Big budgeted epic films worth their weight in salt

[seema]

Veer is one big epic movie that claims to be the most expensive one ever to be made in Bollywood cinema. However, with the not-so-rave reviews, and seemingly little success at the box office, one wonders, is it worth making huge budget films and taking risks that are proportionate to the budgets?

Is it practical to spend huge amounts of money on costumes, sets et al? While some of these magnum opuses have sunk without a trace, others seem to have done impressively and got the cash registers ringing. We list some epic movies of Indian cinema...

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[seema]

Jodha Akbar
Jodhaa Akbar (2008) was a historical love story of Mughal emperor, Akbar played by Hrithik Roshan who married Rajput princess, Jodha played by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. An epic drama, Jodhaa Akbar was a huge hit. With its expensive and lavish sets, great music, the movie did show a glimpse of the past, which the new generation found exciting. The movie did land up in controversy before its release. A few said that historical facts shown in the movie were incorrect. However, the controversy did help the movie. And it went on to win many awards.

[seema]

Mughal-e-azam
This K. Asif classic starring Dilip Kumar (Prince Salim) and Madhubala (Anarkali) was a love story. When Salim’s father Emperor Akbar (Prithviraj Kapoor) finds out that his son loves a commoner Anarkali, he is furious. Salim however leads an army against his father. He is defeated in battle and brought before Akbar who sentences him to death. Anarkali agrees to sacrifice her life for Salim to be spared and after spending the night with him and she is then taken to be condemned to be walled up alive.

This movie went to make a golden jubilee and was a huge hit...This timeless saga had striking dramatic scenes with great Urdu dialogues. The director spent a large amount of money on the project in his desire to get the best composer on board. The rumors of the love story of Dilip Kumar and Madhubala increased curiosity. The movie was re-released in color, and was a success.

[seema]

Taj Mahal
Again a love story, Taj Mahal (1963) was the story of Jehangir (Pradeep Kumar) and his love Mumtaz Mahal (Bina Rai). This black and white film, directed by M Sadiq, was a huge success at the box-office. The film was further aided by a great musical score such as Jo Vada Kiya Woh Nibhana Padega, Jo Baat Tujhme Hai Teri Tasveer Main Nahin and Jurm-e-Ulfat pe Log Humein Saza Dete Hain.

The new ‘Taj Mahal’ movie that was released in 2005 was a dud. It didn’t live up to the original Taj Mahal. The new movie which was reportedly made on a mutli-crore budget and tried hard to authentically recreate the Mughal era through sets, royal costumes and jewellery, was disappointing. Starring actors like Zulfi Sayed, Sonya Jehan, Arbaaz Khan, Pooja Batra and Kabir Bedi, the new Taj Mahal sunk badly at the BO.

[seema]

Asoka
This 2001 SRK-starrer was also a dud. The story of a Prince Ashoke (Shahrukh Khan), heir to the Magadha Kingdom, the film explores the reason behind the famous Kalinga War. A poorly made film that had a good cast, director and storyline lacked shimmer and grandeur, and didn’t prove to be extra-ordinary!