By any standards, Indian film ‘Taj Mahal’, that was premiered in Dubai on Tuesday evening, is impressive and takes you by surprise. The rare care with which producer-director Akbar Khan mounts his tale of Mughal intrigue, the volume of ‘epic’ quality that he succeeds in investing in the plot’s palpable periodicity and the attention he gives to bringing the characters to life makes this the most surprising film of the year. A befitting tribute to his work, Akbar Khan and his team of actors received a standing ovation from a packed audience at the Mall of the Emirates cinema, who remained engrossed through the two hour-odd film. A mix of Asian and Western movie buffs remained mesmerised, fully involved in the film till the end, undoubtedly shattering the myth that only Hollywood can make good films! The most expensive Bollywood film made to date from a colossal budget of US $10 million, ‘Taj Mahal’ is among the eight Indian films selected for the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) this year. It is clear that Akbar Khan is one of the top directors in the world if one views this film without any prejudice. The background music by Naushad is his best ever. Spanning two generations of the Mughal period, covering the youthful passion and autumnal memories of Shah Jahan (Zulfikar Syed/Kabir Bedi), ‘Taj Mahal’ has that quality which is of paramount importance to the success of a costume drama – the director believes in his vision and has the wherewithal to translate that vision into credible visuals. “The 60-minute film, a crisper version of the original released in India in 2005”, as Akbar Khan put it, will be relaunched in India and the international market soon. “I am grateful to DIFF for giving me this platform to relaunch my film,” said the filmmaker, confident the film will be appreciated by both international and Indian audiences if viewed without any prejudice. “My decision to release the film in India in 2005 was a wrong move, perhaps wrong timing,” he recalls. “But, the response and reviews that the film is receiving now from international media and audience is encouraging and I am hopeful that the audience will give my film a second chance.” Introducing his actors, Kabir Bedi, who plays the role of older Shah Jahan, Pooja Batra (Noorjehan) and others to the audience on Tuesday, the talented Akbar Khan said, “I was inspired to make the film on the mausoleum – a symbol of love and one of the Wonders of the world, only because I, myself, was mesmerised by the monument on a recent visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra. “The serene and mystical beauty of Taj Mahal and a host of tourists hearing patiently the real love story of an Indian Mughal Emperor for his love, influenced me to put this eternal love story on the film canvas for people around the world to know.” While Shah Jahan spent over 22 years to build the monument, I have tried my best in two years to put the film together. “It is not just a story of a man’s love, but a rich tapestry of Indian and the Muslim culture,” he said. Already having bagged two National awards for Best Art direction and Costumes, the film is a must-see for film lovers. The actors, except for veterans like Kabir Bedi, Pooja Batra and Manisha Koirala, the new comers in their own ways, the young Zulfi Syed who plays the role of young Shahjahan, Sonya Jehan (Arjumand, Mumtaz mahal) and Arbaaz Khan (Aurangzeb) have excelled. The heavy Urdu dialogues were delivered with ease. The language is pure but accessible Urdu. The costumes (Anna Singh) are eclectically authentic, though at least one character (played by Pooja Batra) seems to be too contemporary in dress and manner. All in all, a must-see for everyone!