Anarkali

Anarkali (Urdu: انارکلی‎ (Shahmukhi); Anārkalī ) (pomegranate blossom) born Nadira Begum or Sharf-un-Nissa, was a legendary slave girl. It is depicted in the Bollywood movie Mughal-e-Azam that during the Mughal period, she was supposedly ordered to be buried alive between two walls by Mughal emperor Akbar for having an illicit relationship with the Crown-Prince Salim, later to become Emperor Jahangir. Due to the lack of evidence and sources, the story of Anarkali is widely accepted to be false for the evidence of her grave and body. The story of Anarkali is not mentioned in the Akbarnama nor in Tuzuk-e-Jahangiri. It was first mentioned by an English tourist and trader William Finch in his journal, who visited India on 24 August 1608. The story was originally written by Indian writer Abdul Halim Sharar and on the first page of that book he had clearly mentioned it to be a work of fiction. Nevertheless, her story has been adapted into literature, art and cinema.

There are conflicts among the scholars on the authenticity of Anarkali's incident. There are many opposing and confusing views such as mentioned below.

Anarkali (1955 film)

Anarkali (Tamil: அனார்களி) is a Telugu film starring A. Nageswara Rao and Anjali Devi. The film was released in the year 1955.

Anaarkali was produced in Telugu and dubbed in Tamil with the same title simultaneously.

Production

Anarkali has been the subject of a number of Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani books, plays and films. The lines in Persian inscribed on a sarcophagus housed, rather appositely, in the offices of the Records Department of the Government of Punjab in the bustling Mall Road of Lahore hide within their poetic flourish an ancient tale of love and loss. The musty interiors of the office building do not give away the secret that successive centuries have attempted to camouflage that the building was once the mausoleum that housed the tomb of Anarkali. The century old Bazaar that abuts the Mall Road is called Anarkali Bazaar. Dara Shikoh, in his Sakinat al-Auliya, mentions the tomb.

This love story has always caught the eye of writers, poets, dramatists and film makers, for with its historical backdrop and having a liberal share of the essential elements -palace intrigue, love, loyalty and loss- of a magnificent entertainer, the theme offered infinite exciting possibilities. The stage version by Syed Imtiaz Ali Taj in 1922 which have inspired the subsequent celluloid adaptations. The silent movie Loves of a Mughul Prince in 1928 by The Imperial Film Company had Sulochana as Anarkali, directed by Charu Roy and Prafulla Roy.

Anarkali (1953 film)

Anarkali is a 1953 Hindi historical drama film directed by Nandlal Jaswantlal and based on the historical legend of the Mughal emperor Jahangir. As per the legend Jahangir revolted against his father Akbar over his love for a common girl called Anarkali.

It was the top grossing Hindi film in the year of its release, and one of the biggest Hindi film hits in its decade. Another film on the same theme was Mughal-e-Azam, made in 1960, which was again a major commercial and critical hit.

Plot

Shahenshah Jalaudin Akbar is the grandson of Babur, and the son of Humayun. He is known to have ruled over Hindustan with a humane and just heart. He knew in order to garner the support of the Hindus, he must treat them sensitively, allow them to worship freely, and in order to maintain this peace, he married Jodabai, a Hindu Rajput, the sister of Raja Man Singh. Through this marriage they became the proud parents of Shehzada Salim. Akbar first met Nadira in the Anar garden, while she was awaiting the arrival of her lover. So pleased he was with her that he wanted to reward her, but she only asked for an Anar, so he ended up bestowing her with the name of 'Anarkali'. He met her the second time when she was able to revive Salim, who was seriously wounded in a war in Kabul. Once again Akbar was pleased with her, wanted to reward her, but again she turned him down. The third time she ended up annoying Akbar when she sang and danced in his court under the influence of alcohol, and he has her imprisoned. The very foundations of Akbar's palace will be shaken to the roots, and his manner of meting out justice will be put to the extreme test, when he finds out that Salim is in love with Anarkali and wants to marry her. While Akbar may have been successful to end the strife between Hindus and Muslims, but will be able to break down the wall between the rich and the poor?