The greatest Indian film in history has magnificently reopened to packed houses. As the classic continues to bask in a new generation of critical acclaim, here's a test of your knowledge about the epic.
1. Before Madhubala, who was originally supposed to play Anarkali? a. Nutan b. Nargis c. Vyjayantimala Bali
Wrong! Try again..
Wrong! The correct answer is B. Did you know?Mughal-e-Azam was originally announced in 1944 by Mumbai's Movietone studio, the main cast was Chandermohan, Nargis and Sapru.
Chandermohan died of a heart attack and some of the film's cast including the financiers migrated to Pakistan due to the Partition. The film was revived in 1951 with the new cast.
Correct! Did you know?Mughal-e-Azam was originally announced in 1944 by Mumbai's Movietone studio, the main cast was Chandermohan, Nargis and Sapru.
Chandermohan died of a heart attack and some of the film's cast including the financiers migrated to Pakistan due to the Partition. The film was revived in 1951 with the new cast.
2. To whom did Naushad lose the Best Music Director Filmfare Award in 1961? a. Shankar-Jaikishen b. Ali Akbar Khan c. Ravi
Wrong! Try again..
Wrong! The correct answer is A. Did you know? Naushad lost the Filmfare Award to Shankar-Jaikishen for their film Dil Apni Aur Preet Parayi.
Naushad's music in the epic is particularly remembered for the two songs sung by Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Subh din aayo and Prem jogan ke sundari pio chali. For the song Ae mohabbat zindabad, Naushad used a 100-singer chorus!
Correct! Did you know? Naushad lost the Filmfare Award to Shankar-Jaikishen for their film Dil Apni Aur Preet Parayi.
Naushad's music in the epic is particularly remembered for the two songs sung by Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Subh din aayo and Prem jogan ke sundari pio chali. For the song Ae mohabbat zindabad, Naushad used a 100-singer chorus!
3. Who was the cinematographer for the epic? a. Subrata Mitra b. Dharam Chopra c. R D Mathur
Wrong! Try again..
Wrong! The correct answer is C. Did you know? To picturise the classic song Pyar kiya to darna kya, the crew used every light available to them, including that from 500 trucks! As the Sheesh Mahal set was huge -- 35 ft high, 80 ft wide and 150 ft long -- there was a tremendous glare due to the thousands of mirrors, which was a tough challenge. Mathur had to use over 100 reflectors to deflect the lights.
Most of the film was shot at night so that lights could be borrowed from other studios at night and returned in the morning. Mathur bagged the Filmfare Best Cinematographer Award for his effort.
Correct! Did you know? To picturise the classic song Pyar kiya to darna kya, the crew used every light available to them, including that from 500 trucks! As the Sheesh Mahal set was huge -- 35 ft high, 80 ft wide and 150 ft long -- there was a tremendous glare due to the thousands of mirrors, which was a tough challenge. Mathur had to use over 100 reflectors to deflect the lights.
Most of the film was shot at night so that lights could be borrowed from other studios at night and returned in the morning. Mathur bagged the Filmfare Best Cinematographer Award for his effort.
4. What did the epic film finally cost? a. Rs 7 million b. Rs 15 million c. Rs 10 million
Wrong! Try again..
Wrong! The correct answer is B. Did you know? The shooting schedule for the film alone spanned over 500 working days. Craftsmen from across India worked on the production. Tailors from Delhi stitched the costumes, Hyderabadi goldsmiths fashioned the jewellery, craftsmen from Kolhapur made the crowns and ironmongers from Rajasthan fabricated the weapons and armours.
Artisans from Surat-Khambayat created the exquisite zardozi embroidery on the costumes and shoemakers from Agra crafted the ornate footwear.
Correct! Did you know? The shooting schedule for the film alone spanned over 500 working days. Craftsmen from across India worked on the production. Tailors from Delhi stitched the costumes, Hyderabadi goldsmiths fashioned the jewellery, craftsmen from Kolhapur made the crowns and ironmongers from Rajasthan fabricated the weapons and armours.
Artisans from Surat-Khambayat created the exquisite zardozi embroidery on the costumes and shoemakers from Agra crafted the ornate footwear.
5. Who was the lyricist for the film? a. Shahir Ludhianvi b. Kaifi Azmi c. Shakeel Badayuni
Wrong! Try again..
Wrong! The correct answer is C. Did you know? The new Mughal-e-Azam, besides being colourised, enjoys an optimised, digital soundtrack. The original music director, Naushad, worked with Uttam Singh to recreate the music.
Though the notes were rerecorded, the voices of the original singers have been used. Around Rs 6.5 million has been spent on modernising the sound track.
Correct! Did you know? The new Mughal-e-Azam, besides being colourised, enjoys an optimised, digital soundtrack. The original music director, Naushad, worked with Uttam Singh to recreate the music.
Though the notes were rerecorded, the voices of the original singers have been used. Around Rs 6.5 million has been spent on modernising the sound track.
6. Who, along with Lata Mangeshkar, sang Teri mehfil mein quismat aazmakar? a. Noor Jahan b. Suraiyya c. Shamshad Begum
Wrong! Try again..
Wrong! The correct answer is C. Did you know? A Florida based company, Westlake Inc, was given the colourisation job. A team of 50 Indian technicians who worked on the colouring procedure spent Rs 30 million.
It took 18 months to develop the software to digitise K Asif's Mughal-e-Azam by The Indian Academy of Arts and Animation, and 10 more months to colour all the negatives.
Correct! Did you know? A Florida based company, Westlake Inc, was given the colourisation job. A team of 50 Indian technicians who worked on the colouring procedure spent Rs 30 million.
It took 18 months to develop the software to digitise K Asif's Mughal-e-Azam by The Indian Academy of Arts and Animation, and 10 more months to colour all the negatives.
7. Who played Empress Jodha Bai in Mughal-e-Azam? a. Sulochana b. Nirupa Roy c. Durga Khote
Wrong! Try again..
Wrong! The correct answer is C. Did you know? For realism, K Asif used real chains on Madhubala. But as Madhubala was very ill due to a severe heart ailment, the heavy chains would give bruise her skin deeply, and make it blue.
Despite her health, Madhubala was keen on completing her shoot, as she knew it was the role of a lifetime.
Even after all the hardship, it is a travesty that the actress didn't get the Filmfare Award, which she richly deserved.
Correct! Did you know? For realism, K Asif used real chains on Madhubala. But as Madhubala was very ill due to a severe heart ailment, the heavy chains would give bruise her skin deeply, and make it blue.
Despite her health, Madhubala was keen on completing her shoot, as she knew it was the role of a lifetime.
Even after all the hardship, it is a travesty that the actress didn't get the Filmfare Award, which she richly deserved.
8. Who played the young Prince Salim? a. Jalal Agha b. Zakir Hussain c. Dharmendra
Wrong! Try again..
Wrong! The correct answer is A. Did you know? Son of tabla maestro Ustad Allah Rakha, Zakir Hussain was considered for the role of the young Salim, one that ultimately went to Jalal Agha.
After the makeup was over, a fully costumed Prithviraj Kapoor would look at himself in a full-length mirror before every shot, in order to get under the skin of his character.
Correct! Did you know? Son of tabla maestro Ustad Allah Rakha, Zakir Hussain was considered for the role of the young Salim, one that ultimately went to Jalal Agha.
After the makeup was over, a fully costumed Prithviraj Kapoor would look at himself in a full-length mirror before every shot, in order to get under the skin of his character.
9. Who was the film's original financer who departed for Pakistan after the Partition? a. Mehboob Khan b. Shiraz Ali c. PS Veerappa
Wrong! Try again..
Wrong! The correct answer is B. Did you know? The massive film included four accomplished writers who crafted delicately nuanced dialogues -- Aman, Kamal Amrohi, Ehsan Rizvi, and Wajahat Mirza.
Correct! Did you know? The massive film included four accomplished writers who crafted delicately nuanced dialogues -- Aman, Kamal Amrohi, Ehsan Rizvi, and Wajahat Mirza.
10. Which was the only colour song in the original film? a. Ae mohabbat zindabad b. Mohabbat ki jhoothi kahani pe roye c. Pyar kiya to darna kya
Wrong! Try again..
Wrong! The correct answer is C. Did you know? The conveniences of digital editing were obviously unavailable in 1960. Neither existed cameras that could take close-ups of emperors and princes atop their elephants.
In Mughal-e-Azam's war scenes, the close-ups of Dilip Kumar and Prithviraj Kapoor in the war scenes were shot in a studio, while the long shots were taken in a field.
Correct! Did you know? The conveniences of digital editing were obviously unavailable in 1960. Neither existed cameras that could take close-ups of emperors and princes atop their elephants.
In Mughal-e-Azam's war scenes, the close-ups of Dilip Kumar and Prithviraj Kapoor in the war scenes were shot in a studio, while the long shots were taken in a field.
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