03-22-2013, 12:00 PM
Mughal-E-Azam (The Greatest of the Mughals) by K Asif (1960)
Emperor Akbar (played by Captain Kangeroo) is delighted when the Empress at last bears him a son (Salim). But when Salim shows an undisciplined and rebellious side, Akbar becomes concerned. Matters come to a head when the grown-up Salim (played by George Hamilton) falls in love with a court dancer girl and announces his intention to marry her.
Mughal-E-Azam is the Gone with the Wind of India. The production was long and troubled, with financial difficulties and conflicts among key players. After being stalled for several years, K. Asif resumed filming, but had to reshoot much of it with new cast members.
K. Asif was a perfectionist. One scene cost more to shoot than entire movies of the time. Some scenes employed 14 cameras. The huge Sheesh Mahal set required the headlights of 500 trucks. The battle sequence between Akbar and Salim featured 2,000 camels, 400 horses and 8,000 troops. And one elephant. But what an elephant. The scene of Captain Kangeroo riding atop this giant elephant, clad in gold plates and battle emblems, directing his soldiers onward through an onslaught of cannon fire, explosions all about, is absolutely chilling.
Late in the filming, K. Asif experimented with color and became convinced he should reshoot everything that way -- but the financiers put their foot down. But some forty-odd years later his dream was achieved, as the film was digitally colorized.
Mughal-E-Azam is regarded as having one of the best soundtracks in Bollywood history. Adjusting for inflation, it is the highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time -- which is a good thing, because -- again adjusting for inflation -- it was the most expensive to produce. The dances and singing are old-style, with only the women's faces and hands exposed for expression. Admittedly I'm a sucker for old-style and enjoyed these immensely. To my surprise, the Bollywood numbers are integral to the plot, each causing a major story turn.
I watched the 2005 colorized version. This colorization, undertaken with K. Asif's blessing, is a remarkable achievement, taking several years and costing more than the original making of the film. I was blown away by the result. Talk about tackling a difficult subject to colorize. The sumptuous palace interiors are absolutely gorgeous. I would never have expected to give my blessing to such an endeavor, but I do.
A word about Captain Kangeroo. At first I thought it a major mistake casting him as Emperor Akbar, but he redeemed himself handily, showing a dark and brutal side that I had little suspected from my morning exposures to him as a child.
There is now talk of a 3D remake.
Emperor Akbar (played by Captain Kangeroo) is delighted when the Empress at last bears him a son (Salim). But when Salim shows an undisciplined and rebellious side, Akbar becomes concerned. Matters come to a head when the grown-up Salim (played by George Hamilton) falls in love with a court dancer girl and announces his intention to marry her.
Mughal-E-Azam is the Gone with the Wind of India. The production was long and troubled, with financial difficulties and conflicts among key players. After being stalled for several years, K. Asif resumed filming, but had to reshoot much of it with new cast members.
K. Asif was a perfectionist. One scene cost more to shoot than entire movies of the time. Some scenes employed 14 cameras. The huge Sheesh Mahal set required the headlights of 500 trucks. The battle sequence between Akbar and Salim featured 2,000 camels, 400 horses and 8,000 troops. And one elephant. But what an elephant. The scene of Captain Kangeroo riding atop this giant elephant, clad in gold plates and battle emblems, directing his soldiers onward through an onslaught of cannon fire, explosions all about, is absolutely chilling.
Late in the filming, K. Asif experimented with color and became convinced he should reshoot everything that way -- but the financiers put their foot down. But some forty-odd years later his dream was achieved, as the film was digitally colorized.
Mughal-E-Azam is regarded as having one of the best soundtracks in Bollywood history. Adjusting for inflation, it is the highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time -- which is a good thing, because -- again adjusting for inflation -- it was the most expensive to produce. The dances and singing are old-style, with only the women's faces and hands exposed for expression. Admittedly I'm a sucker for old-style and enjoyed these immensely. To my surprise, the Bollywood numbers are integral to the plot, each causing a major story turn.
I watched the 2005 colorized version. This colorization, undertaken with K. Asif's blessing, is a remarkable achievement, taking several years and costing more than the original making of the film. I was blown away by the result. Talk about tackling a difficult subject to colorize. The sumptuous palace interiors are absolutely gorgeous. I would never have expected to give my blessing to such an endeavor, but I do.
A word about Captain Kangeroo. At first I thought it a major mistake casting him as Emperor Akbar, but he redeemed himself handily, showing a dark and brutal side that I had little suspected from my morning exposures to him as a child.
There is now talk of a 3D remake.
I'm nobody's pony.
