"I am Hindustan" "The Himalayas watch over my borders" "The waters of the holy Ganges I have sworn by" "Since the beginning of time, darkness and light... have been my companions" "The foundations of marbled monuments that rise from my ashes... lie embedded in deeper depths than of Earth herself" "I was plundered by barbarians and saved by the merciful" "The unwise tied me in chains." "Those who loved me have freed me" "Of those who loved this land, one was Jalal-ud-din Mohammad Akbar" "Akbar transcended the barriers of religion and tradition" "He taught man to love his fellow man." "Thus he embraced this country" "This is Emperor Akbar's palace" "In this palace live stories of the past" "Some four centuries ago, far from this grand palace... a man walked through the burning sands of the sunswept desert barefoot" "This man who walks alone is Emperor Akbar" "There is sadness in his eyes, for he has not yet fathered an heir" "Akbar is travelling to meet the Holy One, Salimuddin Chisti" "He travels in hope that the blessings of the Holy One may beget him an heir" "The royal procession follows." "But Akbar walks." "For he has taken the vow" "Finally, the destination is arrived at" "The Emperor before whom the world bows to, stands before a mendicant" "Seek as one should seek, for God never refuses the faithful" "Raise your hands in prayer, and I shall pray with you" "O'Emperor of Emperors, Thou hast bestowed upon this humble man... every blessing that life has to offer" "I have heard people call me their emperor" "Now, please let me hear the word father" "O'Lord of Heaven and Earth, let Akbar not die without an heir" "May Jodha be made fertile by His grace" "Felicitations!" "Felicitations to the Emperor" "The Lord has blessed the Queen's womb" "The Emperor has a son, and the Empire an heir" "Allah be praised!" "You bring happy tidings to a sad Akbar!" "Keep this ring." "Keep it with you as a mark of my promise" "By the sacred scales of Justice, I swear" "Whatever you seek of Akbar, for once in your life... shall be given" "With the passage of time, the prince began to develop certain tastes" "Prince..." "These scales are not meant for you to play with" "Are they for The Emperor to play with?" " No." "The sacred scales are... a memorial to Emperor Babar, and they signify Mughal justice" "How profound" "This is what you have to speak in court." "Memorise it" "Is this a command?" " No, a request" "Then I shall try" "The Prince became more and more disobedient" "And he began to transgress the limits of etiquette and protocol" "Take it away, with all due respect" "One day, Prince Salim, the heir to the Mughal throne took to drinking" "Emperor Akbar realised that a dark future awaited Hindustan" "The symbol of Mughal justice shall not be a wayward Prince's plaything" "Man Singh" "No more for him, the security of his mother's love" "Cast him in steel" "Take him away." "Temper the steel in the desert fires" "I entrust you with the future of the Mughal Empire" "For a child it's a mother's lap, not the shadow of war" "Lord, grant me that my love may shield my son from the enemy swords" "The Prince sends his chain of mail from the battlefield" "My Salim!" "Salim has lived up to my expectations." "I am pleased" "Salim!" "My son!" "You are the Empress of Hindustan!" "No, O'Mighty One." "A mother is nothing more than a mother" "The frailty of a mother's emotions overcomes Empress Jodha?" "That she forgets her status?" "This I knew not" "What political prerogatives that forbid... a mother to long for a son being bled callously?" "Suffer then, but not in tears" "Were all mothers whose sons are on the battlefield with yours, to break down... then Hindustan will be drowned in tears" "As much gold as the Prince's chain of mail weighs, be distributed to charity" "For 14 years Salim was tempered amidst the storms of battle in the deserts" "Why have the Prince's wounds not been dressed yet?" "We haven't been given permission to enter" "May I beg to be excused?" "May the Prince's wounds not be dressed?" "Not wounds." "These are flowers." "Nature rules that flowers shall wilt" "Hear this" "Not just an assassin' this has a heart too" "This is as much a branch of a tree as it is a sword" "Surely, this dumb sword is no princess for a romance?" "Not merely with the eyes of a soldier do I see this piece of steel" "Not that soldier who wields the sword only in bloodletting" "Then what is it that the Prince wields?" "In my hand, this dancing blade is like a woman in throes, in her lover's arms" "Then rises the blood, that spreads in a blush over her face" "Poetry, even after fourteen years of bloodletting... strange" "There is nothing strange" "Were Omar Khayyam's anthology, the Rubaiyat... to have been etched on stone, not to have been timed for recitation... would it's meaning be any the less?" " No" "Then those designs that The Mighty One may have for me, are founded in error" "The armour you wore to the victory is to be presented to The Mighty One" "Are these years of my bloodied youth not enough?" "Not the armour." "Rather this story of my life, bloodied and in ashes" "And my son shall present this story of your life to The Mighty One" "Ride with the despatch" "Attention all ye" "The Mighty One's foresight has been proved right again" "The Prince has emerged victorious again" "Does he carry the wounds of battle?" "Several." "Countless swords he has braved and broken" "And every enemy sword proved again and again... the Prince's valour, and the might of the blood of Akbar" "I shall inspect Salim's armour" "Instead of the armour, the Prince sends The Mighty One this missive" "Read it out." "Loudly" "Before the Emperor of Hindustan, Jalal-ud-din Mohammad Akbar, I bow" "Before You, I present this account... of every yard of the terrain steeped in Your royal blood" "For fourteen years the fires of war that ravaged this land... sucked from my veins Your blood that these fires took to quench" "But Your Salim has still blood left, to bloody the Deccan plateau... should You so command." "In subservience, Your Salim" "Allah be praised" "From Salim I take heart" "Prince Noor-ud-din Mohammed Salim be ordered to march for home" "Felicitations to The Mighty One on Prince Salim's return" "Felicitations!" "Lord, why are you still silent?" "Just let me see Salim's face" "The Emperor has ordered Durjan Singh to bring the Prince back immediately" "You are the bearer of news that turns tears to smiles!" "Pearls, Bahar!" "Pearls for your words!" " Far too little, Your Majesty" "I want the Prince to walk over a carpet of pearls" "For Salim, anything!" "My son is coming home after years!" "I shall pray to The Mighty One... that He lets my son be with me for a few days" "His father's politics he has learnt;" "his mother's love he hasn't known" "Tell the courtesans to choreograph a performance beautiful enough... to make Salim forget the pictures of war" "Tell the court musician Tansen to write tunes so dulcet... to make Salim forget the thunder of cannon" "And flowers, Bahar!" "Flowers for him!" "And light up the city!" "Stars for him to tread upon, and a heaven as far as the eye beholds!" "O'everything!" "Everything I want for him!" "And everything I cannot say" "Lord!" "Bring me to that moment when I may behold my son before my eyes!" "Then for a moment, You too I shall forget" "Sculptor" "The jewel of the palace in my humble workshop?" "I have to choose a sculpture for the Prince" "The sculptures I carve, Princes and Emperors cannot appreciate" "Why?" " For they speak the truth" "Behold, the court where every word spoken by The Emperor is law... against which, there is no appeal" "And this, the field of battle" "The blood of innocents, for the victory of one man" "This is the price of truth" "Punishment by death." " Not true, sculptor" "May I present to the artiste a rhetoric?" "Meaning?" " Whereas I appreciate your art... what art is it that touches not the heart?" "What figurine therefore, which fails to woo the vain?" "Then at the feet of the idol I sculpt the soldier shall lay down his sword..." "Emperors shall lay down their crowns... and men will carve out their hearts in oblation" "What have you done?" "The crown is to be presented to the wearer" "The hands that crown are others' but the courage is one's own" "Bahar, have you no fear that someone might see you?" "Fear?" "No crown is worn on a head that fears" "You wish to become the Empress of this grand empire?" "How many girls would be dreaming the same?" "Then let them dream" "Look at my eyes" " Such beautiful eyes!" "Like the drunken reveller who jabs his sword at the skies... are you too aiming for the stars?" " Stars do fall out of the skies" "For vain princes, one look of the eye is enough" "As with death, so also with the hearts of Princes" "You can never know when" "I wish for it the soonest" "Your Majesty, two hours for sunrise." "The last pearl for the night" "The price may be paid" "Shall The Mighty One welcome His son in battle-gear?" "Not my son." "I go to greet a great soldier of Hindustan" "I have not seen Salim grown up." "Do not present him to me unannounced" "News of the Prince!" "He has entered the palace" "May I be rewarded?" "The Emperor welcomed the Prince Himself!" "Before he could bow, The Emperor embraced him!" "The Prince has crossed the Inner Court." "The slaves have sighted him" "At every step, he is being showered with flowers" "He is firm in his step, as he walks in here" "The Emperor has granted permission to the Prince to enter alone" "The Prince has arrived" "O'joyous world!" "Or, are my eyes swimming?" "Bahar!" "Hold me!" "After so many years!" "I wonder how he will say Mother?" "For me, a new sound!" "That word will resound in my ears and it will resonate in my heart" "O'heart, miss not a beat!" "Mother" "Open your eyes, Mother." "Look at me." "I am here" "Salim, you've grown so big!" "I was used to seeing you when you were just knee-high" "Bend down, Salim." "Kneel down" "Great soldier, are you?" "You bled my blood upon this earth... callously?" "Without as much as a thought to what it'd do... to your mother's heart to see these scars?" "Had you remembered your mother in battle... you would've heard my lullabies through the clangor of swords... and you'd be as secure as you'd be in your mother's lap" "But you never remembered me" "Salim, my love!" "Bahar, take him away from me!" "The heart awaits a glance The foot awaits a step" "Who is it that hides from me?" "Not hides." "Is hidden, Your Highness." " Why?" "The sculptor's challenge." "When this candle is unveiled..." "Shall it be irresistible?" "Challenges are interesting, sometimes" "He claims that at its feet, soldiers shall lay down swords..." "Emperors their crowns, and men will carve out their hearts in oblation" "The sculptor's claim is much too arrogant for appreciation" "I must see how vain art can be" "The Mighty One would rather that you didn't see it" "Why?" " The court astrologer says... it augurs ill for the Prince to set his eyes on any sculpture... before the moon has set tonight." "The unveiling may be done tomorrow" "In the presence of The Mighty One." " The sculptor's challenge... the astrologer's warning..." "and this veiled sculpture" "How can I wait till daybreak?" "The sculptor's claim is correct" "Only on stone can be etched so stark a beauty" "I must bow before such creativity" "The Prince may be accused of idolatry." " And lauded for appreciation of art" "Nadira, the sculpture isn't ready yet." "You must pose for it tomorrow again" "The Prince has seen me." "He has expressed his appreciation" "There is an ardour veiled in that appreciation" "Ardour?" "Of whom?" " You" "Attention" "The Emperor cometh" "Your slave wishes to present a proposition" "You may" "Stories are told of statues unveiled using the arrow" "Interesting proposition" "Prince, may stories be made to come true?" "As You command, Your Majesty" "Great!" "An angel from the heavens cast in marble" "Not an angel." "Human" "Who has made you pose for the statue?" "One of Your sculptors." "He was persistent" "But he wishes anonymity" "His strange sense of the arts is surely laudable" "But that arrow was aimed at you." "How come you stood still?" "I wanted to see how stories are made to come true" "Well spoken, and I laud your courage" "Empress, you may take her in as your handmaiden" "I name her Anarkali" "Tomorrow, we celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna" "She will dance" "My word" "Krishna teased me on the banks of the Jamuna..." "Krishna teased me on the banks of Jamuna..." "He twisted my delicate wrists" "Krishna teased me on the banks of the Jamuna" "He cast a pebble at me, and broke my pitcher" "He broke my pitcher..." "He left me drenched" "Krishna teased me on the riverbanks..." "With his eyes, he cast a spell;" "he won my heart" "He won my heart" "With his eyes, he cast a spell;" "he won my heart" "He won my heart..." "My veil he pierced with a mere look" "On the riverbanks, Krishna teased me" "What is it, Suraiya?" " Someone is in love" "You are." " You're insane" "Who am I in love with?" " With the one who's in love with you" "Allah!" "Who is it?" "The Prince!" " Hush!" "Started making commands already?" "When you become the Empress..." "For God's sake, show me not dreams that a slave dares not dream" "He is the Crown Prince." "The future Emperor of Hindustan" "So what?" "Allah makes Emperors of men, but their Empresses can be anyone" "You're naive." "Can the earth ever touch the skies?" "Then, what do you want to be?" "Just a slave." " The Prince's slave" "Not again!" "What if someone hears?" " This is love!" "If not today, people will come to know tomorrow" "I know" "Then why be afraid of getting a bad name?" "I'm not afraid of getting a bad name." "I don't want him to get a bad name" "If this is what you believe, you've had it!" "Get up, come with me" "Where?" " To him" "His eyes are craving to see you" "I cannot face anyone now." "Just let me hide in here" "Go on, hide." "I have the confidence to go and face him" "Have you lost your senses?" "That is just what I have to ask the Prince" "One look at him, and people lose their senses." "Why?" "To speak my heart before him would amount to transgression" "That'd be if neither had he a wish in his heart" "But in the state of ardour he's in, will he have any sense of propriety?" "What is the matter?" "Why are you calling Suraiya?" "Oh I'm so afraid, Mother!" "Why are you here?" " I just came..." "By whose permission?" " By let of my heart" "Begone!" " I won't" "Let her be, Durjan" "What do you want?" " I wanted to see... why people lose their senses when they see you" "Who says so?" " My sister." "Nadira" "She's out of her mind ever since she saw you" "Impertinence!" "My name is Suraiya" "Does your sister call you by that name?" "She used to." " And now?" "She has forgotten all else!" "The only name on her lips is..." "Prince" "Give your sister this message from me" "This could be fraught with danger!" " Fall in love, and you will lose fear" "What are you so completely lost in?" "Letter" "What letter?" " From the Prince" "Allah!" "If you pray to Allah, you might get another letter" "Take care, it's throbbing" "Maybe, it's his heart" "Take it" "No" "You lose no time in giving your heart away." "And you lose heart so easily?" "I woke up to find Anarkali in my soul" "And I was in love" "Do you know?" "A sadness hangs heavy on my restless heart" "Day and night I think of you and my desire" "Allah forbid!" "He loves me!" "Sleepless nights I wake for you" "Waiting by the canal" "Send me a flower Send me a reply" "Let it float down the waters" "Forget you, I cannot" "Pray, send me a reply" "A refusal?" "Reason?" "Because she's a slave girl." "And unfortunately, I'm a Prince" "And places may not be traded" "But I am human." "That too is true" "Have you been waiting for me to cross the limits?" "Your Highness, in our happiness, we reach out for the stars" "But do the stars ever come down to earth?" "For I have desired" "For God's sake, do not denigrate your status!" "You are my master" "I... am your slave" "This wall that separates you and me, I want to pull down" "Sit down, Anarkali" "Your Majesty..." "Anarkali, look at me" "I wish to see the desire in your eyes" "No, not my eyes" "For I have nothing but the fearful emotions of a slave girl" "Then forget that you are a slave." "And in your eyes... let Salim see for himself that which you fear to voice" "Do not take away from me, my dreams" "It'd kill me!" "I'll make these dreams come true" "Your Majesty...!" " Let them see" "Taunts I can live with;" "not your dishonour" "Give me an indication Lord ...what is to become now?" "What does this couplet mean?" "My heart is slipping out of my hands" "Oh, let not my agony poison the lives of everyone" "God knows what's come over you." "Don't you even feel lonely?" "And he's always asking about you." "Get up and come with me" "No, I am afraid... lest my eyes give away... the secrets in my heart" "Nadira, why have you been so depressed of late?" "If you stop socialising, people will accuse you of having become vain... ever since you were named Anarkali by The Emperor" "Allah!" "Would someone so helpless be vain?" "Can you stop tongues from wagging?" "Little do you know palace intrigue" "Welcome Bahar" "You should take her under your wing." " You mustn't worry" "I have come to take her with me." " Take good care of her" "Anarkali... your new name is so beautiful" "Indeed" "As of pretty candles that feed their wax to the flames" "Then why fear the firefly?" "Fireflies...?" "Like me" "Maybe you could join me during my performances?" "Performance...?" "Tonight." "It's a recitation contest" "Wouldn't it be nice if you were to take a part of the stage?" "And the other...?" " Me" "And..." " Which of us wins... is left to the Prince's discretion" "In your court, I will try my destiny" "For a few moments, I will see what it means to be close to you" "In your court..." "I will try my destiny too" "At your feet, I will lay my head" "Spring comes bearing the news of love" "After ages, I see hope" "After ages, I see hope" "I will save myself from the agony..." "What fun is a life bereft of any grief?" "What fun in shedding tears, without any grief?" "I will shed tears in love" "In your court, I will try my destiny too" "This is what happens to those who fall in love" "They suffer in silence..." "and die a miserable death" "I will see this farce and amuse myself" "In your court, I will try my destiny too" "Love, I concede, ruins your life" "But isn't it enough that you are remembered long after you are dead?" "I will ruin myself for my love" "At your feet, I will lay my head" "A few moments, I will spend with you" "In your court, I will try my destiny too" "To love in secret, to die for love ...the lover's dream" "I shall watch it with a smile come the day" "Like this flower" "And you Anarkali, would rather be in love and be ruined" "For what more can one ask for but remembrance, after one is gone" "What you get is the thorn" "I am fortunate" "Thorns live not in fear of wilting" "What is it, Man Singh?" "Documents relating to Ajmer province." "At the disposal of The Mighty One" "At my disposal?" " Yes" "Does Man Singh not know that I have given away the province?" "I know, Your Majesty." " Then why the documents?" "I am forced to draw Your attention." "Unless the mandate is issued... the province might rise in revolt." " So it has gone this far?" "Have you not apprised the Prince of his responsibility?" "They were presented to the Prince on several occasions." "But..." "What is it, Man Singh?" " But the reason for his reluctance..." "I have failed to fathom." " Then I shall!" "Durjan, you will carry my word to the governor of Ajmer" "The works are to commence immediately." "Tell him that I wish... to be apprised of the reason for this negligence" "I'll tell her that." " And also tell her... that without her, Salim's life is as dark as the night" "And...?" " Also that in the wait..." "Salim is sinking into oblivion." " And...?" "That..." "And The Emperor has decreed that the works be commenced immediately" "Do you bear animosity towards love?" " I bear you goodwill, Your Highness" "If you bear goodwill towards others, you might receive letters too" "Silence!" " I'm Suraiya." "You are too forgetful" "Sire, I have seen anger in The Emperor's eyes" "Unless you stop this dangerous game, the rumours will begin" "Sister..." "What's wrong with you, Suraiya?" " Why don't you look at me?" "Why don't you ask me where I've been?" " You know it." "Your sister is lost" "Then stay lost." "I don't have the time for running errands for people." "Goodbye" "Wait!" "Did you meet him?" " Yes, I did" "What was he saying?" " Lost?" "And yet so mindful?" "Get lost." "I won't tell you." " If you don't, you're my pallbearer" "I met the Prince in the garden." " And then?" "Looked like he hadn't slept all night." "He smiled." "Then he asked me... how is your sister?" " And then?" "Then he holds my hands and he asks..." "Say Suraiya, she must be as ill as I am...?" "What did you say?" "I said it!" "Then he stepped forward and he kissed my forehead" "And then what happened?" " He said, tell your sister that... tonight when Tansen sings, ask her to come to see me" "A blush?" "After that kiss?" "Is it because he kissed me there too?" " Oh!" "I forgot" "Such a delightful mistake!" "But he kissed my forehead twice" "Someone must be watching!" "The intruder shall see me in my chamber" "At your command" "I rue my fate that the dagger failed to find its mark" "Your Highness, do give the dagger one more chance" "There is much blood that flows through my bosom" "What carries the flame?" " Silenced tales of a night past" "And some secrets" "Which is why, it will be put out as soon as the day breaks" "Your Highness!" "A secret you too have tried to unravel" "And thus shall you be silenced" "You may leave" "Anarkali (pomegranate blossoms)" "The trees in the garden are flowering" "Maybe Your Majesty has not noticed" "Yes, I have not seen Anarkali in a long while" "Her plaintive voice may soothe my laboured mind" "Summon her" "She cannot." "Not at this time." " Reason?" "Anarkali shall sit beside Salim as the Empress of Hindustan" "Let not the dust at your feet rise to touch your crown" "It is done." "I can see it" "Akbar's Hindustan you shall inherit." " For God's sake!" "The fate of the people of Hindustan you shall decide" "Wherever you look, a thousand souls will stand in awe" "And your mercy they shall seek" "The Emperor!" "No!" "You must not commit such trespass before The Emperor!" "Let me go!" "The Emperor cometh" "If His Majesty sees me here, Anarkali dies in your arms!" "Untrue to love you are, if you live in fear." "It's debauchery, it's sin" "Out of the way!" " I won't!" "Where is he?" "Who?" " Emperor Akbar, at whose command... life that Allah giveth is snubbed out!" " You shall speak in courtesy, Salim" "It is not Salim's Anarkali who may suffer death in a despot's dungeon!" "I will have his seal on this order of acquittal" "Anarkali may not be set free" "Why not?" "Silence!" "The Crown Prince may not be oblivious of his duty" "What duty calls for stifling the love in one's heart?" "To do The Emperor's bidding is your duty" "This is no duty!" "But it surely is punishment of being born of an Emperor" "Then this noblesse oblige you shall have to suffer" "Then imprison her not, and grant the same to that innocent Anarkali" "You've no right to direct my decision." " But over my own life, I have a right" "If Anarkali be not acquitted, then tonight augurs dear not for Anarkali... but for Emperor Akbar and his dreams" "I weep for the falsehood of love" "I weep for the falsehood of love" "I am hurt, I weep" "I weep for the falsehood of love" "I gave it not another thought... my desire for you has led to my downfall" "I weep for the patronage you extended" "I weep for the lies about love" "I am hurt, I weep" "How was I to know what it would lead to?" "That I'd have to hide my love, and yet lead my life" "I live, but I weep at my life" "I cry for those falsehoods of love" "I am hurt, I cry" "I cry for those falsehoods of love" "Orders." "Anarkali is to be produced in court" "Surely the darkness of the dungeons has dashed your splendid dreams?" "The darkness was far less than the light I carry in my heart dispels" "You may suffer worse darkness" "And resolve may harden" "Resolve may be crushed" "The Emperor's justice?" "I wish to hear no more" "Akbar's word is the law" "You must forget Salim" "Forget Salim?" " Beyond doubt" "Not only that." "You must convince him that you were never in love with him" "I could bring not my tongue to speak of my love to him." "How can I refute?" "You will have to prove... that your love was untrue" "A slave dreamt of becoming the Empress of Hindustan" "And in love she found a pretty alibi." " This is not true!" "Allah knows!" "This is not true!" "Not true!" "What you have to prove is that this is the truth" "Lord!" "Grant me such courage... that I may even betray the Prince" "Your slave shall try to obey your command" "Not try" "You shall abide" "Set her free" "No one has ever known Emperor Akbar to renege on His verdict" "Anarkali's acquittal is a defeat for The Emperor" "Not defeat." "It's proof that at heart, The Emperor is humane" "For the first time, I think of myself not merely as the Crown Prince... but also as the son of a father who is humane" "In Anarkali's acquittal, He has conferred a privilege... to the woman I love." " Not love, Your Highness" "A privilege for deceit" "Deceit?" "Whose?" "Ask it of these chains" "I ask you" "Fragile as she is, your Anarkali could not bear the weight of these chains" "She has traded her chains for golden cuffs" "What proof?" "Anarkali's rewards include a fiefdom" "Tonight, she performs in court." "After which... she has agreed to disappear." "Forever" "The Prince is coming" "Leave me alone" "You shall stay here" "So at last the wax doll melts?" "And burns to ashes that false garb of love... which you wore when you strutted before my eyes?" "Anarkali!" "The one whom just a dark night in the dungeons has consumed" "You treacherous slave!" "Anarkali you are not!" "You're a pretender who is masquerading as Anarkali to get out of prison!" "You are not my Anarkali!" " Yes, I am not your Anarkali" "Certainly not!" "You are Akbar's whore!" "Not Salim's lover" "You were just an illusion I took heart to" "You're a shameful blot on my name." "To be washed away!" "Attention all ye" "The Empress of the world" "The jewel of the throne of Hindustan" "Maharani Jodhabai" "The one we are proud of" "His Highness, the Crown Prince of the Sultanate" "Prince Noor-ud-din Mohammad Salim" "Attention!" "Heed the Badshah" "Plenipotentiary of Allah" "The Emperor of Emperors, The One of whom the world seeks succour" "Jalal-ud-din Mohammad Akbar cometh" "It is but once that man falls in love with another" "In anguish, he lives... in anguish, he dies" "When we have loved..." "why should we fear?" "We have loved..." "not committed a theft" "We have only loved" "We have loved..." "not committed a theft" "Why should we be afraid?" "We have loved..." "why should we fear?" "I'll reveal today the secrets that lie in my heart..." "I'll reveal today the secrets that lie in my heart" "Death is what the world witnesses... what good is dying a death of sufferance like this?" "We have loved..." "why should we fear?" "In desire of him..." "I shall burn" "For love, I shall live." "For love, I shall die" "Nothing more is my will" "Now that I am in love, why must I fear?" "Our love will not remain hidden" "Everywhere around us are tales of our love" "There is nothing that separates us from God... why should we create barriers between humans?" "We have loved..." "why should we fear?" "We have loved, not committed a theft" "Why should we fear?" "This fearlessness in love, this audacity... this novel manner of making your statement... indeed, all this deserves to be rewarded" "My good fortune" "Of the magnanimous Plenipotentiary of Allah, such I have expected" "Master of the Dungeons" "Take this girl away" "Cast her in the darkest dungeon" "Leave me alone" "Your continued presence is proof of your disobedience" "Anarkali was arrested..." "I watched on." " What else could you have done?" "What can anyone do before so mighty an emperor?" "But today, Allah's Plenipotentiary must own up to vindictiveness" "And my aspirations must be respected." " If a slave is what you aspire for... then you shall be denied." "All your life" "Did you beget me that You may rule the life that is mine?" "That while I breathe, You hold my heart hostage?" "Am I to be indebted to You for my life?" "Am I to pay my debt in tears?" "Anarkali is unfit for you" "Why not?" "Embrace me as a father would his loved son" "Behold me with love in Your eyes as You did when You saw me first" "Not as the Crown Prince of Hindustan, think of me as your son... and tell me, is Anarkali unfit for me?" " Father I am, of a loved son" "But my duty as Emperor I cannot disregard" "For no sake of my son's romances, may I play with the fate of my empire" "It all changes." "With time" "Empires change." "Emperors change" "But in this world of changes, one who has found love wavers not" "Change, you will have to!" "Salim!" "You will have to change" "A father who wants kings and sultans to bow before his heir... an Emperor who wants his Crown Prince to crush kingdoms... that is the father who has seen his heir... that is the emperor who has seen his Crown Prince... bow before a slave's beauty." "It was as if thunder had struck his hopes" "The shock has shaken the very seat of the Mughal empire" "Desist, till He has regained composure" "Desist I, whose life has been ruined, and desist not he, who thinks... his fancied regency has been marred?" " That is not the case" "No!" "The Mighty One wants to play God!" "He wants to dictate emotions!" "Who cares of consent to fall in love?" "Your Highness!" "Save my Nadira!" "Please save my Nadira!" "My Nadira!" "Please save her!" "My little girl!" "She will beat her head upon the dungeon walls till she dies!" "If this is the way she has to die, Hindustan is the empire no more!" "Hindustan will become the graveyard for the Mughal Sultanate" "If the doors open not, then the walls of the dungeon will have to fall" "Not the sword." "You need a key to open fortified doors" "Bahar...!" " I have dared" "Come on" "Where to?" " Far away from Akbar's empire" "The arrogance mounts!" "Salim is to be held" "Subtitle by PmT" "Will you confront The Emperor for the sake of a slave girl?" "No!" "I see in her the pride of Mughals." "The Empress of Hindustan" "Never!" "The pride of the Mughals may never be equated to a slave girl" "And Hindustan is not your heart for a slave girl to Lord over it" "Nor is my heart your Hindustan to rule over" "Over your heart, I have no right." "But over you, I do have my rights" "After all, you are my son." " Yes, your son I am" "But you too should consider that I am part of your body" "Not some slave" "No Salim, no!" "You were given to me in answer to my years of prayer" "You are my life's treasure." "You are my beloved" "But this is a matter of the state." "Do not drag your mother into this" "Do not force me to forget my duty because of my love for you" "Have respect for my responsibilities and for your duty too" "To Hindustan, you are the Moon!" "Do nothing to denigrate yourself" "Cast Anarkali out of your heart" "For the sake of my milk I fed you!" " A price for my mother's milk?" "No Salim!" "Or would you rather... that I bathe your feet in your milk that runs in my veins as blood?" "But ask not for usury" "You do not even understand the import of what you speak!" "I understand." "I seek not one piece of your precious Hindustan" "But give me Anarkali." "I beg of you" "Of Maharani Jodha I seek compassion." "Of Emperor Akbar, I seek mercy" "Salim!" "Tears?" "Those tears are Jodha's and Akbar's life!" "Spill not tears from your eyes." "Hold your tears" "Anarkali, you will have" "Never" "No heir to Emperor Babar's throne may be disgraced" "I decree Salim be sent on the campaign of Deccan" "No sad lover, but a soldier be given the sword to carry in battle" "Do not endanger the Prince's life." " Death in the battlefield... is better than life lived in desperate love of a slave girl" "Wait" "My Salim will not go to war" "My decree shall not be swayed by a mother's blind love" "But Salim will decide" "If You wish to see how an Emperor's decree may be rebuffed... then give Salim Your dictat" "Such scant respect he has for me?" " Do not gauge him by his disposition" "Let this storm blow over." "Salim will change." "You'll see" "And how to make the storm blow over?" " Let him have Anarkali" "Once he has Anarkali, Salim will return to us" "The obligation of a slave girl to turn my own son around?" "For the sake of your son!" " A mother can be only a mother" "And you are an emperor." "Only an emperor" "Beyond doubt" "Man Singh, so shall it be done" "This royal charter decrees... that the Crown Prince..." "Noor ud din Mohammad Salim... at daybreak tomorrow, leaves the royal palace and marches for Deccan with the army" "Take it away!" "I am no heir to Emperor Akbar!" "Your Highness!" "Wait or us at Safdarjung Gate" "Your Highness, was that not naive?" " Maybe." "But I insist" "If I be coerced, then I shall refuse to obey" "You may not act in naivete." "This is no time for being adamant" "He is the one who is being adamant." "My wounds need to be salved." "He knows" "And yet he decrees my departure!" "If he thinks he can coerce me... he is wrong!" " The Emperor will not tolerate... the Prince's disobedience." "The stance may be the excuse for Anarkali's death" "This, he cannot do!" " This is exactly what he will do" "Life for Anarkali lies beyond the bloodbath and the victory" "Lead your army" "If Anarkali's life be cause for war... then I shall turn the tide even in the face of death!" "But who takes responsibility for Anarkali's safety in my absence?" "I do." "She lives safe in the shadow of my sword" "Durjan, you have but one sword." "Emperor Akbar wields a million swords" "Then you have a Rajput's word." "A million heads will roll" "Your Majesty, the sculptor is here" "Leave us alone" "Sculptor, I am glad that artistes of your prowess thrive in my empire" "But the truth is that I face starvation" "Not any more" "In appreciation of your art" "I reward you" "In appreciation of the art, this is far too much" "But in appreciation of truth, this is far too little" "What do you seek?" " To spread the truth... about my art throughout the empire." " You have my permission" "My good fortune." "My unfinished agenda shall now be completed... thanks to The Emperor's magnanimity" "No, all is not done yet" "What you lack in life is a woman" "As your reward, I give you the very beauty... whom you have used to express the beauty of your art" "Meaning...?" "Tomorrow, you shall wed Anarkali" "But Your Majesty..." "Is this5s any less a reward?" " It is beyond my expectations" "I am beholden to The Emperor" "You may leave" "Such little difference between cruelty and justice that Emperors dispense!" "For the bounty that The Emperor bestows upon you... is this how happy you are?" " Happiness is a fool's emotion" "I am just joking about the foolishness of the bequeathal" "Do you refuse the reward?" "Do you refuse to obey The Emperor?" "Indeed!" "The consequences... do you realise?" "The truth of my sculpture may yet be borne in my blood" "The spirit you have shown in refusing to obey Emperor Akbar, I salute" "That salutation is no reward for my spirit" "Then, what is it you desire?" "I wish to see Anarkali's fate enjoined with yours" "A message to The Emperor from the Crown Prince" "Read it out" "The Emperor of Hindustan, Jalal ud din Mohammad Akbar... be apprised that I, Crown Prince Noor ud din Mohammad Salim... hereby declare my independence." "I enjoin upon The Emperor... to accept Anarkali as my consort, the future Empress of Hindustan" "The Emperor also be apprised that I am a prince of the dynasty of Tamer" "A dynasty of regents who, without recourse to dictat or religion... chose their consorts." "I too reserve the right to choose one of my liking" "And this right I am exercising." "Should The Emperor disagree..." "This is a documentation of the vanity of youth." "Read it to the last" "I cannot move myself to speak." " The veil of courtesy is lifted" "Read on" "Should The Emperor disagree, then the revolt has begun" "The rebellion of this upstart I shall take on" "Let the historians add a love-crazed fool to the list of my rebels" "Man Singh, we shall fight" "I shall ride in battle" "Has the Maharani forgotten that she has to say sacrament to my sword?" "Your Majesty, the Empress expresses her inability... to hand over to you the sword that will slay the Prince" "Tradition may not be changed." "From her only, shall I accept my sword" "Always from your hands I have taken the sword... that has decapitated my rebels" "Today too, you shall perform this ritual" "You ask me to give you the sword that will kill my son?" "Not your son" "I seek the sword against the rebel who threatens to kill your husband" "Will you not give me the sword to protect myself, for my victory?" "I stand not to win." "Either way, I lose" "On one hand, my husband." "On the other, my son" "And the choice you shall make right now" "Your son, or your husband?" "As a Rajput, you epitomise the legacy of women who immolated themselves... upon the pyres of their dead husbands." "Do you hesitate?" "You were born a daughter of warriors!" "Why are your hands shaking?" "No hands of one who heartens not to her husband... can carry the sword of emperors" "O'Mighty One!" "The mark of the wedded woman that you have wiped from my brow... you will give back to me with the red of Salim's blood" "If the price of my husband's life has to be paid for in my son's blood... then take this sword, and be happy to kill my son!" "Not a word shall I utter!" "The call for battle is the cry for his death" "Whose death, Your Majesty?" "The one so blinded by foolish love, as not to know his father!" "This darkness must be dispelled" "This pretty serpent that sways between me and Salim, must be fanged" "I make an appeal... my world lies shattered" "Show mercy to me, O Lord" "Mired in difficulties is life" "Have mercy on me, Lord" "I need help, Lord..." "Come to my rescue" "I keep no secrets from You" "I'm wounded at heart" "Have mercy on me, Lord" "Dark clouds hover... there isn't a silver lining" "Save me from drowning..." "I'm surrounded by storms, life is difficult" "Have mercy on me, Lord" "I'm plagued with adversity" "Have mercy on me, Lord" "Open the cell." "I have come to take Anarkali" "Except death, to none else may we deliver her." "The Emperor's orders" "And I have to take her out alive." "A Rajput has given his word" "The army is ready and awaiting The Emperor's arrival" "May Allah lead you to victory" "May the Regent who loves His subjects, His Motherland and God... be victorious always" "O'Emperor of Emperors, Thou hast bestowed upon this humble man... every blessing that life has to offer" "I have heard people call me their emperor" "Now, please let me hear the word father" "Are these the hands that prayed?" "Man Singh, before the battle commences, I shall go to meet Salim" "With all due deference to Your decision... it is not advisable for The Emperor to enter the rebel's camp alone" "But for a father it is possible" "Emperor Akbar cometh" "Leave us alone" "Has The Emperor come to pardon the rebel?" "This unfortunate father that the world calls an emperor... has come to talk to his talk to his son... to ask for his love" "You destroy your son's love, and yet you seek his love?" "Now the emperor poses as a father?" "The Emperor never weeps" "These are tears in a father's eyes" "Son, before Akbar's principles, your poor father is helpless" "Then to Salim too, his love" "Son..." "Son, love can win hearts." "Not battles" "Your emotions cannot withstand the relentless onslaught... of an Emperor's endless might." " That the battle will decide" "The Emperor cares not for war to influence his decision" "At the sounding of the wardrums..." "Anarkali dies" "My son...!" "So this is the day I begot you for?" "If the father's head should roll to please the son... here stands a father" "Your Highness" "Has the might of the Emperor overcome a Rajput's promise?" "No, Your Highness." "A Rajput will give up his life" "Not his promise" "Anarkali...?" "Salim has won without war" "There will be no war" " There will be war!" "My prayers go with you" "On the battlefield, may Allah protect you from Akbar's wrath" "Anarkali..." "That you still live, bodes ill for Salim" "Before the swords of Akbar cast the shadow of death over your heads... before the storm of blood and ash consumes you... hand Anarkali over" "This sword has vanquished the mightiest of warriors... protects not only Anarkali, but all men who have loved... all those who refuse to be servile to emperors" "Man Singh!" "Battle begins!" "Charge!" "Charge!" "Kill Anarkali on this very field" "Your Highness, Anarkali's life is in danger" "With your permission, may I escort her to safety?" "The victorious Emperor returns from the battlefield... to visit Maharani Jodhabai" "Is this the mark of the married woman, or is this a mother's woe?" "Look at my sword" "Not a drop of Salim's blood" "This must be the first sword that a mother has embraced!" "Take me to Salim" "You may not meet him" "Why?" "His father's sword may have spared him." "But there's more to The Emperor's justice" "Accused." "Noor ud din Mohammad Salim, son of Jalal ud din Mohammad Akbar... be presented before the tribunal for sentencing" "Attention all ye" "The proceedings may begin" "Against Noor ud din Mohammad Salim, the accusation lies... that for the sake of a slave girl, you have brought the Crown to disgrace" "You have undermined The Emperor's decree" "You have incited a mutiny" "You have lured a trustworthy Rajput like Durjan Singh into treachery" "You have abducted Anarkali" "You have incited a rebellion in the Emperor's armies" "You have revolted" "All these charges can be retracted" "All your transgressions may be pardoned" "I can bestow upon you all privileges as before" "Provided you return Anarkali." " For You to execute her?" "Beyond doubt" "Then in all equity, The Emperor shall do so too... to those disobedient fireflies that fling themselves into the candles... and the bees that sing so sweetly of love as they fly over flowers... and stop the rivers for they lose themselves in the embrace of seas" "I wish not to hear depositions on love inspired by madness" "I want Anarkali" "And I do not want to give Anarkali away" "Then I swear by the blood of Tamer that runs in my veins... you will be disowned forever" "That I shall accept" "But not the throne that sits upon Anarkali's grave" "Not the crown that holds my heart hostage" "That is unacceptable." " Now I know!" "In the fires of your love you wish to melt down the gold in the Mughal crown" "To craft of it anklets to adorn the feet of a dancing girl" "Upon the sacred throne of Hindustan you wish to see a pretty whore dance" "And you..." "And you wish to bring your future daughter-in-law to disgrace in court!" "Silence!" "Try as much as The Emperor will, to veil vendetta for defeat with justice" "Anarkali He shall not have!" "His son's life, He may have" "Justice I hold dearer than my son" "Noor ud din Mohammad Salim, you have taken advantage of my magnanimity" "And you have refused to present Anarkali in court" "Anarkali's sentence is not revoked" "In her stead, you... are sentenced to death" "Mercy!" "Seek not my sympathy today" "What but death can a despot decree?" "In the tale of Anarkali's love etched in Salim's blood... the demise of Akbar, The Emperor will also be told" "Leave me alone" "What news?" "Emperor Akbar has decreed that tomorrow morning..." "Prince Salim will die in Anarkali's stead" "Till Durjan can wield the sword, death cannot touch the Prince!" "Where are you going?" " To face Emperor Akbar!" "You are wounded." " My body is wounded" "Not my spirit!" "Out of my way!" "Do you see fear on your son's face?" "Not a shadow" "You are my blood." "I have faith" "I have come to congratulate my son" "The brave Rajput is also wedded to death" "How I wish all mothers had hearts like Maharani Jodha" "Today is the day when Emperor Akbar was defeated, and love triumphed" "To you I express my gratitude... and my respects to the mothers of the martyrs who bore death... for the sake of truth and love" "This is my final message" "Stand fast by those in love, not by those who be mighty" "Long live the Prince!" "On the path of love... a lover triumphs" "Rejoice." "Love is martyred" "Victory be to love" "Victory be to love" "Free from slavery to riches, love triumphs" "Long live, love" "In mosques and temples..." "Iove is faith" "Flowing from Krishna's flute, love is what Allah blesses" "Love keeps the world alive" "Long live, love" "Hatred shall not contain this storm of love" "Love shall not be slain by daggers and swords" "Lovers are martyred..." "they are remembered forever" "Long live, love" "Should love revolt, it could change the world" "A raging fire it could cause in mighty palaces... and overthrow emperors" "With their heads held high, they seek no favours" "Long live, love" "Long live, love" "Those who worship power have no faith of their calling" "He who worships power has no faith of his calling" "A heart bereft of love is made of stone" "He whose heart is bereft of love, is not human" "Come to your senses, O enemy of love... lest you are doomed" "Long live, love" "Long live, love" "Long live Man Singh!" "Should The Emperor so desire, the Prince may be released" "After Anarkali's death" "He is alive." "He lives" "Your Majesty!" "The Prince is alive!" "My felicitations to The Emperor!" "You will die" "Take this pretty petrel away!" "Bury her alive" "The word of The Emperor be blessed." "May my Prince live forever!" "That is all I wish for... all I wish for" "Anarkali, the dying is given one last wish" "If you have any wish, you may petition The Emperor" "It is beyond The Emperor to give me my wish" "I am not so narrow-minded as not to allow the last wish of a slave girl" "Speak" "Before I die, I wish to become the empress" "At last!" "You have spoken what you had in heart" "Even in the shadow of death you have not forgotten... that golden dream of becoming the Empress of Hindustan" "I am a slave." "Do not presume that it's my wish, Your Majesty" "The Prince promised... to make me his queen" "I do not want him to break his promise" "A future Emperor of Hindustan must not be ashamed of failing a slave girl" "I shall not let the future Emperor of Hindustan to be ashamed" "Man Singh, Salim is to be set free" "Before daybreak, you will make sure that Salim inhales... this flower doused with intoxicants." "He must not interfere with your death" "He must pass out before the sentries draw you away from him... and send you to your death" "Death is closer than love" "So it shall be done" "Unless this is done, Salim will not let you die" "And I shall not let you live, Anarkali" "I died a long time ago" "Now please let the coffin pass into my grave" "You may go" "In return for this act of magnanimity... this slave absolves you, Jalal ud din Mohammad Akbar... of the crime of my murder" "How will the heartburn ever lessen?" "How will love ever lessen?" "The night is colourful... what will day be like?" "Every couplet sparkles;" "goblets of joy are drunk" "This Spring will be spoken about for ages to come" "How much more enchanting could love be?" "Such is this colourful night... what will tomorrow be like?" "The mood around here, with the lovers present" "Their eyes convey love..." "their hearts brim with passion" "For a few moments spent like this... why would they even regret death?" "Such is the colourful night... what will day be like?" "Such is the state of these lovers... those issuing edicts aren't going to be spared" "Why would they contemplate the consequences... given the state they are in" "A passionate night is in the offing;" "what is it going to be like" "Such is this colourful night..." "what will day be like?" "Why have you done this?" "These pretty hands have at last let go of love?" "How could you betray me like this?" "Do not turn away from Salim, Anarkali." "Come to me" "Tell me, can you betray me?" "Tell me, can you?" "No!" "Anarkali can betray her on life" "Not you" "Life...?" "Who is it?" "Who wants to kill you?" "No one" "Is this why I have been intoxicated?" "So that you may be taken away from me?" "Destiny decrees so" "Destiny shall change her decree" "Anarkali, I can see those crawling shadows" "The cowardly slaves of Emperor Akbar... they are coming for you!" "I can see them!" "Come out!" "Anarkali is mine!" "No one takes her away from me!" "These heartless knaves... cannot touch you, Anarkali!" "My love, come..." "You knaves!" "Knaves!" "Anarkali..." "Salim loves you!" "Comes dawn, bearing death... like someone snuffing out life" "May God be your Saviour" "May God be your Protector" "This is my prayer" "Your world, I leave" "Accept my farewell" "When they take away my bier soon... do not be one of those who carry it" "When they take away my bier soon... do not lend it a shoulder" "May our love never be disgraced" "This is what I pray for" "This is what I tearfully pray for" "May God be your Saviour" "This is all I pray for" "My child!" "Nadira...!" "By the sacred scales of Justice, I swear" "Whatever you seek of Akbar, for once in your life... shall be given" "The Emperor!" "The Emperor!" "Where is The Emperor?" "What do you want?" "Life." "For my daughter" "Has hope blinded you?" "Do you not know my law?" "Do you recognise this, Your Majesty?" "Remember...?" "You promised me that I may have one wish" "I seek Anarkali's life" "I remember nothing." " You remember nothing?" "But The Emperor never reneges on his promise" "I told you!" "I remember nothing!" "You may forget your promise" "But that Emperor of emperors who has made you an emperor..." "He shall never forget!" "On the day of judgement, you shall be accused" "And I shall have justice!" "Take her away!" "My child!" "Emperor, my child!" "Seek what you will" "The Emperor has reneged on his promise." "What else is there to seek?" "Look" "My child!" "Your Majesty, I am grateful!" "Listen..." "This tunnel will take you past the border of the Mughal empire" "That Anarkali is alive is a secret." "You will have to keep it a secret" "Salim must know that his Anarkali is dead" "So it shall be" "The Emperor has done justice by letting her live" "Anarkali, pay your obeisances" "Till such time that this world is, you will live as love lives" "And the Mughals will remember this favour you have done" "Unto the dynasty of Babur and Humayun, you have granted a fresh lease of life" "But I..." "I can offer you nothing but a life of anonymity" "I am helpless" "By God, I am no enemy of love" "But of my principles I am a slave" "Consider the helplessness of the slave... and you might yet forgive me" "Anarkali, The Emperor has expressed his gratitude!" "Take her away" "Emperor Jalal ud din Mohammad Akbar pardoned Anarkali" "He took the blame for being cruel and merciless" "I stand testimony of the justice of this ruler... the one whom the world remembers as Mughal-e-Azam"