Customer Reviews

Mughal-E-Azam (2 Disc Set)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It's a classic of classics. The stunning backdrops mixed with poetry of dialogue makes this movie a gem of Indian cinema screen. I would recommend it to all nationalities.

This is definately one of the best classic movies in the world. Definately worth a watch. Madhubala is stunning, Dilip Kumar gave a great performance. This is one of the biggest movies in indian cinema- a movie that is used a measure for newer epic indian movies (such as Devdas).

MUGHAL-e-AZAM (1960) is one of the three major classics of the Popular Indian Cinema, along with "Mother India" and "Sholay". The position it occupies in Indian cinema is perhaps comparable to "Gone With The Wind" in America, in that both are lengthy colorful epic costume dramas set in an idealized past, and featuring major stars of the time. The time in question here is that of the great Moghul Emperor AKBAR THE GREAT (on throne 1556 - 1605) who was not only a great conqueror but also an enlightend despot, who promoted the arts and was tolerant of Hinduism, altho he was himself a Moslem.
Akbar is played by the venerable old-time actor Prithviraj Kapoor (father of Raj Kapoor) in his last major role, and the role of his uppity son Salim is essayed by Dilip Kumar, considered by some to be the all time greatest Indian actor, often called "the king of tragedy". This is actually quite an offbeat role for Dilip as he didn't do many constume dramas, which is in itself a point of interest. Dilip/Salim falls in love with the low caste dancing girl ANARKALI and is so determined to marry her against the wishes of his father, Akbar, that he actually stages a military revolt against the throne to make his point. Thus we have a classic clash of wills between a powerful father and an intransigent son over a marvelously beautiful young woman Anarkali, played by the actress MADHUBALa -- often called the most beautiful Indian actress of all time --in one of her best roles.
This is like a Verdi Opera on the grandest of scales, staged by an Indian Cecil B. DeMille, with hordes of real elephants and a cast of thousands, with no expense spared to stage the spectacle. The tale of ANARKALI who will eventually be buried alive behind a brick wall (much Like AIDA in the opera of that name) is part of modern day Indian folklore with the debate as to whether all this is historical fact or fancy, still unresolved. In any case, Anarkali, the legendary Punjabi slave girl, is one of the most beloved of Indian heroines and her reincarnation in this film by the ethereally beautiful Madhubala is one of the great female Indian screen portrayals of all time. The movie took almost twenty years to complete and was originally shot in Black and white but the current colorization is so good that I didn't even realize this was a colorized copy when I saw it. Like GWTW this is the kind of film you can keep coming back to and build an entire evening around. It has it all and is a must-have for any collector of the creme-de-la-creme of Indian cinema.
ALEXFARBA, LOS ANGELES

Coloring the B&W original has been contested with all film classics from the past. I accepted this colored format change when I purchased the film. What I didn't bargain on was the atrocious damage inflicted on the lovely B&W analogue images. The digital rendering on the copies that I received made viewing impossible. Severely distorted to the point of image disintegration is not an overstatement. Buyer beware. Don't waste your money on this failed conversion.

Sort of India's 'Gone With the Wind', this huge 3 hour epic started
slowly for me, feeling awkward, dated, and a little stagy.

But soon I found myself unexpectedly swept up in this story of a
prince defying his father for love of a woman, really enjoying it, and
desperately wanting to see how the story would turn out.

Some amazing set design, and some beautiful songs, along with often
really strong cinematography.

Note: 2 versions of film exist. It was originally released in 1960,
mostly in black and, but with two reels in color. Filmmaker Asif had
wanted to make the whole film in color, but lacked the funds. In 2004
it was re-released in a version that colorized the black and white
reels. While that would normally be a film sacrilege to me, in this
case it was done with loving care, at great expense, and with the
intention of finishing Asif's version the way he wanted. I actually own
both versions and find both quite satisfying.

The Eros release is pretty high quality (As with many Indian films there are lots of weak
knock off releases that look like someone just burned a VHS tape onto
DVD).

Sort of India's 'Gone With the Wind', this huge 3 hour epic started
slowly for me, feeling awkward, dated, and a little stagy.

But soon I found myself unexpectedly swept up in this story of a
prince defying his father for love of a woman, really enjoying it, and
desperately wanting to see how the story would turn out.

Some amazing set design, and some beautiful songs, along with often
really strong cinematography.

Note: 2 versions of film exist. It was originally released in 1960,
mostly in black and, but with two reels in color. Filmmaker Asif had
wanted to make the whole film in color, but lacked the funds. In 2004
it was re-released in a version that colorized the black and white
reels. While that would normally be a film sacrilege to me, in this
case it was done with loving care, at great expense, and with the
intention of finishing Asif's version the way he wanted.

I actually own both versions and find both quite satisfying. The Eros release is
pretty high quality (As with many Indian films there are lots of weak
knock off releases out there that look like someone just burned a VHS tape onto
DVD).

This is a wonderful movie with amazing acting, dancing, and singing. The color version is bright and beautiful. Although the quality is not so good in some parts (randomly pixelated?!?).

HOWEVER, one of my favorite songs from the movie Ae Ishq Yeh Sab Duniyavale is MISSING. I don't know why... perhaps in the color version they skipped that song? Just be prepared for the cut scene.

Otherwise it is a GREAT movie!

'Mughal-E-Azam' is a history-making Indian film about some of the most fascinating figures in Indian history: the Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great, who ruled India in the 16th century, his eldest son Salim, and Salim's lover Anarkali.

The legend of Anarkali is a beloved tale in India and the subject of paintings, literature, and films. Given the disputable history of her existence, there are different versions of her life story. Many believe she was Akbar's concubine and possibly even the mother of his youngest son, Daniyal. As the story goes, Salim, the future Emperor Jahagir, fell in love with Anarkali, the couple had a scandalous affair, and the outraged Akbar buried her alive behind a palace wall.

The purported liaison aside, there's no question that Akbar and Salim had a highly contentious relationship. Salim was born to Akbar after years of childlessness and beseeching prayer, and the boy gave his father nothing but trouble thereafter. Salim struggled with alcoholism his whole life and openly rebelled against Akbar, even once leading a military revolt. But Akbar forgave him and named him his heir.

The actor who played Salim in 'Mughal-E-Azam' is Dilip Kumar--a legend himself--one of the greatest actors of all time. Anarkali was played by Kumar's real-life lover, Madhubala--an Indian actress of world-renown who was sought by Hollywood filmmakers during her heyday. She died of a heart defect at the age of 36--and was already suffering from the condition during the making of 'Mughal-E-Azam'--one of many associated with the film who died prematurely, including the director, K. Asif, who only completed two films before his death. 'Mughal-E-Azam' was 15 years in the making--partly because the first male lead died and was replaced by Kumar and partly because of the unprecedented lavishness of the production. Part of the film was shot in color--new technology at the time. In 2004, it was entirely colorized and became the first colorized feature film in the world to be re-released in theaters. At the time of its original release, the film set a box-office record that wasn't broken until 1975 by the blockbuster Amitabh Bachchan-starrer 'Sholay.'

In this film version of the story of Anarkali, she is not Akbar's concubine, but a humble maidservant in his harem. She and Salim share passionate stolen moments in the palace's pleasure gardens--until Akbar finds out that his son is inappropriately dallying with a woman beneath his rank. The emperor throws her in prison when Salim insists on marrying her. The standoff between the two men escalates into full-scale war. Kumar's smoldering Salim and Madhubala's enamored Anarkali burn up the screen.

The early years of Akbar's reign are the subject of a recent Bollywood film, 'Jodhaa Akbar' (2008), starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai.

- The Bollywood Ticket: The American guide to Indian movies (Subscribe: The Bollywood Ticket)

We really wanted to see this movie but couldn't get the subtitles to work. Also the studio who produced the dvd had an incredible amount of cheesy previews. We tried the subtitles on two different players but no go. Hope we can find another one that works since it looks like a great movie. The worst packaging we've ever seen.

A classic gem of Indian cinema, or any cinema for that matter.
To be called great, a film must have first of all a fitting story. It must apply to all times - time immemorial, current and future eras. And indeed, Mughal-e-Azam fits this difficult requirement. Eternal epic themes and conflicts abound: the power of love; most significantly, the all-encompassing blinding power of love&loving- even against all odds; devotion to duty&responsibilities versus attending/acquiescing to the needs& desires of one's loved ones; the struggle of sons against fathers; the love of mothers for their offspring; the loyalty of a wife towards a husband versus the loyalty of a mother towards her child/children; jealousy and its twin, hatred; loyalty to friends, even to the death; a philosopher, truth-sayer, and upholder of ethics (in this case, the sculptor).
The acting is very believable. The settings and sets are wonderful. Much of the script is poetic and lovely, especially the expressions of love.
Don't miss it!
and the transfer and colorization is quite good also.