Shiraz A Romance Of India -Blu-ray and DVD-

Product Description Two Disc Set Blu-Ray and DVD versions! 5.1 Surround Sound A historical romance set in the Mughal Empire. Selima (Enakshi) is a princess-foundling raised by a potter and loved by her brother, Shiraz (Rai). She is abducted and sold as a slave to Prince Khurram, later Emperor Shah Jehan (Roy), who falls for her, to the chagrin of the wily Dalia (Seeta Devi). When Selima is caught with Shiraz, the young man is condemned to be trampled to death by an elephant. A pendant reveals Selima's royal status and she saves her brother, marries the prince and becomes Empress Mumtaz Mahal while Dalia is banned for her machinations against Selima. When Selima dies (1629), the emperor builds her a monument to the design of the now old and blind Shiraz, the Taj Mahal. Based on the romance between 17th-century Mughal ruler Shah Jahan and his queen, this epic silent film is the ravishing, romantic tale behind the creation of one of the world's most iconic structures: the Taj Mahal. Shot entirely on location in India, it features lavish costumes and gorgeous settings - all the more impressive in this 2K restoration by the BFI National Archive which features a specially commissioned score by the Grammy Award-winning Anoushka Shankar. Produced by and starring Indian film legend Himansu Rai, the film is performed by an all-Indian cast, featuring Rai as humble potter Shiraz, who follows his childhood sweetheart Selima (Enakshi Rama Rau) when she's sold by slave traders to the future emperor (Charu Roy). Review For this sumptuous fictional reworking of the romantic origins of the Taj Mahal does not stint on scale. Blessed with a cast of literal thousands, not to mention camels, elephants and horses without number, this film is more than set in 17th century India, it transports you back to that time and place... ...I'll never forget the first time I saw 'Shiraz,' and if you take a chance and take in this gorgeous silent extravaganza, a landmark of Indian cinema, you will surely feel the same. Kenneth Turan --Los Angeles TimesA startlingly ambitious epic. Peter Bradshaw --The Guardian