This is the story of an ordinary girl ’’Anarkali’’ and Prince Salim - the classic rich guy poor girl story, brought out on screen in an epic n powerful way. The sheer opulence , the sets for this film, which apparently cost a whopping 1.5 crores in the early 50’s to make, plus that it took over a year to make, is worth a dekho.
One can watch Mughal - E- Azam for a plethora of reasons.
It could be , to see the immortal beauty of Madhubala radiating in every scene, she is present in.
Or the viciousness of the villainess , played by Nigar Sultana.
The scintillating music by Naushad sahab.The sheer poetic, and powerful songs, the performance of Prithviraj Kapoor.The list goes on.
This review of mine, I will be showcasing scenes which I thought, says a lot. Not everyone would agree perhaps, but, then this is where I will put in my musings.
Immortal scenes for me :
1) Where Nigar Sultana, as Bahar , dons the queen’s crown, tells her intent to be queen of the realm. The dialogues there are potent.
2) When Madhubala’( is questioned by the king why she did not flinch, while the prince shoots an arrow..and her answer to that question.(after this she is given the title anarkali)
3) Anarkali, when presnted with thorns by the prince , quoting ’’Kaanto ko murjhane ka dar nahi hota’’ ( thorns don’t have fear losing their freshness).
4) The immortal scene where Salim romances Anarkali, to the back drop of the superb rendering of Prem Jogan Banke, But Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, where he teases her face with a feather.
5) When Salim says to Anarkali, ( the scene where she tries to flee his arms, on account of the emperor walking in ) ’’ Jo mohabbat dar jaaye, woh mohabbat nahin, aiyaashi hai, gunaah hai’’ ( The love that is fearful, afraid is not love but lust, a sin- I do hope that is a sincere translation)
6) The song ’’Pyar Kiya to Darna Kya’’, where Madhubala as Anarkali , proclaims her love with gusto. The words that were so powerful, the scene - shot in sheesh mahal, was so emphatic, ’’Maut wohi jo duniya dekhe, ghut ghut ke yun marna kyu’’
Awesome stuff this.
7) Where one’s hear goes out to Durga Khote as Maharani Jodhabai, distraught, when she is confronted with the choice between her son, and her husband. The anguish on her face is a scene to be seen .
8) The song ’’ Zindabad Zindabad’’ (in which I read somewhere, that around 100 chorus singers were taken - WOW.
9) The confrontations between Anarkali and Akbar, were classic, specially the last, when after he agrees to her last request, and she forgives him for her death.
10) The Sets, The effort put into this film by K Asif, The immortal Dialogues, The music, The Songs, the renditions, The performances by everyone concerned - Dilip Kumar, Prithviraj Kapoor, Durga Khote, Ajit, Murad, Nigar Sultana and above all - Madhubala. Yes this is one movie that’s worth a dekho even now.
This film is so good, that it does not require artificial coloring. The dialogues are so powerful, they do not need digital enhancing. The songs sound as good without a dose of enhancements.
But this is how u r gonna get to see it on the big screen. So u dont have a choice. Go see it, cause such movies only deserve to be scene in the theatres.
Enjoy!