06 August,2023 10:21 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Dilip Kumar and Madhubala in K. Asif`s magnum opus `Mugh-e-Azam`
Celebrating the 63rd anniversary of the iconic film 'Mughal-E-Azam,' esteemed actress Saira Banu commemorated the enduring cinematic masterpiece on her Instagram yesterday. She paid homage to the epic film that starred her late husband Dilip Kumar, shedding light on his enthralling performance that significantly enhanced the film's radiance. Banu acknowledged the film's timeless appeal and its enduring inspiration to successive generations of filmmakers and actors.
In sharing some of the film's most memorable scenes, Banu articulated, "In the annals of Indian cinema, no film has etched as deep an imprint on the audience's hearts as Mughal-e-Azam. This grand tour de force, helmed by the visionary K Asif, endures as an enduring testament to the magnificence of Indian filmmaking. At the heart of this lies the entrancing performance of Sahib, lending an additional facet of brilliance to the film."
She continued, "Sahib's portrayal of Prince Salim was nothing short of mesmerising. His ability to infuse life into the character, whether in moments of tender romance or fierce rebellion, was a sight to behold. His powerful performances created a symphony of emotions that echo in the hearts of the audience to date."
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K Asif's grandson, Javed Siddiqui also shared some engaging anecdotes with ETimes about the fervor surrounding the film's premiere. This timeless film, interweaving the epic romance of Prince Salim and the court dancer Anarkali, stood out for its riveting screenplay, mesmerizing performances, classic music, regal costumes, and more then - and this stunning black-and-white film continues to resonate across generations even now
Recalling the film's release day, Siddiqui said, "What I saw was that there was no chance to move ahead from the Club Back road...There were rumors that all the stars had come to Maratha Mandir and the film's print was going to arrive on an elephant." He vividly described the electrifying atmosphere of the time and the excitement of the gathered crowd.
In his experience of the past 63 years, Siddiqui has gathered extensive knowledge about 'Mughal-e-Azam' and his grandfather's filmography and craft. He said he was fortunate to have interacted with many individuals who were closely associated with the film, such as dialogue writer Wajahat Mirza. Siddiqui asserted, "I think writers should watch Mughal-e-Azam repeatedly because it is a writers' bible."
Further, he shared an intriguing story that Dilip Kumar had told him about K Asif's storytelling prowess. "When he narrated the script to Prithviraj Kapoor, the actor was very excited to play the titular role and he agreed...When he narrated the story to Kapoor he thought the film was his, and when he narrated to Kumari she felt that it was her film," Siddiqui said.