Mughal-e-Azam

Madhubala poster photos for sale: Mughal-e-Azam (1960).

Featured here is an original Bollywood lobby card poster of the 2004 color re-release of the epic 1960 Hindi black and white film that is unanimously considered as one of the greatest Indian films ever made.

Directed by K. Asif and produced by Shapoorji Pallonji under the Sterling Investment Corporation banner, Mughal-e-Azam (1960) starred Prithviraj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, Madhubala and Durga Khote in key roles. Nigar Sultana, Ajit, Johnny Walker, Jalal Agha and Baby Tabassum played supporting roles in the epic.

Mughal-e-Azam is the first full length black and white feature film in the history of Indian cinema to be colorized for a theatrical re-release. The film’s color version was released theatrically on 12 November 2004, with a digital reworked soundtrack.

Printed and circulated in 2004, this glossy Mughal-e-Azam lobby card poster was originally designed for publicity of the color re-release of the film but never ended up being used.

This glossy Bollywood lobby card features a stunning photograph of Bollywood’s eternal beauty queen, Madhubala. A beautiful gold motif border is seen adorning the sides of this Madhubala poster photo.

The film tells the story of Mughal Prince “Salim” (played by Dilip Kumar) who falls in love with court dancer “Anarkali” (played by Madhubala) and wants to make her his queen. The relationship is disapproved by his father, King “Akbar” (played by Prithviraj Kapoor), leading to a war between father and son.

Mughal-e-Azam has the distinction of being the most expensive Hindi film ever made in Indian cinema. It is consistently ranked in polls as the greatest Hindi film ever made in Indian cinematic history. The film held the coveted title of ‘highest grossing Hindi film of all time’ for a full 15 years after its first black and white release in 1960, making this Madhubala poster photo, highly collectible!

A milestone in Indian cinema, the soundtrack album of the film is credited as one of the best in the history Bollywood and continues to be played till today. The film ranks on the lists of top Indian films, including the 2002 British Film Institute poll of “Top 10 Indian Films.”  The soundtrack album of the film was composed by legendary music director Naushad and lyrics were written by Shakeel Badayuni. “Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya” sung by Lata Mangeshkar has become an eternal classic, which continues to be played till today.

At a vintage Bollywood movie memorabilia auction in September 2014, original first release two-sheet and three-sheet posters of Mughal-e-Azam were sold for $8,900.91 to the biggest superstar of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan. The auction established a world record of most expensive vintage Bollywood poster sold, which remains unbroken till today.