Mughal-e-Azam was one of the biggest ever films that Indian film industry has ever witnessed and it was released on August 5, 1960. The screentime of this periodic romantic drama film is around 197 minutes (3 hours, 17 minutes).
Story: The story of this film revolves around Prithviraj Kapoor aka Mugal Emperor Akbar and Durga Khote aka Queen Jodhabai. After many years of prayers, the couple blessed with a child Salim, whose Younger version has been played by Jalal Agha. After seeing that his child is being wasted inside the palace, he kept him away so that he become a brave prince.After almost 15 years, grown up Prince Salim aka Dilip Kumar is again back into the palace with zest and fervour. To impress Prince Salim, Nigar Sultana aka Bahar told a statue artist to build something priceless so that Salim get impressed by her gift. The statue artist couldn’t able to complete the work in time, so meanwhile he made Madhubala aka Nadira stand on the place of the statue. Well, in front of all, when Salim opens the cover of the statue he sees Nadira and got impressed. Even, Emperor Akbas was also witnessing everything and decides to keep Nadira in his palace itself.
Emperor Akbar even told her to perform on Lord Krishna’s birth celebration. After seeing the beautiful dance performed by Nadira, Emperor Akbar gave her a new name Anarkali. Now, Anarkali has a soft corner for Prince Salim but she is just a slave in the palace and couldn’t able to tell him about her feelings. One of the friend of Anarkali goes directly in front of Salim and tells about Anarkali feelings to Salim and vice versa. Even, Salim is infatuated by Anarkali and now starts meeting her quite often. Though, Anarkali stops him to not meet him but Salim promises her to make her queen of this Mughal Empire.
Here, Bahar, who wanted to impress Prince Salim, saw Salim with Anarkali and got extremely jealous. After seeing them together again, Bahar told Emperor Akbar about it. Here’s when Akbar imprisoned Anarkali and says she better leave Salim. On the other hand, Salim questions his father Akbar that why he is doing this and what’s wrong with Anarkali, why can’t she be queen. Even, Salim’s mother Jodhabai is silent about it. After keeping Anarkali, in one night in prison, Emperor tells her that she better forget Salim and leave him. Emperor even told Anarkali, that you better tell my son that you were just using him to be the queen of the kingdom and nothing else.
Now, a message from Bahar has been delivered to Prince Salim that Anarkali only used him and if you want to witness from your own eyes than see her dance performance in the courtroom of Emperor Akbar. During the dance performance, instead of keeping quiet, Anarkali went out and openly danced on a song ‘Jab Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya.’ She danced in front of Emperor Akbar, Jodhabai, Bahar and other members. Now, Prince Salim has again believed that Anarkali has actually loved him madly but it was his father who don’t want them together. Now, infuriated Akbar Kept Anarkali in prison for infinite days. On the other hand, Emperor Akbar told Prince Salim to leave the kingdom and go for fight against the other kingdoms.
Salim had to leave but he knows that things won’t be ok for Anarkali here. Akbar’s one of the close Senapati Durjan Singh aka Ajit, gave Salim a promise that you should go on a war and don’t worry about Anarkali. Durjan says until I am alive nothing will happy to your Anarkali. When, Emperor Akbar want Anarkali to be killed, it was Durjan Singh who rescued her and took her to Prince Salim.
Now, Prince Salim has openly challenged to his father and Emperor Akbar that if he won’t accept Anarkali than it’s an indication to war between us. Now, Emperor Akbar is ready for a war with his own son Prince Salim for Anarkali. What happens next forms the rest of the story.
Mughal-e-Azam is one of the highest rated Hindi movies in the history of Indian Cinema. Mughal-e-Azam holds 8.2 stars ratings out of 10 on IMDB. This film also holds 92 percent ratings out of 100 on RottenTomatoes website.
Bollywood Crazies Opinion: I have never watched this film completely. This time, I saw Mughal-e-Azam completely and find myself in completely spellbound with everything that I witnessed in around 3 hours. This is by far the best Hindi film which has ever been produced. The enthusiasm and passion that director K Asif had while making Mughal-e-Azam is missing completely in today’s time. This film was originally started in 1946 with Nargis, DK Sapru and Chandra Mohan. Soon, India witnessed a partition in 1947 and untimely death of Chandra Mohan in 1949, has stopped the production of this film. Even the financier left for Pakistan and this film was shelved completely. In 1950, again the production of Mughal-e-Azam has started with a fresh starcast and that’s what we see in this movie.
It took almost 10 years in Mughal-e-Azam making with new starcast. If we talk about Mughal-e-Azam movie overall process from start to end, than this film has taken a 14 year journey to get into theaters. This film production design has been done by Art Director M K Syed who puts his heart and soul to this film. The jewellery, the costumes, the set designs, the weapons, everything were top notch. Even a, Sheesh Mahal set was created which took 2 years in building and costing over 2 crores, more than the cost of any Bollywood film in those times. Madhubala’s Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya song has been shot in Sheesh Mahal set. The detailing work in sets were the best since Aan (1952) by director Mehboob Khan.
The writing work has been done by Aman, Kamal Amrohi, K. Asif, Wajahat Mirza and Ehsan Rizvi. All the dialogues have been brilliantly written and it had an Urdu flavour to it. There are some beautiful songs in this movie that will forever be etched into the memories of fans like Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya, Mohabbat Ki Jhooti Kahani, Mohe Panghat Pe, Teri Mehfil Mein Qismet etc. This film is based on Anarkali by Imtiaz Ali Taj. In sort, it is one of those films that test the patience of the whole cast and crew for over 10 years.
Directed by K Asif, this film has been produced by Shapoorji Pallonji. This cinematography of this movie has been done by R D Mathur and it is being heavily edited by Dharamvir. The musical department has been handled by Naushad.
Mughal-e-Azam movie budget hasn’t been officially revealed by it is being reported that it would have been around 1.5 to 2 crores as per 1960. As per many, if we measure the inflated budget as per 2021’s time, many claim it to 50 crores to 200 crores. As per few websites, Mughal-e-Azam lifetime collection is around 5.50 crores lifetime as per 1960. As per reports, none of the films till 1975, that means till 15 years of Mughal-e-Azam release has shattered its lifetime collection records. As per boxofficeindia.in, Mughal-e-Azam lifetime collection worth in 2019 would have been around 1644 crores estimated. This collections of Mughal-e-Azam is a clear proof that, Mughal-e-Azam is the biggest film in every possible way, from making to starcast, to production value to music and even its box office collections.
Altogether, Mughal-e-Azam is one of those Indian films that you must see once in your lifetime.
Last word: Watch it for K Asif Madness as a director. Also watch it for incredible performances of Prithviraj Kapoor, Durga Khote, Dilip Kumar, Ajit and Madhubala.
Bollywood Crazies Ratings: Mughal-e-Azam Review- Outstanding (100 Percent Out Of 100).
