The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : `Taj Mahal' release next month

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 26, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

`Taj Mahal' release next month

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: Akbar Khan's epic film Taj Mahal - an eternal love story is set for release November 18. Described as the most expensive Indian film, Taj Mahal was completed in 245 days. Its making and release this year coincides with the 350 years of the monument.

Taj Mahal Director Akbar Khan, addressing a press conference here on Monday along with actors Zulfikar Syed, Sonya Jehan and Arbaaz Khan, said the crew spent over six months to get the right sets and infrastructure.

A large part of the film has been shot at the Mehrangarh fort, Jodhpur, Rajasthan. "The fort was our temple and living abode. We had everything there including our workshop, studio and 22 sets. We used the fort extensively to re-create the ambience of that time," Mr. Khan said. The film has been shot at Sheeshmahal, the baradari of Jehangir, at many outdoor locales in Jaipur, and at the Taj Mahal itself. "The Taj Mahal is the most haunting moment of that history. Shooting had to happen there. We shot in three schedules of winter, spring and summer. We captured the Taj in the early morning, at sunset and in moonlight. We needed to get different hues of the Taj," Mr. Khan said.

"I have to weigh my art not on the volume of money that has gone into it, but on the artistes' creativity, the grandeur and the necessary demands of the sets."

He said he had designed the film in such a way that no one will be able to buy it so that its distribution is taken care of by himself. "Yash Chopra and Subhash Ghai are the most successful film-makers and they have distributed films on their own. I am doing the same. I don't think we should give in to distributors' demands because I don't know how much film-making they really know."

Mr. Khan said he had previewed the film to select audiences in New York, London, Kent and Dubai and had only received compliments. "If that is any indication, the film should do well. I think it will appeal to people of all ages," he said of the film's expected performance.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka