Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story

Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story!
Film poster
Directed byAkbar Khan
Written byMohafiz Hyder
Akbar Khan
Fatima Meer
Rajeev Mirza
Produced byAkbar Khan
StarringKabir Bedi
Sonya Jehan
Manisha Koirala
Arbaaz Khan
CinematographyR. M. Rao
Music byNaushad Ali
Distributed byMashreq Communications Ltd.
Release date
  • 18 November 2005 (2005-11-18)
Running time
166 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindustani
Budget₹500 million[1][2]
Box office₹311 million[3]

Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story is a 2005 Indian historical drama film directed by Akbar Khan. The film starred Kabir Bedi, Sonya Jehan, Manisha Koirala, Arbaaz Khan, Vaquar Shaikh, Rahil Azam and Pooja Batra in the title roles. The film was released on 18 November in India.[4]

The soundtrack was composed by film composer Naushad Ali, his last work before his death on 5 May 2006.

It was considered the most expensive Indian film at the time, surpassing the budget of Devdas (2002) and costing more than ₹500 million[1][5] ($11.34 million).[6] The film was released in Pakistan by Eveready Pictures and did record business at the box office.[7] However, the film was a financial failure in India, where it grossed only ₹210 million, bringing its worldwide gross to ₹311 million[3] ($7.1 million).[6][8]

Cast

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Music

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Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story
Soundtrack album by
Released16 March 2005
GenreFeature film soundtrack
LabelTimes Music
Mashreq Music
ProducerAkbar Khan
Naushad Ali chronology
Guddu
(1995)
Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story
(2005)
Soundtrack
Review scores
SourceRating
Smashhitsnot rated

Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story was the last work of renowned musician Naushad Ali, who died on 5 May 2006. The audio was formally released at a gala event in Mumbai at ITC Grand Central Sheraton & Towers, Parel on 16 March 2005 by Times Music in tandem with the home label Mashreq Music. The soundtrack album consists 8 songs, featuring vocals by Hariharan, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Preeti Uttam and Ajoy Chakraborty, and an instrumental theme. A special edition Double CD, consisting of the soundtrack album and 9 instrumental pieces used as the background score, was also released. This was the first time in India that the background score of a film was released simultaneously with the music release. The lyrics were penned by Naqsh Lyallpuri and Syed Gulrez Rashid.

Disc 1
  1. Apni Zulfein Mere – Hariharan
  2. Dilruba Dilruba – Hariharan, Preeti Uttam
  3. Ishq Ki Daastaan – Kavita Krishnamurthy, Preeti Uttam
  4. Mumtaz Tujhe Dekha – Hariharan, Preeti Uttam
  5. Taj Mahal – Hariharan, Preeti Uttam
  6. Tareefe Meena Bazaar – Instrumental
  7. Yeh Kaun Mujhe Yaad Aaya – Ajoy Chakraborty
  8. Taj Mahal (Crescendo) – Hariharan, Preeti Uttam
Disc 2
  1. Mumtaz's Theme (Part 1) – Instrumental
  2. Jehanara's Karavan – Instrumental
  3. Khushamdid – Instrumental
  4. The Birth & The Death – Instrumental
  5. Meena Bazaar – Instrumental
  6. The Siege – Instrumental
  7. Shah Jehan's Theme – Instrumental
  8. Mughal Intrigue – Instrumental
  9. Mumtaz's Theme (Part 2) – Instrumental

Awards and nominations

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Date of ceremony Award Category Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Result Ref.
National Film Awards 14 September 2007 Best Art Direction C. B. More Won [9]
Best Costume Design Anna Singh

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Tuteja, Joginder (19 March 2005). "Taj Mahal - An Eternal Love Story". Sify. Archived from the original on 16 January 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  2. ^ "Akbar Khan announces Rs.50 crores project on Taj Mahal". Bollywood Hungama. 19 October 2001. Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Taj Mahal - An Eternal Love Story". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 14 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  4. ^ Kotwani, Hiren (10 March 2016). "'Children of Heaven' maker Majid Majidi to watch Akbar Khan's 'Taj Mahal'". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  5. ^ Avijit, Anshul (9 December 2002). "Akbar Khan's ambitious epic Taj Mahal slated to become India's most expensive film". India Today. Archived from the original on 16 January 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  6. ^ a b "Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average)". World Bank. Archived from the original on 24 October 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  7. ^ "Pakistanis eager to see Taj Mahal movie". glamsham.com. 9 June 2005. Archived from the original on 21 November 2007. Retrieved 2 June 2008.
  8. ^ "Plot review". Archived from the original on 8 March 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
  9. ^ "53rd National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
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