Jodha Akbar: Magnificent but…
Jodha Akbra is a magnificent film for those, who want to see a great period drama but if you’re looking for the emotional journey of the great emperor, your thirst might be left unquenched, writes Bikas Mishra
Jodha Akbar
Jodha Akbar is such an engaging film that only after credit roll appears on the screen you realize that it’s three and a half hours long. During these three and a half hours what you see is mind blowing: grand sets, magnificent war scenes, spectacular sword duets.
Jodha Akbar might not be strictly based on history, it’s comes off rather as a folk-lore. However, the director’s care for details is exemplary. Take this one: Akbar visits the dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer. Dargah is shown as a modest and austere place without the grand mosque that stands there today. This mosque was build by Akbar’s grandson Emperor Shah Jahan.
The scene where Akbar is first introduced as the child heir to the Mughal Empire, establishes him as a warrior with a heart full of compassion. Bairam Khan, his guardian, who allegedly ran the empire under Akbar’s name is a merciless killer of conquered kings, while Akbar believes in welcoming them in his fold and his empire. It would take Akbar quite some time to get rid of the people whom he has gotten used to from his childhood. It’s evident that the emperor had to listen to suggestions of his close-aides despite disapproving of the ideas behind them.
We don’t know much about princess Jodha except that she’s a magnificent swordswoman till the time she announces to put forward two conditions to the emperor before accepting his marriage proposal. A mighty lady with a mind of her own and who will have a great influence over the people’s emperor.
If epic sagas are about spectacular sets, grand fights, duets this one is at par with the greatest in the world. Look at this scene: Jodha’s father Raja Bharmal, visits to meet the Emperor Akbar for the first time and where he finds him: fighting with an elephant. The duet scene was breath-takingly filmed. We’ve seen “heros” reining in rowdy horses, fighting with tigers but this is a fresh royal touch. Though, it looks completely believable but it’s also little funny.
Film has a couple of unintended comical moments as well. Look at this one: Emperor is having a darbar where clerics are unhappy at the fact that Jodha has been allowed to set up a temple within the premises of Mughal fort. However, in the middle of the royal court proceedings, we hear the resounding voice of Jodha singing manmohana…and the Emperor as if dumbstruck gets up and starts walking almost in a state of trance to his beloved. His similar walk at Ajmer that ends into swirling and dancing with the sufis again turns out to be little funny.
However, my problem with the film is not some odd moments that don’t deliver as expected. I don’t think the film takes one deeper into the mind of the Emperor that looks full of conflicts. We see only glimpses of that emotional growing up amidst scenes of compassion, pride, revenge, duty and love. Somehow I missed to see Jalaluddin grow into Akbar, a child emperor dictated by his guardian and nanny to one who ruled the hearts of people. Whatever little, Jodha Abar offers as an emperor’s inner journey to the hearts of people and the queen leaves one wanting for more.
The film has great production values, magnificent cinematography, soulful music and background score and superb action scenes keep you stunned and immersed in the narrative.
Aishwarya actually looks good after quite a while and for a change she also looks “real”, great performances by the lead pair.
Jodha Akbra is a magnificent film for those, who want to see a great piece of period drama but if your expectations are far greater, if you’re looking for the emotional journey of the great emperor, your thirst might be left unquenched. Nevertheless, a great film, almost like a messenger of Bollywood’s future.
My Rating: 
(20 votes, average: 4.4 out of 5)
Loading ...
Recommended...
Jodha Akbar: Grand Effort at Creating Grandeur and That Only Jodhaa Akbar: A Saga Losing Focus Devi: The Divine Ray Love me or Hate me but Rate me! Suspiria (1977): A Refreshing Delight, Invigorating
Loading ...
Aishwarya looking good for a change ?!! The rest of the world must be myopic I guess to call her the most beautiful woman in the world!!! I have this feeling that you must be one of those fanatic maharashtrians that cannot appreciate anyone before or after Madhuri
I just came back from the film screening…liked it in bit and parts…the two actors do a good job…hrithik is decent…sword fights are amazing
Not completely sure of the Director’s eye for detail… sorry to play nitpicker, but how about this…
Adham Khan, Akbar’s foster brother was killed in 1561, and he got married to Jodha in 1562. But the movie records Jodha’s presence even while Akbar gets Adham Khan thrown from the ramparts of Agra Fort.
Then again, if historians cannot agree on Jodha’s name, there is little chance they will agree on dates…
I saw the film and thought it was magnificent. As for the accuracy of the historical facts, there will always be a discrepency in the recordsof exact events, and this is so for the history of the whole world. We have to remember this is a Bollywood movie for entertainment too,and combined with the period drama it is a beautiful film which touches on history as it may have been.
In order to make an accurate historical movie it would have to be not Bollywood and may have to be a documentry researching on various conflicting historical records.
I would rather watch movies like this with absolutely wonderful acting , than the running around trees and boats and beaches that is in most bollywood cinema.
Jodhaa Akbar is, no doubt, a great movie.
The grandeur of the movie is stunning. The costumes, settings, locations both indoor and outdoor, and music are all spectacular. The use of color to accentuate the mood and feeling – red for rajputs and green for mughals, and music enhances the entertainment value of the movie. Each of the songs is unique – from sufi-spiritual Khwaja mere khwaja, classical Mann mohana…, ghazal like Kahne ko jashne, upbeat Azeem-o-shan shehanshah, to the sensuous In lamhon me daman mein – and form the 5 jems of Jodhaa Akbar.
Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai were amazing in their performances. Ashutosh Gowariker’s direction is excellent, especially in his use of eyes as a means of communication between Jodhaa and Akbar consistently in the movie. His efforts to re-enact the traditions and culture of the 16th century and yet make them relevant today are commendable.
In an interview, director Ashutosh Gowariker said he considered Jodhaa Akbar mainly as a romance, not a war or historical movie. Yes, the romance between Jodhaa and Akbar was a big part of the movie. It’s always nice to watch a love story in an arranged marriage! The marriage alliance between the moghul emperor and rajput princess starts of as a bitter pill for Jodhaa and a successful strategy for Akbar’s expansion of the mughal empire.
But Gowariker did not devote much film or time to show their love blossom. There are 3 long war scenes and other scenes where kings plot and conspire, and not enough showing the transformation of Jodhaa and Akbar. Akbar finds Jodhaa’s strong-will and outspokenness attractive; and Jodhaa quickly finds out how genuinely nice Akbar is. Akbar’s character is well-developed: he’s a brave warrior, a wise ruler, and a nice man who can win people’s hearts and minds. But Jodhaa’s character isn’t so developed. The 2 songs – Mann mohana… and Kahne ko jashne… could have been in full instead of playing bits and pieces. There could have been more scenes between them.
Ultimately this movie is more than the romance in the life of India’s greatest mughal. Gowariker underscores India’s heritage of cultural and religious syntheses without speeches or lectures.