Feb 20, 2008 08:12 AM
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Jodha Akbar is a a painting on a huge canvas. Akbar played by Hrithik looks like a greek god and Jodha played by Aishwarya looks like Venus in Rajputana attire.The story portrays the good side of Akbar. Unlike the tyrranical mughal emperors, Akbar brings with him the tolerance that helps him set up a pan India empire in a primarily hindu country. His alliance with Jodha too comes as a political agreement by the King of Amer.
The story starts with young Akbar being trained by Bairam Khan his Commander in Chief fighting the battle of Panipat. After fierce fighting Hemu is taken to custody. Bairam Khan asks Jalaluddin t behead Hemu but Jalal refuses .Bairam Khan does it and so the march to conquer the whole of India by Bairam in the name of Jalaluddin begins and the whole of India, the princely states have to fall in the mercy of the mughal empire.
One such princely state Amer has internal troubles and on proposing accession to the Mughal empire all Rajputana states boycott Amer and hence the marriage of Jodhaa to one of the princes is cancelled.
Akbar agrees to the compromise of the king of Amer and marries Jodha.But Jodha, the fiery Rajput princess refuses to consummate the marriage and Akbar too respects her will. The fanatic mughals protest this marriage but Akbar stands firm. This marriage changes the way Akbar thinks and rules India.
In his pursuit for India, Akbar had lost touch with his people which he is made to realise by Jodha and on one of his disguised sojourns to the streets of Agra he realises the anger of the people to a religious tax on Hindus. He abolishes the tax and becomes the darling of the masses.Attempt on his life, betrayals by his own, battles all form a part of this magnum opus.
Aishwarya as Jodha is supremely beautiful and plays the role to the hilt. She spews anger, cries, remains resolute, remains loyal, loves, hates, fights and does every scene of the canvas with the sincerity of a Rajput princess of folklore.
Hrithik as Akbar loks more beautiful than the portrayal of Akbar in history. His cruelty, bravery, love and skills of judgement are well displayed. His fight scenes are excellent,
Ashutosh Gowarikar should be congratulated for excuting such a huge canvas with the deftness that sucha long movie is not boring. The danger of making a film that looks like a documentary are great in such a venture but he overcomes this and evinces interest in the public.
A.R.Rehman the maestro relives the mughal era with his beautiful blend of music to prove again that he is the Sachin Tendulkar of Indian Cinema.
In the lighter vein we come to know of a few things-
Akbar had six fingers in his hand
Akbar would not shave regularly
3.Jodha wore earrings on her nose
- Akbar had more than 6 pack abs.
See the movie for the sheer effort.
