Mirza Ghalib (1954) is a Hindi / Urdu film, directed by Sohrab Modi. Based on the life of well known poet Mirza Ghalib, the film starred Bharat Bhushan in the title role and was critically acclaimed.
Interestingly enough, there are a number of incidents in the film that actually occurred in Mirza Ghalib’s life. He was, as shown in the mushaira, a rival of Zauq’s; his wife was a pious lady who stuck with him despite his philandering and the fact that he never had a steady income.
Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah bestowed many honours on Ghalib, naming him Dabeer-ul-mulk and Najm-ud-Daulah, in effect the poet laureate of the Mughal court.
The film is stark in it’s portrayal of his ultimate imprisonment and decline.
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