Interpretations of the past: Indian Middle Ages in the films "The Great Mogul" (Mughal-e-Azam) and "Jodha and Akbar" (Jodhaа Akbar)
The author examines the influence of two interpretation versions of the Indian Middle Ages in cinematography on Indian modern historical consciousness. The first version is reproduced in the film “The Great Mogul” (directed by Karim Azif, 1960), the second version is reproduced in the film “Jodhaа Akbar” (directed by Ashutosh Gouvariker, 2008). Also he finds the means which were used to form the viewer social and political beliefs. The example of these films shows how the image of the magnificent epoch is used to focus the viewer’s attention on issues of the state policy and the problem of interreligious relations.