Mughal-E-Azam (1960)

A 16th century prince falls in love with a court dancer and battles with his emperor father.

Director:

K. Asif

Writers:

K. Asif (screenplay), Aman (screenplay)

Stars:

Prithviraj Kapoor, Madhubala, Dilip Kumar

Top Rated Indian Movies #34 | 1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Prithviraj Kapoor	...	Emperor Akbar (as Prithviraj)
Madhubala	...	Anarkali
Dilip Kumar	...	Prince Saleem
Durga Khote	...	Maharani Jodha Bai
Nigar Sultana	...	Bahar
Ajit	...	Durjan Singh
M. Kumar	...	Sculptor (as Kumar)
Murad	...	Raja Mann Singh
Jilloo Maa	...	Anarkali's Mother (as Jillo Bai)
Vijayalaxmi
S. Nazir
Sheela Delaya	...	Suraiya, Anarkali's Sister
Surendra	...	(as Surinder)
Johnny Walker
Jalal Agha	...	Young Prince Saleem

Storyline

Set in the 16th century AD, the movie brings to life the tale of the doomed love affair between the Mughal Crown Prince Saleem and the beautiful, ill-fated court dancer, whose fervor and intensity perpetrates a war between the prince and his father the great Mughal Emperor Akbar, and threatens to bring an empire to its knees.

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Plot Keywords:

love | emperor | prince | mughal | dancer | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

India

Language:

Urdu

Release Date:

5 August 1960 (India)

Also Known As:

The Emperor of the Mughals

Box Office

Budget:

INR 15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$60,258, 3 April 2005, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$161,434, 8 May 2005

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sterling Investment Corp.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

197 min (1960) 184 min (2004 colorized)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (2004 re-release) Mono

Color:

Black and White Color (Technicolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was one of only two films K. Asif completed. When he died in 1971, he left behind two unfinished films, Sasta Khoon Mahenga Paani and Love and God, the latter released by K.C. Bokadia in 1986.

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Quotes

[Durjan Singh is having his wounds bandaged when word comes of the Prince's imminent execution]
Durjan Singh: Death shall not come to the Prince while my hands have power to hold a sword! Leave me! My body may be injured, but not my courage!
[he rushes out and sees the statue of the Goddess]
Durjan Singh: Jai Maa Kali!
[he dies]

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Crazy Credits

2004: The End Credits play the song 'Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya' and its 1960 end credits are adjacent to the 2004 (Technicians) credits.

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Alternate Versions

The original version is in B/W and only one song 'Pyar kiya to darna kya...' was shot in color as most of the film (by the time color technology was available) was complete. This was at the end of almost 10 years that the film was being completed. However, the year 2004 re-release is re-mastered from the original B/W version to Color with Dolby Digital sound and some visual enhancements.

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Connections

Version of Dastaan-E-Mohabbat: Salim Anarkali (2018)

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Soundtracks

Ae Ishq Yeh Sab Duniyawale
Sung by Lata Mangeshkar
Music composed by Naushad
Lyrics by Shakeel Badayuni

User Reviews

Today I am very lucky and felt an honored of writing the review for the greatest epic of Indian cinema and biggest Indian film ever which has been hailed as a masterpiece

The ostentatious look, the unforgettable music, the awesome war scenes, superb performances, the well-known romance between Salim and Anarkalis MUGHAL-E-AZAM will always remain as a point of reference.

After 44 years, this masterpiece has been released after reviving it in color (the original version was 85 percent black and white and 15 percent colour), with an upgraded, contemporary sound system (Dolby Digital).

The Story is about the Ruler Akbar (Prithviraj Kapoor) and Queen Jodha (Durga Khote) give birth to a son, Salim, after years of prayer.

Prince Salim (Dilip Kumar) grows into a commendable combatant. Salim falls in love with court dancer Anarkali (Madhubala). Initially wary of his affections because of the difference in their positions, she soon reciprocates his love.

Akbar finds out about the affair and that creates a rift between the father and son.

It is a must see movie for every moviegoer for its pure canvass, for its majestic framing and not just for being a colorful costume drama, for its romance, for the glorious Sheesh Mahal and also for our fake filmmakers (like karan johar, aditya chopra, nikhil advani, kunal kohli and many others like them) who cannot think beyond Manhattan and singing heroes and have light years to reach this level of film-making.

MUGHAL-E-AZAM is a must for those who have seen it in B & W. Now watch it in color and experience the grandeur. MUGHAL-E-AZAM is a must for todays generation, who, perhaps, may not have watched this classic. Watch this epic and you will realize the difference between the cinema of yore and the cinema of today. MUGHAL-E-AZAM is a must for every moviegoer. Here is a prime example of pure, unadulterated cinema. 4 ½ Out of 5