent game for the world and ridiculing the British for changing the rules, they lose touch with reality. They are foolishly ignorant about their worldly duties and their wives. Mirza ignores his attention and companionship-seeking wife (Begum - Shabana Azmi), and it is a known fact, to everyone except Meer, that Meer's wife has a lover!

They spend hours and hours on the game smoking the hookah and chewing on paan (spiced betel leaves). Their antics during the game and their tricks trying to outdo are indeed comical. Even when Mirza's wife hides the chess pieces to garner attention, they visit a friend with the intention of using his chess piece. Unfortunately, the owner was dying and died during their visit. The noblemen were given a grand welcome as they were thought to be visiting the gravely ill!

Sanjeev Kumar and Saeed Jaffrey

While the English were moving in to take over the fort; these two jokers continued their games oblivious to the happenings of the day.

The Nawab on the other hand just hands over his throne to General Outram (Attenborough) on a platter without a fight, happy with the promised monthly allowance.
It just shows how wealth, if we do not have the courage and intelligence to safeguard it, it would be carved up and squandered by vultures and hyenas would are out to tear up their loot and defenceless owners!

Beware of those craftily conniving foxes who sing praises of your ability, intelligence, beauty or your singing ability just to hoodwink you of your hard-earned black-bean fritters (vadai, vada, Indian doughnut, வடை)!