Taj Mahal (1963 film)
Taj Mahal is a 1963 Indian film based on the historical legend of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal in fond remembrance and as a tomb for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.
The 1963 Taj Mahal, directed by S. J. Kapoor and starring Madhubala’s ethereal double‑take in the role of Mumtaz, is a relic of Bollywood’s golden age that still flickers in hidden DVD bins and dusty arthouse screenings in Delhi’s National Film Archive. It isn’t the marble mausoleum, but the melodramatic, Technicolor tableau that fuels a certain nostalgic nostalgia for anyone who thinks Indian cinema is all song‑and‑dance; here, grandiose set pieces of Agra’s riverfront are shot with a reverence that borders on hagiography, and the love‑duet “Mere Jaisa Koi” (no, not that one) is a pre‑Madhubala smash that still makes the occasional curator’s eye twitch. Skip the relentless pan‑to‑panorama of the Taj that lasts longer than the plot and focus on the courtroom‑style monologue where Shah Jahan, played by Pradeep Kumar, declares his devotion – it’s the only moment the film transcends its lacquered excess. The best way to view it is on a rain‑soaked Tuesday night at the National Museum’s occasional classic cinema night; bring a light jacket, a bottle of chai, and patience for the inevitable intermission when the projector sputters. If you crave authentic 60s grandeur, watch it; if you expect historical accuracy, keep your expectations as low as the film’s budget.
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