Mughal -E- Azam (An Epics of Eternal Love)

Back of the Book

‘ So many people come here and verbatim they reproduce
the Dialogues scene after scene of Mughal-e-Azam…
It is amazing that you see the response of the people
in terms of their emotions the tenderness they show.’
Dilip Kumar Actor (played Princes Salim in Mughal-e-Azam)

Mughal-e-Azam is a classic
The splendour of the Bygone era has never been recreated with such eye filling sumptuousness…the dialogues are like pieces culled from period literature the lines reverberate in the mind of the viewer long after the season has changed and other merchandise has been placed on exhibition at the cinema hall
Saira Bano, Actor

Mughal-e-Azam is among the top three films ever produced in India.’
(Outlook Survey in 2003)

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From the Jacket

This book is a tribute to the imagination hard work and determination that went into the making if the classic film Mughal-e-Azam – a legendry masterpiece an epic love story and a cinematic gem it charts the legendry journey of this historic film right from its inception to its re-release in the colored version.

Be it the breathtaking battle scenes the sumptuous splendour of the Mughal court the ostentatious settings the seductive song and dance sequences and the eternal romance – the magic of Mughal-e-Azam just doesn’t seem to ebb. The book captures the grandeur of this extraordinary film and also gives us an overview of the evolution of Hindi cinema with special mention of historical films made in India till date. It relives the making of some of the finest sequence in the film the mellifluous music changes in casting friction between the director and the producer the riveting drama the superb dialogues and the fascinating profiles of the great artist behind the epic. The author provides a glimpse into that era which was witness to the making of a masterpiece. The anecdotes and minutiae have been assembled with unsparing research to make the book informative and elegantly readable. Embellished with rare photographs and posters this phenomenal compilation is truly a collector’s item.

About the Author

Shakil Warsi has been associated with the television entertainment industry for over fifteen years. An active Hindi theatre enthusiast at Prithvi Theaters, Mumbai in the 1980s he has been associated in the direction production and stage management of many successful plays including Adaa, Bin Aaye na Bane and Shabana. Warsi later joined UTV as video editor in the early 1990s and edited India’s first daily soap Shanti. He has been chief editor and project supervisor for various television serials, documentary films and movie base shows plus Sony and Zee. He is currently head of post production and operations of Punjabi TV. Warsi developed a passion to write on film and his profound interest in the history of Indian cinema led him to dig deep into the lives and times of veterans of Hindi cinema and study their art which he feels would always inspire generation of movie lovers in India.

Contents

Acknowledgements	ix
An Overview of Historical Films	1
The Legendary love story	33
Dream merchants	41
Making of the Epic	55
Prithviraj Kapoor: Emperor Akbar	67
Dilip Kumar: Prince Salim	73
Madhubala: Anarkali	83
Significant Support	95
A high note	107
Unforgettable Moment	121
D-Day	135
‘Alvida’ Asif	147
The resurrection	153
The Re-release	159
Songs of Mughal-e-Azam	165
Cast and Credits	166
Bibliography	167
Photo Credits	168