Humayun (1945): Though Hindi cinema often sourced its narratives from Indian history and mythology in the initial years of movie-making, Mehboob Khan’s Humayun is the first Mughal era saga to be called a magnum opus. Ashok Kumar essayed the title role of the second Mughal monarch with a young Nargis playing his wife and Akbar’s mother Hamida Bano Begum. And long before Mughal-e-Azam awed us all, Humayun’s elaborate Mughal sets, spectacular battle scenes with elephants and horses, had the Hollywood master of grand historicals Cecil B. DeMille describe it as a ‘masterpiece of lighting composition.’Shahjahan (1946): This A.R. Kardar-directed, Kamal Amrohi-written historical on the making of the Taj Mahal, had at its core the love story of the famed monument's architect, Shiraz, and not Shahjahan. K.L. Saigal's star singer status was further enhanced by the film's evergreen hit Jab dil hi toot gaya. Baiju Bawra (1952): This Vijay Bhatt-directed musical with an evergreen score by Naushad (it got him the first Filmfare best music director award) revolved around the love story of a talented simple bard Baij Nath whose life was turned upside down by members of emperor Akbar's court. The film’s highlight was the singing contest between Baiju and Akbar’s favourite musician, Mian Tansen with the emperor playing the judge. Anarkali (1953): This Nandlal Jaswantlal-directed film featuring Bina Rai as Anarkali and Pradeep Kumar as Akbar’s lovesick prince Salim was neither the first nor the greatest telling of the Anarkali love story, that has seen at least 10 more recounts, but it made Pradeep Kumar the most preferred lead in Mughal-era inspired periodicals. The lilting Yeh zindagi usiki hai. consolidated Lata Mangeshkar's position as the diva of playback singing. Taj Mahal (1963): From being an impetuous Jahangir, Pradeep Kumar matured into a love-sick Shahjahan with his Anarkali co-star Bina Rai as Mumtaz Mahal in one of Hindi cinema’s most memorable takes on the eternal love story backed by Roshan’s everlasting score set to Sahir Ludhianvi's poignant lyrics. Jo vaada kiya tha. was a Binaca topper of the year and the film’s music score deservedly took home all musical honours that year.
