Re: Taj Mahal - An Eternal Love Story Full Download
Mina Delahoussaye
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.[5]
The story begins with Shah Jahan, known as Prince Khurram when he is about nineteen years old. Khurram was Emperor Jahangir's favourite son, whom Jahangir wanted to be the future Emperor of India, along with his wife Nur Jahan, who was well aware of this fact. Noor Jahan was married once previously, but when her first husband died, Jahangir married her. Ladli Begum is Noor Jahan's daughter from her first marriage. Noor Jahan is a shrewd lady, who wants the best for herself and her daughter and she aspires for Ladli Begum to marry Prince Khurram so she that she will become the Empress of the Mughal Dynasty.
Khurram's passion for hunting leads him into a jungle, and one day while hunting he meets Arjumand Bano. Their meeting was love at first sight, with Khurram attracted to Arjumand Bano's innocence and beauty while Arjumand was impressed by Khurram's great personality. Arjumand Bano is the daughter Asaf Khan (Aly Khan), Noor Jahan's brother. Khurram and Bano again meet at the Meena Bazaar, where finally both of them declare their love for each other. Ladli Begum learns of their love, but she keeps on wooing Prince Khurram. Noor Jahan sees this love as a hindrance to her plans of making her daughter the future Empress of India and she succeeds in turning Emperor Jahangir against his own son, Khurram.
Noor Jahan sends her secret lover and the warrior Mahabat Khan to fight Khurram and to kill Arjumand Bano. As a result, a war takes place in which forces are also sent by Emperor Jahangir against Khurram. When Khurram meets Jahangir, he declares that Arjumand Bano was more superior to him than the Mughal Dynasty. As a result, relations become even more bitter between the father and the son. However, Arjumand Bano, who was a peace-loving person, agreed to forget Khurram and asked him to marry Kandahari Begum, an Iranian princess, who was chosen by Emperor Jahangir for Khurram. Khurram, due to Arjumand's insistence, marries Kandahari Begum while on the other hand, Ladli Begum marries to Khurram's brother. After Emperor Jahangir dies, Khurram becomes Prince Shah Jahan and ruler of the Mughal dynasty. He finally marries the love of his life, Arjumand Bano, who becomes Mumtaz Mahal. The couple lives happily for a while until misfortune occurs.
Khurram must leave for war, but a pregnant Aarjumand chooses to also go with him, as she used to accompany Shah Jahan in all his battles. Khurram tries to return to the camp from the battle but takes a long time to return as he forgets his way. While he is lost, Mumtaz Mahal dies while giving birth to her nineteenth child. During her last breath, Mumtaz Mahal asks Shah Jahan to construct her tomb in a beautiful mausoleum, describing one which would be so beautiful it would express their love for each other to all who visit the mausoleum. Mumtaz's death is the greatest tragedy for Shah Jahan, and as a result, he becomes a completely reformed person. Shah Jahan then starts off to fulfill his wife's last wish, to build Taj Mahal, a beautiful mausoleum to honour the also beautiful Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal goes on to become the Seventh Wonder of the World.
Time passes, and in future, Shah Jahan's sons and daughter grow up. The sons are greedy and eager to inherit their father powers, and as a result, they imprison him in a room from where he can easily see Taj Mahal. He watches his sons fighting against each other to become the Emperor of India and the Mughal Dynasty. Everywhere around him there is violence and warfare, with the beheading of slaves and even brothers are no longer uncommon. In the end, Khurram dies while looking at Taj Mahal, the Taj Mahal that took an astonishing twenty-two years to be made, a tribute showing Shah Jahan as the greatest lover of all time. At his death, his body is laid down next to his love, hence resulting in the culmination of their love after death.[9]
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.
My film's music needed either a Tansen, a Beethoven or a Naushad... I was only left with the last choice! With the power of his spell bounding music, Naushad has managed to recreate the magic of the bygone era, perfectly complementing the mood of the film. The music does not touch the eardrum & bounce back, but penetrates and lives in the soul of people.[citation needed]
On my sixteenth birthday, I was given the opportunity to pick a destination of my choice. An avid history and literature student, I selected the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. To my delight, my parents were thrilled with my preference, not only by the mere fact that the location was in India, but also it meant we could visit my grandmother in Pune and then onto Agra.
The prospect of visiting the Taj Mahal, one of the most iconic and magnificent wonders of the world, filled me with a sense of excitement and anticipation. As a student passionate about history and culture, the opportunity to witness this architectural masterpiece in person was a dream come true.
The journey to India was an adventure in itself. Travelling to Pune to see my grandmother allowed me to connect with my roots and immerse myself in the vibrant Indian culture that shaped my identity and defined who I am. The bustling streets, neighbors who were a constant in our family, the delicious flavors and the warm hospitality of my family only heightened my eagerness to explore the Taj Mahal.
It was a crisp, clear morning in Agra when I first laid eyes on the Taj Mahal. I had dreamed of this moment, enthralled by the stories of its breathtaking beauty and the tragic love story that inspired its construction. I believe I lost my parents a couple of times as I raced to keep up with our tour guide trying to get as close as I possibly could so as not to miss a single story.
As I approached the towering white marble mausoleum, my heart raced with a mix of anticipation and reverence. Nothing could have prepared me for the sheer scale and grandeur of the Taj Mahal, or the profound sense of wonder that overwhelmed me as I stepped into its serene gardens.
My girls who had been visibly energized by the chaos of the city streets, suddenly slowed their pace, eyes wide with wonder as they took in the tranquil beauty surrounding them. The tension seemed to melt from their shoulders, and they walked with a newfound sense of admiration.
In witnessing their rapt attention and their thoughtful questions, I was reminded of my own teenage acquaintance with the Taj. A joy to pass on the sense of wonder and appreciation to the next generation. It was precisely then that we saw my cousin with his family from Hong Kong, visiting the Taj. What were the chances of us, from opposite sides of the world, converging at this iconic monument on the same day?
This unexpected reunion, amidst the serene splendor of the Taj Mahal, left an indelible mark on my conversance with the Taj, further reinforcing the profound impact that this trip had on my sense of identity and my place within the larger global community.
We strolled along together with my cousin and his family through verdant gardens, looking back and admiring the free-standing minarets, pillars, and domes. The colossal white marble mausoleum, with its detailed inscriptions and delicate motifs, stood in stately silence, commanding attention of al who gazed upon it. The perfect symmetry, harmonious integration, the serene gardens all created a sense of timeless serenity.
It was only seconds before we turned our full attention to the fruit trees, taking in the splendid horticulture that beckoned us. The Taj Gardens with banyan trees, geophytes plants including daffodil, hyacinth, iris, narcissus, orchid and tulip. Then there are the seasonal blooms such as marigolds, roses, and jasmine that perfume the air as the prominent pink lotus flowers stay afloat on the famed reflecting pools leading up to the Taj Mahal.
The gardens serve an important functional purpose as well. The carefully engineered irrigation system and the selection of indigenous plant species help to create a microclimate that maintains a comfortable temperature and humidity level around the Taj, preserving the delicate marble structure. The serene waterways and reflecting pools that mirror the stunning Taj, all create a sense of tranquility and contemplation, inviting visitors to slow down and appreciate the harmonious relationship between the built and natural elements!
Shah Jahan carved his love for his beloved Mumtaz through poetry in stones, ivory and gems. Structurally resplendent, the building features exquisite craftsmanship of delicate filigree and geometric patterns in marble. Precious and semi-precious stones are used throughout the design, adding an elegant and luxurious touch. Gemstones such as agate, amethyst, black onyx, jasper, and lapis lazuli were inlaid by hand.
Most importantly, this visit underscored the immense value of engaging with history firsthand. Walking the halls of the Taj, we were reminded that the past does not merely sit frozen in time but continues to shape and influence us in the present.
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