Mughal-e-Azam: An Epic of Eternal Love

Contents: Acknowledgements. 1. An overview of historical films. 2. The legendary love story. 3. Dream merchants. 4. Making of the epic. 5. Prithviraj Kapoor: emperor Akbar. 6. Dilip Kumar: Prince Salim. 7. Madhubala: Anarkali. 8. Significant support. 9. A high note. 10. Unforgettable moments. 11. D-day. 12. ‘Alvida’ Asif. 13. The resurrection. 14. The re-release. 15. Songs of Mughal-e-Azam. 16. Cast and credits. Bibliography. Photo credits.

“This book is a tribute to the imagination, hard work and determination that went into the making of the classic film Mughal-e-Azam -- a legendary masterpiece, an epic love story, and a cinematic gem. It charts the legendary journey of this historic film right from its reception to its re-release in the coloured version.

Be it the breathtaking battle scenes, the sumptuous splendour of the Mughal Court, the ostentatious settings, the seductive song and dance sequences, and the eternal romance -- the magic of Mughal-e-Azam just doesn’t seem to ebb. The book captures the grandeur of this extraordinary film and also gives us an overview of the evolution of Hindi cinema with special mention of historical films made in India till date. It relives the making of some of the finest sequences in the film, the mellifluous music, changes in casting, friction between the director and the producer, the riveting drama, the superb dialogues and the fascinating profiles of the great artists behind the epic. The author provides a glimpse into that era which was witness to the making of a masterpiece. The anecdotes and minutiae have been assembled with unsparing research to make the book informative and elegantly readable. Embellished with rare photographs and posters, this phenomenal compilation is truly a collector’s item.” (jacket)