Monument to Murder?

Is the Taj Mahal a symbol of Shah Jahan’s love for Mumtaz Mahal or his guilt for killing her, asks a fictional new play.

A scene from Shah Jahan-o-Mumtaz.

Across centuries and countries, Mughal emperor Shah Jahan has been seen as the ultimate lover against whom all heartbeats are measured. Other kings have come, ruled and passed away; their brave deeds now fill brittle pages of history books and lyrics of poet-singers. Shah Jahan alone lives on in the imagination — a pop cultural icon for every generation — in a way even his predecessor Akbar the Great does not. The tale of Shah Jahan’s love has fired many storytellers, and now a play, Shah Jahan-o-Mumtaz, merges fiction with recorded data to explore his “ideal” marriage and even suggest that Mumtaz Mahal’s death may not have been natural.

“Shah Jahan’s passion for Mumtaz is as important as his conquests and consolidations. Based on historical documents, we know that Mumtaz was beautiful, shrewd and devoted to her husband. She was instrumental in poisoning Shah Jahan’s brother and rival to the throne, Pervez, and running a well-regulated network of intrigue,” says director M Sayeed Alam of city-based Pierrot’s Troupe. He had first taken up this story, based on London-based author and playwright Dilip Hiro’s script, in the English-language play Tale of the Taj in 2011. Shah Jahan-o-Mumtaz is its Urdu version, transliterated by Alam, and will be staged at Shri Ram Centre on May 23.

“When we staged Tale of the Taj, the audience feedback was that a play on Mughal history should be in a language of the era,” says Alam. Unlike other Pierrot works, especially Ghalib in New Delhi which has been staged more than 350 times since 1999, Tale of the Taj has had only nine shows as Alam began work on the Urdu script. The one-and-a-half-hour play stays true to the Pierrot signature of lavish sets and costumes.

The play recreates Delhi of the 17th century as a cauldron bubbling with schemes, counter-schemes, real and fake deaths, blindings and bloodshed. Against this backdrop, Shah Jahan and a pregnant Mumtaz Mahal indulge in their usual pastime of chess. “One evening, the emperor wagers nothing less than the throne of Agra and loses. Mumtaz was always a better player,” says Alam. The moment she ascends the throne, Mumtaz reveals herself to be a ruthless regent, and Shah Jahan — the king who loved art and architecture — feels his queen needs to be stopped. That night, Mumtaz dies at childbirth. “The play does not scream murder, we juxtapose the suggestion with a parallel storyline that involves folklore and superstition. The play is open-ended and we leave the audience to make its own decisions ,” says Alam.
The play will be staged at Shri Ram Centre on May 23 at 7.30 pm. Tickets are priced between Rs100- 500 and available at booking counter from May 10.

Telebooking: 9810255291, 29944635.

Online booking: http://www.bookmyshow.com or pierrotstroupe@yahoo.com

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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