From pageantry to fabric, these Bollywood epics went all in on the past...

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Before Prithviraj, 11 Hindi period films to rewatch

From pageantry to fabric, these Bollywood epics went all in on the past...

Team CE

Published:21st May, 2022 at 4:12 PM

Mughal E Azam The granddaddy of Indian period epics. Director K. Asif transformed the story of Salim-Anarkali into a production behemoth, with the war scenes featuring 2,000 camels, 4,000 horses and

8,000 extras. All in glorious black-and-white.

Shatranj Ke Khilari Based on a Premchand story, Satyajit Ray's solo Hindi feature examined the Indian noble class on the backdrop of the 1857 rebellion.

From costumes to music to sets, each detail was impeccably researched.

Asoka Santosh Sivan recreated the Mauryan Empire with sets and minimal special effects. The film is enjoyable for its swordplay, crafty narrative diversions and the sweeping climactic battle.

Laudably, a rare anti-war historical.

Bajirao Mastani Bhansali's most accomplished historical yet, the film told the story of Peswa Bajirao I and his second wife, played by Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone respectively

The team designed 22 sets including the stunning Aina Mahal (mirror palace) and Shaniwar Wada fort.

Detective Byomkesh Bakshi Like no other period film out there. Dibakar Banerjee's recreation of 40s Calcutta is slick, fast-moving and buzzing with menace.

We follow Byomkesh (Sushant Singh Rajput) to old factories and smoky Chinese joints. VFX house Prana did some masterful work.

Devdas The film that sealed the Sanjay Leela Bhansali 'aesthetic'. This gorgeous retelling of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's bruising romance

was the most expensive of its time. Art director Nitin Chandrakant Desai won his fourth National award for the film.

Jodha Akbar Emperor Akbar looked nothing like Hrithik? Never mind. Just look at the pomp, pageantry, and extravagance with which director Ashutosh Gowariker

recreates the Mughal court. A period film with the message of love and tolerance in its heart...

Lagaan Ashutosh Gowariker and team camped out in scorching Bhuj to tell this fictional story of rebellion and cricket.

One of their biggest challenges was sourcing hundreds of extras from nearby villages. Miraculously, people showed up in droves.

Padmaavat Padmaavat had its issues (on and off set) but merits inclusion for its ambition and scale. An early shot of the king and queen entering

the royal fort is immensely pretty. The film had a production budget of Rs 215 crores, which is what we guess dented the VFX funds.

Panipat Though hugely laborious, Panipat had some spectacular battle sequences and a genuinely thrilling interval exchange.

A film that fondly introduces Zeenat Aman as 'Zeenat-E-Mulk' in a scene deserves reappraisal.

Umrao Jaan Rekha portrayed the eponymous 19th century courtesean and poet in Muzaffar Ali's lavish film.

Shot in the nawabi mansions of Lucknow, the film had a reported budget of 50 lakhs.