"Mughal-e-Azam"

Half   Century   Old… Yet Relevant   !

By: RAMAN SHARMA  

5^th August 1960, the Indian film industry enthralled with a never dying spring. Mughal- e-Azam,  Karimuddin Asif's   inspiration released in  Indian theaters entertaining  with a blend of  romance and war, nationalism and loyalty , beauty and boldness, politics  and revolt, music  and muscle, secularism and diplomacy, culture and ego, respect and anger.  It was the first highest budget movie of its time ( Rs. 1.50 Cr.) and it took K. Asif almost 8 years to make this vision into a reality. In decade of 60's when cost of movie making was not higher than Rs.  15 lac, Mughal-e-Azam was made at 10 times costlier. Before the release there was lot of anxiety about the box office response to the movie and it was not only Asif but the entire team of Mughal-e-Azam that deserve all the applause for this wonderful creation and no word of praise are sufficient to define this great inventiveness.  Though K. Asif wanted to make the whole film in color version but because of many reasons could not do it.

5^th August 1960, the Indian film industry enthralled with a never dying spring. Mughal- e-Azam,  Karimuddin Asif's   inspiration released in  Indian theaters entertaining  with a blend of  romance and war, nationalism and loyalty , beauty and boldness, politics  and revolt, music  and muscle, secularism and diplomacy, culture and ego, respect and anger.  It was the first highest budget movie of its time ( Rs. 1.50 Cr.) and it took K. Asif almost 8 years to make this vision into a reality. In decade of 60's when cost of movie making was not higher than Rs.  15 lac, Mughal-e-Azam was made at 10 times costlier. Before the release there was lot of anxiety about the box office response to the movie and it was not only Asif but the entire team of Mughal-e-Azam that deserve all the applause for this wonderful creation and no word of praise are sufficient to define this great inventiveness.  Though K. Asif wanted to make the whole film in color version but because of many reasons could not do it.

             

The movie not only did a never expected business but gave the Indian cinema a new target. It instigated the creators to believe in themselves and to realize them that they can also make their dreams come true. It took the Indian cinema industry to new heights. Perhaps inspired from Asif 15 years later   Ramesh  Sippy dared Amithabh and Dharmindera starrer "SHOLAY" which was also a very expensive movie of that time and fortunately it was also a great formation and success.  

Mughal-e-Azam, in the entire movie there is no dearth of hard work and creativity even in a single shot. Each artist in the movie (must say epic) not only do justice with his/her character but also relate himself with the original personality.  Be it Prithvi Raj Kapoor in the legendary role of Badshah Jalaluddin Mohammed Akbar, Dilip Kumar as Shehzada Nooruddin Mohammad Saleem, beauty queen Madhubala as Anarkali, Durga Khote .as Empress Jodha Bai, Nigar Sultana as Bahar, Ajit as  Durjan Singh, Murad as Raja Mann Singh,  M. Kumar as Sculptor Sangtaraash or Sheela Delaya ...  as Suraiya, Anarkali's Sister. The back screen crew of the movie such as director,   dialogue writer, music department , special effect,  play back singers, sound recorders and wardrobe department everyone did an outstanding job.

Now even after 50 years later the love and passion for this great Indian classic have not been obsolete and Mughal-e-Azam movie is still much young and relevant.  in 2003, four decades later When Asif's son Akbar Asif made father's  dream come true  with the help of latest technology Akbar Asif  gave colors to the Mughal-e-Azam, and this colored version of Mughal-e-Azam again did the same magic and the movie was a great hit again.

Can anyone imagine that when Bollywood analysts say that it is only the first weekend of any movie that decides the fate of the movie both commercially and otherwise, a movie even after 50 years doing an extra ordinary performance and attracting audiences of every age?  The colored version of this historic movie was able to stand in theaters for many weeks together. Mughal-e-Azam attracted audiences of every generation.

The writer (he born two and half decades later than the release of original Mughal-e-Azam) himself viewed this wonderful portrayal of romance in colored version at least 12 times, though he was/ is not an often theater visitor. Obviously  it is the relevance of the movie that keeps inviting its audience again and again. I must bet that no spectator can afford to watch this movie just once, there will be obvious insistence from within that will take him to view it repeatedly. It is not to say that now there are no creative artists and film makers in the Indian film industry, the Bollywood continues to entertain India and the world. There have been so many super hit movies after Mughal-e-Azam that were perhaps able to  do much more business and also  earned lot of appreciation from the critics but the charm and heights of this historic epic is still intact. These hit movies  have a significance and relevance for a very short period of time and then after people even forget the names. Those who have not seen this wonderful depiction of a dream must go and watch this movie at least once, it's not just a movie but of course a source of learning. Everyone can relate himself/herself with the movie be it a lover, mother, father, son or a king. The movie offers something for everyone and I wish if such movies could be made again. No one will ever   KNOW that why even after half century, the relevance of  Mughal-e-Azam is notdiminished yet?