MUGHAL-E-AZAM

Year: 2005
USA & UK: UTV Communications U.K.
Cast: Dilip Kumar, Madhubala, Prithviraj Kapoor, Durga Khote, Ajit
Director: K Asif
Country: India
Language: Hindi (English subtitles)
UK: 180 mins
UK Certificate: PG contains mild violence
USA Release Date: 1 April 2005 (Limited Release)
UK Release Date: 1 April 2005


Synopsis

The land of the sacred Ganga and the towering Himalayas gave the world some such personalities whose ideals were as pure as the water of the Ganga and whose aims were as lofty as the Himalayas. Four hundred and sixty two years ago was born in this land of Hindustan (India) a man named Jalaluddin Mohammed Akbar. History has recorded that this Mughal Emperor sprinkled the dust of the motherland with his blood.
MUGHAL-E-AZAM is a page from the golden history of the land of Jalaluddin Mohammed Akbar.

The Great Akbar has everything an emperor can ask for: immense wealth, vast empire, trusted lieutenants. However, he only wants the one thing a man can ask for: a child, a son, an heir. Therefore, he prays to the gods, embarking on a grand journey to this end. His wish is fulfilled and his wife, Rani Jodhabai, gives birth to a boy.

Akbar knows no joy and lavishes all his affection on him. However, as the boy grows, Akbar sees that his affection is perhaps spoiling him. Thus, he sends him away: to make him a warrior, to make him a 'man'. The boy soon grows into a strapping man, Prince Salim. Jodhabai unable to be away from her progeny wishes her son to return. And Salim does so. Much to everyone's joy.

And this is where the real story begins.

At the unveiling of a statue to welcome his return, Salim is taken by its sheer beauty. And why not? For it proves to be a real person, the lovely courtesan, Anarkali. Following a charming exchange of romantic letters, cumulating in, yes, the two professing their love for each other. And, as you can guess, this is where the problem begins. A prince and a courtesan? Much like Beauty and the Beast.

Emperor Akbar can't stand by and see "the future of the Mughal empire being wasted at the hand of a courtesan". He wishes Anarkali to banish herself from Salim's life. When Salim can't take this, he literally goes to war with his own father.

Does love bow to honor? Does love surrender to kinghood? Or does love conquer all?

We give you MUGHAL-E-AZAM. Not just Indian cinema's biggest film but its greatest love story.