GAJAB KI KAHANI EK FAKEER BADSHAH KI ( JUNE 14 KO K ASIF KA JANAM THA , KISI KO YAAD AAYA ? )

Some men are born to create history and no power can stop them . I am tempted to make this statement after knowing the story of Karimuddin ( K) Asif , the man who diffied all the odds and obstacles in his way to make Mughale E Azam - Ali Peter John

Some one should have written his official biography a long time ago and what a great experience it would have been if Asif had written his autobiography !

lekin ye Khoobsurat baat ho na saki. Main himmat karta hoon unki kahani ke kuch tukde pesh karne ki ....

Karimuddin Asif was a tailor in the lanes of Lucknow , who had the knack of telling stories that brought images of the stories he told before the mind's eye . He was advised to try his talent and his luck in the film industry in Bombay .

He reached the city of dreams and got busy looking for opportunities to tell his fascinating stories .

He didn't have to wait long and found his first opportunity when he directed " Phool " which was not a very successful story, but he continued making and planning other interesting films , but he was obsessed with the idea of making a historical film based on human relationships , especially the relationship between a father and his son , together with an intense love story .

He read the story of a historical play staged in Pakistan and his obsession grew into deewangee .

He had decided in his heart and mind that he would make a film based on the story of Akbar , Salim and Anarkali .

As his destiny wished , he found in Shapoorji Pallonji Mistry a financier who shared his passion to make his film which Asif has titled Mughal E Azam and had signed Prithviraj Kapoor whose admirer Pallonji was , to play Akbar , Dilip Kumar to play Salim and Madhubala to play Anarkali .

Asif had told Pallonji who was a builder and a businessman that he would have to shell out crores if he wanted to make many more crores . Pallonji loved the idea even though he had absolutely no idea about how films were made.

And for the next nine years , Pallonji kept pouring money into the making of Mughal E Azam " without asking Asif any questions .

They had disputes and disagreements , but Asif knew how to convince him that he would make big money when the film was released .

Asif put every rupee given to him by Pallonji into the making of the film . Those who have seen the film will see how Asif has done everything possible to make the sets , the costumes , the dialogue and the music to look as authentic as possible .

The Sheesh Mahal took several months to erect and the lights above the Sheesh Mahal during the picturisation of the song , "Pyar Kiya Toh Darrna Kya " made leading Hollywood filmmakers wonder how Asif could do it . That one set itself cost crores of rupees in the 50s .

Asif wanted everything to be perfect and this demand for perfection also cost a fortune with which lesser filmmakers could make several films .

The fact that Asif and Naushad made the lyricist Shakeel Badayuni write the song pyar kiya toh darrna kya hundred and forty one time is proof about the madness Asif put into the making of his do or die film .

And all through the making of the film costing several crores , Asif didn't have his own house and lived as a tenant in an old building in Central Bombay . He never bought a car even though Pallonji wanted him to and he traveled by taxi .

The film went on to create history in more ways than many . Pallonji made crores . The stars became legends , but Karimuddin Asif and his family continued to live in a rented two bedroom flat .

He had wanted to make " Love And God" with Guru Dutt and Nimmi , but when Guru Dutt died , he cast Sanjeev Kumar and it was while Love And God was being shot that Sanjeev who had become a very good friend of Asif took Asif for a drive around the upcoming Juhu Vile Parle Scheme where stars like Dharmendra and Manoj Kumar had built their own bungalows.

Sanjeev stopped his car in a corner and told Asif, " yahan par bahut saare log bangle bana rahe hai, aap bhi apna khudka bangla kyon nahi banaate ?"

Asif had one long puff at his cigarette and said , " Haribhai , hum yahan film banaane aaye hai , bangke nahi "

That was the last time Asif and Sanjeev had a drive together. Asif died in the same rented flat he was living in and Sanjeev had his first stroke .

Love And God was completed by K C Bokadia who claimed to be an admirer of Asif . Sanjeev who had grown very weak after his stroke still shot for the film with Nimmi who had grown older .

Bokadia released the film , but the magic of K Asif was just not there . People asked how the maker of Mughal E Azam could also make Love And God and both Asif and Sanjeev were not around to answer their questions .

On August 5 , 2021 , it will be 61 years since Moghal E Azam was first released. Will the government at the centre or even the states do something worthwhile to celebrate the life of Asif and his miracles of a masterpiece ?

If they do , they will be honouring India , if they don't , God bless India . Ye main nahi bol rahan hoon , ye Hindustan bol raha hai.

AANE WAALE KAHIN ZAMAANE POOCHENGE KI YE K ASIF KAUN THE AUR UNKO SAB SE BEHTAR JAWAAB ITIHAAS AUR SAMAY DEGA . TAB TAK HUM ASIF SAHAB KO SALAAM KARTE RAHENGE. AUR EK BAAT PAKKI HAI KI NA PHIR ASIF AUR PALLONJI MISTRY PHIR BANEGE. MUGHAL E AZAM BANAANE WAALE BADE DILWAALE THE . KAHAA HAI AAJ ? YA KAHAN HONGE KAL ?