Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Mughal-e-Azam screenplay marches into Oscars library

AKBAR ASIF MARKS 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF LATE FATHER’S MASTERPIECE WITH UNIQUE MILESTONE

by ASJAD NAZIR


LONDON based businessman Akbar Asif has marked the 60th anniversary of his late father K Asif’s movie masterpiece Mughal-e-Azam by having the screenplay admitted into the official Oscars library in Los Angeles.

In doing so, it has become the first film from the golden age of Bollywood to make it into the world renowned Margaret Herrick Library. In another first, he made three versions of the screenplay, in Hindi, Roman text and an English language translation available at the prestigious film institution.

“I wanted to mark another milestone in the epic journey of my late father’s film Mughal-e-Azam by honouring his legacy and thought a great way was to preserve its incredible writing. I hope future generations can learn and get inspired by words from the greatest writing team ever assembled for a Hindi movie,” said Akbar Asif.

The son of late Mughal-e-Azam director K Asif and the film’s lead star Nigar Sultana rarely gives interviews and has preferred to stay in the giant shadow cast by his father’s incredible epic. Clearly proud of the movie’s achievements, he was full of praise for the writing and gave a heartfelt thanks to the Oscars academy.

“The most important part of a movie is the screenplay and everything else, from the performances to the costumes, sets and action set pieces, grows around that. My father never compromised on anything with Mughal-e-Azam and that included the screenplay. Every aspect of the writing is perfect, and I am thankful to the Margaret Herrick Library for adding the screenplay to the prestigious educational institution. I am sure my father would have been happy.”

Aman, Kamal Amrohi, Wajahat Mirza, Ehsan Rizvi and director K Asif wrote the stunning screenplay for the greatest Bollywood film of all time.

Mughal-e-Azam broke every box office record when it was released and if inflation is taken into account, it is still the highest grossing Bollywood film of all time. The movie’s many milestones include Mughal-e-Azam becoming the first full-length feature film to be colourised for a theatrical re-release in 2004 and being declared the greatest Bollywood film ever made in 2013, to coincide with the  hundredth anniversary of Indian cinema.

Then in 2016, an official live musical based on the film became the biggest theatre production ever staged in India. Akbar Asif received an official message of thanks from the Oscars library, who said: “Thank you so much for your gift of the screenplays, which you kindly donated to the Academy Foundation for placement in the Margaret Herrick Library. Scripts are among the most frequently used items in our library, and your donation makes an especially welcome addition. Thank you for your support and contribution to our collection.”

Akbar Asif is deeply thankful to Shapoorji Mistry and Deepesh Salgia for uplifting the magnificent film and contributing to keeping the legacy alive.

He hopes more is done to preserve the legacy of classic films and praised newly released book Daastan-e-Mughal-e-Azam, which is the most comprehensive one ever written on the historical epic and expertly authored in Hindi by acclaimed writer Rajkumar Keswani.

“A great gift we can leave behind for future generations is great writing. My father and his team gave us the screenplay of Mughal-e-Azam and now 60 years later, Rajkumar Keswani has given us the most meticulously researched book ever dedicated to a film, which took him 15 years to write.”

OSCAR LIBRARY ENDORSEMENTS

Kabir Bedi (Academy award member): ”K Asif’s Mughal-e-Azam is a masterpiece of Indian cinema. As a member of the Academy for over 30 years, I’m delighted that its iconic screenplay is now in our prestigious library. Its Shakespearian plotting, its masterful scenes, its brilliant characters, and its powerful dialogue make it a one of the great scripts of all time.”

Resul Pookutty (Oscar winner and Academy award member):Mughal-e-Azam is the grandest Indian film ever made. It stems from the vision that director K. Asif had of life, history and culture of his motherland. He converted a legend into a glorious chapter of Indian history. He built a Mughal world around an impossible and intense love story. This world is wise, compassionate, yet harsh and full of conflict of values and duties. It’s a film where every element of its making comes together in perfection.”

More For You

Why Trump believes Middle East peace plan will work

Donald Trump with Benjamin Netanyahu

Why Trump believes Middle East peace plan will work

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s Middle East peace plan to move 10 million people out of Israel and resettle them in Germany, France and the UK has caused outrage across the world.

With Hamas leaders standing happily by his side, Trump told reporters at a press conference at the White House: “Everybody I have spoken to loves the idea.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Comment: ‘We should encourage settled migrants to become British'

The government should recognise the substantive and symbolic value of citizenship

Comment: ‘We should encourage settled migrants to become British'

HOW long should you live in Britain before you can become British?

Most people think that five years is about the right length of time to take up citizenship.

Keep ReadingShow less
Eye Spy: Top stories from the world of entertainment

Vicky Kaushal in 'Chhaava'

Chhaava

Eye Spy: Top stories from the world of entertainment

UK SHOW IS A SHOCKER

THE recent Rewind Queens tour was an absolute shocker. The concerts had already been postponed from 2024 due to Alka Yagnik’s severe illness, yet organisers likely knew she wouldn’t be able to perform in the January shows in London and Birmingham – but only announced her absence days before.

Keep ReadingShow less
Column: How much longer will Rachel Reeves stay on as chancellor?

Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves

Column: How much longer will Rachel Reeves stay on as chancellor?

THERE are a few Labour MPs who think “Rachel from accounts will be gone sooner than you think”.

She has certainly outdone Liz Truss in trashing the economy, but the prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, will be loath to sack Rachel Reeves as chancellor because his own future is tied up with hers.

Keep ReadingShow less
Cohesion and anti-racism: Two sides of the same coin

Access to opportunities can affect attitudes to immigration across Britain

Cohesion and anti-racism: Two sides of the same coin

SIX months have passed since the evil murders in Southport triggered six days of senseless violence.

Rioters terrified Muslim worshippers at the town’s mosque, tried to burn asylum seekers alive at a Rotherham hotel, and spread fear among ethnic minorities across the country by posting targets for a pogrom of future violence.

Keep ReadingShow less