By Prithwish Ganguly 1 hour, 7 minutes ago
MUMBAI (Reuters) -
The makers of a new film about the Taj
Mahal hope to have an edge over previous attempts with an epic
romance that appeals to both Indian and Western audiences.
At least three Bollywood films over the years and British
actor Sir Ben Kingsley's upcoming project pay tribute to the
17th-century monument of love built by Mughal emperor Shahjahan
in the memory of his wife Mumtaz.
"Taj," a $25 million project that will cast both Indian and
Western actors, is the most recent addition to the list.
Scriptwriter Krishna Shah's narrative caught the fancy of
Hollywood filmmakers who said it reminded them of Shakespeare's
"Romeo and Juliet."
"Taj is a mysterious icon to the world outside India and
this movie would be pre-sold by its mystical image," said Ken
Atchity, one of the producers of the film.
"Then audiences worldwide would be moved by the power of
the love that led to its building," Atchity told Reuters in an
e-mail interview.
"Yes, there are song and dance scenes, but not in the
wonderfully delightful Bollywood fashion."
Shooting for the film, to be directed by Michael Radford,
is slated to begin in India later this year.
Shah said that though "Taj" would be set against the
backdrop of 17th-century politics, it would focus on how the
emperor's love "survives all upheavals and was immortalized in
the monument."
"You cannot deny historical pageantry and court intrigues
but basically "Taj" is a pure love story," Shah told Reuters
via email.
The Taj Mahal in Agra was built by an army of 20,000 stone
masons, gem cutters, marble fitters and laborers who toiled for
22 years. It attracts millions of tourists every year.
"I'd never seen a movie about Taj that translated to the
non-Indian audience and I believe, with the resurgence of
Indian culture and economy, its time has come," said Atchity.
(Writing by Tony Tharakan)
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