Ahead of Bajirao Mastani’s release we pick five period films that are widely regarded as the best in B-town

Come December and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum opus Bajirao Mastani, will hit at a theatre near you. Its grandeur, canvas, exquisite sets, gorgeous costumes and spectacular cinematography is the talk of the town.

On that note, we bring you the top five period dramas that are widely regarded as classics.

Mughal-e-Azam (1960): More than fifty years ago, when filmmaker K Asif made this spectacular celluloid gem, he set a benchmark that nobody has ever been able to meet, let alone cross it. No matter how many period films are made in Bollywood, none of them has been able to avoid being compared with the one and only Mughal-e-Azam!

Shaheed (1965):

Released during early 60s, this Manoj Kumar and Prem Chopra starrer is considered by many as the best film ever made on India’s revered martyr, Bhagat Singh! Many filmmakers and actors have tried to fit in the large shoes of Manoj Kumar but unfortunately they couldn’t do justice to the subject.

Lagaan (2001): Set in the pre-independence era, the film is an almost perfect masterpiece that evokes the same emotions that an India-Pakistan cricket match can do. The deadly combination of Ashutosh Gowariker’s direction, Aamir’s outstanding performance and the ‘religious’ sport of India called cricket created such euphoria and hysteria that few filmmakers have  managed to achieve till date. The audiences happily paid ‘teen guna lagaan’ to watch this film over and over again!

Asoka (2001): Shah Rukh Khan could never think that he could do justice to a period drama before this film hit the theatres. Though the films box office collections were not enviable, the film won accolades and awards for its brilliant cinematography and costumes. We also should not forget the fact that Kareena Kapoor looked gorgeous in the film and the song ‘San Sanana San…’ keeps ringing in our hearts even now.

Jodhaa Akbar (2008): There probably wasn’t an apt word or words that could best describe this opulent, spectacular extravaganza that Ashutosh Gowariker gifted Indian cinema with. It’s a three-and-a-half hour painting in motion. There are very few films in Indian cinema that can be called flawless; Jodhaa Akbar is certainly one of them!