Grand success of JA tempts Muzaffar Ali(UJ fame) to make another historical
After the success of Jodhaa Akbar, filmmakers now seem to be looking at historical figures as a safe bet for their film’s theme. After Sushmita Sen’s Rani Laxmibai, it is the turn of filmmaker Muzaffar Ali, who is best remembered for his monumental costume drama Umrao Jaan, which was released in 1981. He is now making a film on the life of the Mughal emperor Jehangir and his wife Noor Jehan.
Says the reclusive filmmaker, “You may wonder why I have not been making films. But I was making Zooni. In fact, I have already shot 30 per cent of the film in Kashmir. The film is about two Kashmiri lovers, Vinod Khanna and Dimple Kapadia and is based on the Kashmiri folklore. Zooni is the female lead. However, the film is stuck now as the hearts of the people of the Valley are currently wounded and they are not ready to open their arms to Zooni.”
However, Ali is already into another project. He says, “I have just completed the eleventh draft of Noor Jehan-Jehangir. I just need three more drafts to finalise on the script.” Ask him why he is taking so many drafts to finalise upon a script when nowadays, scripts can be made in a jiffy and he responds, “Today, the scripts are not very professionally done. I believe all scripts should be written by directors themselves even if they take many years and drafts.”
Ali has already finalised on Anupam Kher to play Akbar, but the key casting is yet to be done. “There are a couple of very powerful possibilities,” suggests the filmmaker.
Noor Jehan-Jehangir will focus on the relationship between the Mughal couple, just like Ashutosh Gowariker’s Jodhaa-Akbar. Talking about Jodhaa-Akbar, Ali admits that the chemistry between Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai was interesting. “But Jodhaa-Akbar had a commercial approach. There are many ways of addressing a Mughal theme. Each filmmaker has his forte,” he adds.
And music has always been Ali’s expertise. He informs,”The main thing is to arrive at the poetry and lyrics. After that there are so many strains of music. At the moment I am studying how the Mughal characters expressed themselves through poetry. They were a very culturally-evolved people. Noor Jehan had an orientation towards Persian poetry and Jehangir was close to Rajput culture. So poetry and music are very fundamental to this film.”
Muzaffar Ali is also making a film on the 13th century Persian poet, Rumi. “That’s an international project. It would probably have a cast of Indian and international actors. I have been working on it for 5-6 years. I’ll be making Noor Jehan-Jehangir and Rumi one after the other,” he says.
About Jehangir and Noor Jehan
Born as Prince Muhammad Salim, Jehangir was the third and eldest surviving son of Mughal Emperor Akbar. Emperor Jehangir strengthened the Mughal Empire in India after his father Akbar. Jehangir was an able administrator who had a penchant for the finer things in life. He was not a brutal warrior but a learned politician.
Emperor Jehangir married many times and all the girls were from very high-class noble families. Begam Noor Jehan was the 20th and favourite wife of Mughal Emperor Jehangir, who was her second husband and the most famous Empress of the Mughal Empire.
She remains historically significant for the sheer amount of imperial authority she wielded - the true “power behind the throne”, as Jehangir was battling serious addictions to alcohol and opium throughout his reign - and is known as one of the most powerful women who ruled India with an iron fist.
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there is sushmita’s Rani Lakshmi Bai,muzaffar ali’s movie and akshay’s tatya tope in line..
Oh, please stop thinking about the film JA, was a blockbuster, because neither Hrithik ( though I do like him, but not for this film ) look like a king nor Ash look like a queen at all. Believe me the maker of the film, the film, only and only because of colour, locations, jewellery and a couple of songs, costume etc, has made this film watchable, otherwise if someone want to see the real historical film in true sense, it doesn’t take us to that grandeur era, and there is no magestic attraction there. I know the fans will say bad about this comment, but I can’t help to write this FACT. If someone wants to watch this sort of romantic historical stories they can see our past film, the biggest and really moving and truely presenting history, is MUGHL-E-AZAM. Wow, that film was one of the greatest film among indian films. What an acting, that you don’t feel like you are watching Dilip, or Madhubala, or Prithvi Raj Kapoor… Please watch this film before you say anything. And saying sorry if it has hurt you.
Saim,
the thing is u cant help ur inability towards understanding great cinema.HR and ash completely looked like their characters and needless to say that the performances were EXTRAORDINARY.
i have seen both the movies and both r equally awesome.
and stop living in the past…
Ur comment just indicates immaturity and foolishness(sorry for thw word) that films cud work coz of jewellery and costumes,locations(sick!)
MANOJ Darling,
You have got all the rights to comment on comments, so, no problem, I don’t mind, in fact I didn’t see the film in your way as you saw it. So, its ok dear. I don’t need to say anything wrong to you to prove that yes, you are wrong and I am right. And the last thing you said, *Stop living in the past*, for that I don’t want to say anything at the moment. But Manoj dear, You commented in a nice way with politeness, this is what I want to see in our youths & ppl. Yes, there should be a sporting & healthy discussion, and we Asians can make proud ourselves. thanks a lot.
Saim,
thanx for not taking it in the wrong sense.