M. Sadiq

Director of Chaudhvin Ka Chand and the Mughal romance Taj Mahal · 1910–1971

Mohammed Sadiq was born in Lahore on 10 March 1910 and made lavish Muslim-social and period romances. His break came through a comedian: in 1958-59 he was in financial trouble when Johnny Walker suggested him to Guru Dutt as the director of Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960). One account adds that Guru Dutt felt a Muslim subject needed a Muslim director. Guru Dutt produced it after the failure of Kaagaz Ke Phool, and it became one of the biggest hits of its year.

Taj Mahal (1963) followed: Eastmancolor, Mughal court intrigue, Roshan's music and Sahir Ludhianvi's lyrics, which between them won two Filmfare Awards. Sadiq moved to Pakistan in 1970 and began a new film there, Baharo Phool Barsao. He died in Lahore on 3 October 1971, and Hasan Tariq completed the picture. It was released in 1972 and became a Golden Jubilee hit in Karachi, which Sadiq never lived to see.