Capturing the grandeur of the Mughal era

Ace designer Manish Malhotra on creating 600 costumes for Mughal-e-Azam: The Musical

Over 60 years since its release, Mughal-e-Azam (1960) continues to captivate the audience. K Asif’s period drama, starring the late Dilip Kumar and Madhubala, was brought to the stage as a musical by Feroz Abbas Khan in 2016, winning much acclaim. Now, Khan is retelling the tragic love story of Prince Salim and courtesan Anarkali with Mughal-e-Azam: The Musical, at Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir in Bandra. Fashion designer Manish Malhotra has been roped in to bring alive the director’s grand vision.

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For the musical that features Nissar Khan, Priyanka Barve and Neha Sargam, Malhotra has designed over 600 costumes, including a reinterpretation of the iconic ensemble sported by the late Madhubala in Pyaar kiya toh darna kya. “Mughal-e-Azam is one of my favourite films. It was an opportunity to pay homage to one of Indian cinema’s biggest classics,” says Malhotra, who won the Best Original Costume Design trophy at the Broadway World India Awards for the musical in 2017.

The designer stayed true to the milieu, referencing the styles and elements that were prevalent in the era. However, he traded the heavy fabrics popular at the time for lighter weaves. “My inspiration was the Mughal era. I wanted to make sure the fabric was light and easy to change out of. I enjoyed the process of showcasing the era’s grandeur and glory,” he adds.

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