Feroz Abbas Khan talks with Subhash K Jha about adapting K Asif’s Mughal-e-Azam for the stage and shares his thoughts 65 Years the timeless classic.
What inspired you to adapt Mughal-e-Azam to the stage?
A musical needs a grand setting, a compelling conflict with very high stakes, outstanding music , memorable characters and a script that pulsates every moment .. Mughal-e-Azam had all of this and more .
How much did you modify the original film for the stage adaptation?
It is the same script with some deletions and additions . The character of Santarash ( the sculptor) in the film is the narrator of the play .The musical is a tribute to the genius of K. Asif and I am only carrying forward his legacy in a different medium.
Did you miss having Dilip Kumar and Madhubala in your stage musical?
Dilip Kumar and Madhubala are stars born in heaven , they visit planet earth only once and they graced the movie .
Lataji’s songs from the play a big part in your play?
The film is basically the story of Anarkali and Lata Ji is the voice of her anguish , pain, joy , ecstasy, and defiance. She is the soul and the spirit of the film, and all of her is in the show .In fact , before the first show , I went to meet her to seek her blessings and she specially recorded a message , which always plays before the show. Lataji is a very integral if my Mughal-e-Azam. She was very fond of me.I remember when Lataji was in London she had come all the way to Leicester to see our performance of ‘Tumhari Amrita’.
Lataji was very kicked about your adaptation of Mughal-e-Azam?
She was very excited about Mughal-e-Azam going on stage. Sadly, she is not here to see what we’ve done. But I hope she is smiling from above, as are K Asif, Shakeel Badayuni, Naushad, Dilip Kumar Saab and Madhubala.
How do you explain the film’s immortality?
Mughal E Azam’s enduring beauty, relevance, and audacity will remain a mystery . They happen only once , spread over several lifetimes. Since you have called it an immortal piece , only gods can decipher its flaws… mortals cannot .
