I got the opportunity to watch Jodha Akbar this weekend. I have an instinct about movies whether I am going to like them or not. And

since the day I saw promos of Jodha Akbar, I knew I am going to love the movie. And indeed it was true. I won’t talk about the controversy about the story of the movie that Jodha was not Akbar’s wife. I went to the theatre with a mind to watch the love story of Jodha and Akbar and the way how Hrithik emotes as a Moghul king.
The movie starts showing young Jalaluddin as a young Moghul king ruling Delhi under the guidance of Bairam Khan, an efficient general who served for both Humayun and Akbar later. After winning the second battle of Panipat, Jalaluddin develops differences with Bairam Khan related to killing the defeated king and sends him to Mecca for pilgrimage. From then Jalaluddin takes charge of his decisions and grows up winning territories one after the other and expanding the Moghul empire.Jodha was the daughter of King Bharmal, a Rajput king. She was already engaged to a Rajput prince. She was beautiful and well trained in arms fighting by her brother Sujamal.Sujamal, a possessive and protective brother, doesn’t get to become heir of Bharmal. So he unites with Saifuddin, brother in law of Jalaluddin to take over Bharmal on the condition that Sujamal would help Saifuddin in over throwing Jalaluddin once he becomes the king of Amer. Fearing attack from Sujamal and Saifuddin, King Bharmal decides to seek refuge under Jalaluddin. The Rajputs get enraged at this decision and breaks off the engagement with Jodha saying that if King Bharmal went into ally with Jalaluddin, there wont be any marital relations with his kingdom from any of the other Rajput kingdoms.
King Bharmal sticks to his decision and pays a visit to Jalaluddin in Delhi.He keeps the proposal in front of Jalaluddin about his territory and says that he wants to marry off his daughter Jodha to him. Jalal is surprised at first but then accepts both the proposals. Jodha protests at this but accepts at the end thinking about her parents.
The movie becomes interesting and romantic after this. Jalaluddin is fully in love with Jodha but she keeps a distance from him saying she has not been able to accept him from her heart. The cute scenes when Jalal watches her when she is playing with the birds and when she prays to Lord Krishna will simply make you fall in love with the pair. Hrithik has wonderfully emoted in these scenes. Ash is good too. The song Jashn – e – Bahara is wonderfully shot with these cute and romantic scenes. It properly depicts the love Jalal feels for Jodha. She too can feel Jalal’s emotions but doesn’t show it. In one scene she watches Jalal practicing sword fighting in the backyard of the palace from behind the curtains. She keeps looking at him when Jalal comes to know he is being observed by her. He looks in her direction which makes her hide behind the curtains. All these scenes stole my heart. Such romantic scenes are the major attractions. The song’s lyrics too include these emotions. Javed Ali has done full justice to the song with his silhouette voice.
Jalal’s foster mother Maham Anga was not happy with the marriage right from the beginning. She keeps trying to create misunderstanding between the two. Her servant gets a letter Jodha had written to Sujamal before marriage that she wants him to come and rescue her. She sends the letter to Sujamal. On the other hand she tells Jalal that Jodha is keeping contact with the prince she was engaged to before and that he will soon contact Jodha. Jalal keeps and eye on Jodha and one night when Sujamal indeed comes to meet Jodha he sees them but fails to imprison Sujamal. Sujamal thinks Jodha has conspired to imprison him in the hands of her husband and manages to escape. Jalal gets enraged with Jodha and sends her back to Amer without trying to find out the fact.
Jodha gets hurt but doesn’t say anything. But the truth comes out one day when Jalal’s mother tells him everything. He decides not to see Maham Anga’s face anymore but pardons her for all she had done for him since his infant days. He decides to go to Amer to bring back Jodha.
She is still angry with Jalal and now he tries to win her heart by apologizing to her. She tells him that on no condition she will go back to Agra but in her heart she has already decided to go. The sword fight between Jalal and Jodha is good and funny when Jodha over powers him and Jalal says that she should remember that he is her husband.
In the mean time when he is in Amer, he abolishes tax collected from Hindus going for pilgrimage. This pleases the people and they understand and accept Jalal as their true king. People confer the title of “Akbar” on Jalal. He is overwhelmed at this and accepts it heartily. The song Azeem – O – Shaan follows. It is a beautiful song with the lyrics singing praise for Akbar and welcoming him to Agra when he returns. Jodha comes back to Agra. While people are celebrating, a killer sent by Saifuddin attacks Akbar with an arrow. Though seriously injured, Akbar recovers after some days with a tearful and sad Jodha praying earnestly to Lord Krishna for his recovery.
Jalal and Jodha confess their love for each other. Their union is taken forward by the song In lamhon ke daman mein. It is another melody piece from Rehman’s music pot. The music in every moment depicts the intensity of the love between the two which had been kept in control for so long. Ash and Hrithik look simply great together just like Dhoom 2.
Sujamal and Saifuddin decides to attack Amer. King Bharmal comes to know about it and informs Akbar. Akbar asks King Bharmal to give Sujamal’s share in the kingdom and he accepts it. On the other hand Sujamal comes to know about a conspiracy of Saifuddin to kill Akbar. He asks a sentry to go and inform Akbar but the sentry is caught and killed. Sujamal himself goes to inform Akbar but gets attacked by Saifuddin’s army. He manages to reach Akbar’s camp and tells him everything. The misunderstanding between Jodha and Sujamal is cleared by Akbar. Jodha reaches the camp and manages to see Sujamal for the last time. Akbar prepares his army and marches forward to stop Saifuddin. On meeting Saifuddin face to face he tells him he doesn’t want bloodshed. Saifuddin challenges him for a fight with himself to prevent bloodshed. Akbar defeats him after a long battle but spares his life on the request of his sister. He takes away all the territories from him and asks him to work under supervision.
Akbar formally introduces Jodha to his court and says that she is the queen of the Moghul Empire and commands respect from all just like himself.
The movie ends with this leaving a feeling of the love of Jodha and Akbar in the hearts of the audience. Asutosh Gowariker has succeeded in bringing out the theme of the movie and I give him full marks for his effort. The movie is about the political alliance that culminated in the love of Jodha and Akbar. Please do not try to find any other element in the movie like the authenticity of the character Jodha or about other wives of Akbar. You will come back with a heart contended with a desire to keep thinking about the love of Jodha Akbar which is the real element of the movie.

Plot Revealed In The Review:	Revealed in detail
Best to watch with:	No Comment
Movie Genre:	Drama
Best part in the movie:	Script