Dir.: K.Asif

Music: Naushad

Cast: Dilip Kumar, Madhubala, Prithviraj Kapoor

 

For nine long years, K. Asif kept saying, “Yeh Mughal- E- Azam ban rahi hai. Koi aisi-vaisi film nahi.” (“This is Mughal-e- azam in the making. Not just any other film!”) But in the end, he proved that it wasn’t just an empty boast. Six decades after its conceptualization, Mughal – E- Azam still retains its cinematic charm.

 

K. Asif was a maverick writer-director-producer rolled into one. He was also a perfectionist, a hopeless romantic and a dreamer to boot. In the forties, he had shelved this film- with Nargis, Chandramohan and Sapru in main roles. But he never let it go. Assembling an impressive cast of Prithviraj Kapoor as Emperor Akbar, Durga Khote as Empress Jodhabai, Dilip Kumar as Prince Salim and Madhubala as Anarkali, he started the project in the fifties and continued pursuing his dream even after this tragic love-story was made into another successful film- Anarkali in 1953.

 

He wanted to present the historic Mughal era in all its regal glory and for that, he spent millions to get top talents and perfect settings. Naushad, who composed the beautiful music for the film, once recounted how Asif spent the then unheard sum of twenty five thousand rupees per song to get top classical vocalist Bade Ghulam Ali Khan to render those exquisite classical numbers – Shubh Din Aayo and Prem Jogan Banke. Lacchu Maharaj – a master Indian classical dancer, was brought in to choreograph those arresting Madhubala dance-numbers Mohe Panghat Pe and Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya. For the latter song, the set of Sheesh Mahel was constructed at an astronomical price.

 

But Mughal- e-Azam is not just about arresting audio-visual song- and- dance sequences, grand palaces, exotic sets and sweeping battle-scenes. It has a strong emotional core. In Salim- Anarkali’s star-crossed love-story, Emperor Akbar is not just a villainous obstacle; he is a tragic, heroic figure doing what he feels is right for the future of his country. Once he had walked barefoot through hot sands to seek divine blessings to get heir, but now he must use his might to thwart that prized, errant son- the future emperor from throwing his throne at the feet of a danseuse who would never get public acceptance as an empress.

 

Asif’s direction shows tremendous maturity, subtlety and underplay. Salim romantically caressing Anarkali’s face with a feather; Anarkali’s terrified flight into Salim’s arms on facing irate Emperor; Akbar asking his queen to choose between him and his son; Anarkali’s dignified defiance and Salim’s rebellion – all these scenes are great moments in Indian cinema. Every character, every performance, every dialogue and every song leaves its impression and that makes it a real classic. Released in 1960, Mughal- E-Azam went on to become the most successful blockbuster of all times, till Sholay broke its box-office record 15 years later.