Mughal-e-Azam
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| Mughal-e-Azam | |
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 |
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| Directed by | K. Asif |
| Produced by | K. Asif |
| Written by | Aman Kamal Amrohi |
| Starring | Dilip Kumar, Madhubala, Prithviraj Kapoor Ajit Khan Durga Khote Nigar Sultana |
| Music by | Naushad |
| Cinematography | R. D. Mathur |
| Editing by | Dharmavir |
| Release date(s) | 1960 |
| Running time | 173 min. |
| Language | Urdu |
| IMDb profile | |
Mughal-e-Azam (Urdu: مغلِ اعظم, Hindi: मुग़ल-ए आज़म) is an Indian epic film, remniscent of the older style of Indian cinema. It was produced and directed by K. Asif and released in 1960. It took nine years to finish and was the most lavish production for its time.
The film broke box office records in India when released and held the record for the highest grossing film ever until the 1975 film Sholay broke its record.[1]
Its most famous dance sequence takes place in the Sheesh Mahal (Palace of Mirrors) of the Amber Fort of Jaipur, where a defiant slave-girl (played by Madhubala) dances for the Mughal Emperor and his court, singing Pyar Kiya to Darna Kya, "I have loved, so what is there to fear?" This song was one of three sequences shot in Technicolor, while the rest of the movie was in black and white. The singing is, of course, playback singing by Lata Mangeshkar and lip-synched by Madhubala.
In 2004, a colorized version of the movie was released theatrically for the first time. The movie was again a success.[2]
[edit] Synopsis
The film is a re-telling of a popular Indian tale, previously filmed as Loves of a Mughal Prince (1928) and Anarkali (1953). It is loosely based on an episode in the life of the Mughal prince Salim, later the Emperor Jahangir. In the movie, the great conqueror Akbar (played by Prithviraj Kapoor) and his Rajput wife, Jodhabai (played by Durga Khote) have but one son, the weak and pleasure-loving Salim, played by Dilip Kumar. Salim falls in love with Anarkali (Madhubala), a slave and court-dancer. He wants to marry her; his father objects, and throws Anarkali into prison. Anarkali refuses to reject Salim. Salim revolts against his father, is beaten in battle, and sentenced to death. Anarkali buys his life with her own and is condemned to be walled up alive. However, Anarkali's mother begs for Anarkali's life, reminding the emperor of his promise to one day grant her wish (as she was the first person to inform the Akbar that he finally had a son) and the emperor relents. Anarkali is said to have been killed, but the king arranges for her secret escape into exile.
Most tales of Salim and Anarkali end with Anarkali's death; the movie version is slightly more upbeat. However, Salim is still left to believe that Anarkali is dead and the lovers are still separated for the rest of their lives.
[edit] Trivia
- Famed Hindustani classical and Thumri singer Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan sang two songs for the movie, as the voice of Tansen. He reportedly charged Rs. 25,000 per song. At the time, the going rate for popular playback singers such as Lata and Mohammed Rafi was below Rs. 500 per song.
- The dance sequence of the song Pyar Kiya To Darna Kiya is set in the Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Room) of the Lahore Fort, which is an anachronism since that room did not exist in Emperor Akbar's time. It was in fact built by Akbar's grandson, Emperor Shah Jehan, many years after the death of Emperor Akbar. Decoration with mirrors (known as Aleppo glass) was a recurring theme in early Mughal-period architecture.
- The film held the record for India's top-grossing film ever until the 1975 film Sholay broke box office records and remains the top all-time blockbuster inflation adjusted. Mughal-e-Azam now ranks second in the highest all-time blockbusters.
- As of 2008 Dilip Kumar and playback singer Lata Mangeshkar are the only surviving members from the cast and crew of the film. When the film was re-released in 2004, the film's music director Naushad was also alive until his death in 2006.
[edit] External links
| Awards | ||
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| Preceded by Sujata |
Filmfare Award for Best Film 1960 |
Succeeded by Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai |
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