Mughal e-Azam [1960] : K. Asif

 

K. Asif’s Mughal e-Azam [1960] is one of the wonders in world cinema, as Tajmal is in the world architectural beauty. South Asian cinema cannot get rid of its influence especially Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s period films are greatly influenced by its parts of narrative style especially queen Jodha’s waiting to meet with her son prince Salim after many years later. The same dramatic style and facial expressions I noticed in Bhansali’s Devdas when Devdas meets with his mother.

 

By its art direction especially set design have overly influenced Bhansali’s films especially the shish mahal set of “Payer Kiya to Darna Kiya” with “Deewani Mastani” in Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani [2015] are common in their styles, moods and textures. Even the tradition of Indian melodramatic subplots of two counter female characters confronting with each other in a dance and music sequences are an establishment in Bhansali’s movie such as Anarkali & Bahar’s musical confrontation of “Teri Mehfil Mein” in Mughal e-Azam has been followed by Bhansali’s Paru & Chandramukhi’s Dolare song in Devdas and Kashibai & Mastani’s Pinga in Bajirao Mastani.

 

But Bhansali has given it another kind of rendition compatible with his aesthetic sense which is very praiseworthy and touched my heart at the core. This tradition of extravagance and the sense of super details can create an emotional and euphoric impression in the audience's mind.

 

It's one of the great films which can be broadly studied because of its art direction and screen adaptations. This is the first Hindi movie I wished to see several times to observe its details in making.

 

Mughal e-Azam [1960]

K. Asif

Hindi & Urdu, India