About the Play :

Mughal-e-Azam: The Musical (Hindi, with sub-titles in English) is a stage adaptation of K. Asif’s timeless 1960 classic film "Mughal-e-Azam". Post its premiere in 2016, the musical has delighted audiences with over 275 performances across eight nations (India, Canda, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Singapore, UAE & USA).

With a cast and crew of over 150 people, over 250 lights illuminating the stage and 550 magnificent costumes, this grand production with live signing and a spectacular choreography has received critical acclaim, winning seven Broadway World India Awards in 2017, including the Best Play, Best Director, Best Original Choreography, Best Original Costume Design, Best Ensemble Cast, Best Original Lighting Design and Best Original Set Design.

The art forms in the musical play are Indian classical music and Kathak dance form, both of which are over 2000 year old art forms of India. Mughal-e-Azam is not just the first Broadway Style musical from India but remains the biggest theatrical production India has ever produced. The musical play is produced by Deepesh Salgia under the patronage of Shapoorji Pallonji & Co. Pvt. Ltd. and is directed by Feroz Abbas Khan.  

The Plot :

Emperor Akbar’s (16th Century, India) desire for a son is fulfilled when his wife Jodhabai gives birth to Salim who grows up to be a spoiled and disrespectful teen. Consequently, his father sends him to the battlefield to teach him courage and discipline. Fourteen years later, Salim returns home as a distinguished soldier. Salim, now a young man, falls in love with Anarkali, a lowly courtesan.

Bahar, a dancer who covets the love of the prince, is consumed with jealousy upon discovering the secret love affair of Salim and Anarkali, and exposes it to Akbar. The emperor, full of royal pride, vehemently disapproves of the relationship and imprisons Anarkali, which leads Salim to declare an open rebellion and go to war against his own father. The rebellion, thus, threatens the future of the empire. The drama reaches a new high as it raises the big question “Does a lowly courtesan have the right to make love when her partner happens to be the future emperor of India ?"

This enchanting play is presented through a grand production, spectacular choreography, live signing, opulent costume and magnificent performances. It is performed in Hindi with sub-titles in English.