K.Asif’s Epic “Mughal-E-Azam”
Jagmohan Singh Barhok
“Akbar: Is se pehle ki Akbari talwar maut ka saya bankar tumhe kha jaye,Anarkali ko hamare hawale kar do.Jung ke nagade ki pehli chot Anarkali ki maut ka elaan kar degi.”
“Salim: Yeh talwaar jisne bade bade soormaon ka ghamand toda hai gawah hai na sirf Anarkali ki varan mohabbat karne wale sabhi insaano ki jinke dil ke dhadkanon ko kisi shehnshah ki ghulami manzoor nahi.”
“Akbar:Hume yakeen hai tehkhane ke kauf andheron ne tumhari aarzuon mein chamak baki nahi rakhi hogi.
Anarkali:Arzooen badti he jayengi
Akbar: Andhere aur bhi bada diye jayenge.”
“Salim: Taqdeeren badal jaati hain,zamana badal jata bhai,mulkon ki tarikh badal jati hai,shehanshaj badal jate hain,magar is badalti duniya mein mohabbat jis insaan ka daman thaam leti hai woh Insaan nahi Badalta.”
“Akbar:Hamara Hindustan koi tumhara dil nahi ki laundi jiski malika bane.
Salim:Mera dil bhi apka koi Hindustan nahin jispar aap huqumat karen.”
“Akbar: Subeh hone se phle tumhe ye phool Salim ko sunghana hoga taaki weh tumhe bhool jaye.Agar tumne aisa na kiya to tumhe Anarkali Salim marne nahin dega aur hum tumhe jeene nahin denge.”
Directed by K.Asif it was a marvel of technical excellence with dazzling sets and costumes.It cost extorbitantly to the exchequer,and was financed by Shapoorji Pallonji Mistry,The film consisted of 12 songs mostly sung by Lata “Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya” was filmed at Mohan Studios on a set built as a replica of the Sheesh Mahal in the Lahore.”Teri Mehfil Mein Kismat Aazmakar Hum Bhe Dekhenge” ( Lata-Shamshaad) was another hit.The authority and grandeaur of K.Asif can be gauged by the fact that he agreed to pay an unbelievably high price of Rs. 25000/- per song to Bade Ghulam Ali Khan for two songs “Prem Jogan Ban Ke” and “Shubh Din Aayo” at a time when Rafi and Lata charged merely Rs.400/- per number.It turned out to be the highest grossing film ever on the box office front.I saw this film on 28 August 1960 at Golcha cinema,Daryaganj,Delhi,then 9.The dialogues of the film were written by a team comprising K.Asif,Kamal Amrohi & Wajahat Mirza, a renowned Indian screenwriter and film director who also successfully penned the dialogues of “Mother India” & later “Ganga Jamuna”.
Odds have had a perpetual association or bonding with this film.firstly,it was to be produced with a different star cast.The cast was later changed .Dilip Kumar & Madhubala were not on talking terms during the entire shooting of the film.Yet,K.Asif completed the film,and so successfully,too.Bade Ghulam Ali Khan was not interested to lend his voice in a film.K.Asif was adamant to make him sing.Khan demanded a too unbelievably exorbitant amount, thinking it would stop Asif from approaching him.K.Asif gladly agreed to part with Rs.25000/- per song to Khan,s surprise.Shapoorji Mistry was a business magnate and had no interest in films,yet he financed “Mughal- E- Azam” because he liked Akbar.
