Jodha Akbar

Apart from two scenes, I found the cinema flawless. I saw the film months after its release and so by that time I had read reviews in every newspaper I came across and heard about it from almost every person I came across. There were a few 'good's, but mostly 'ok's. Normally with such reviews, I don't have any further interest in the movie. But this time, there was a slight difference. I was waiting to watch the movie as one person, my most reliable source, had said that the movie was wonderful. And it was worth the wait, cause I was absolutely spellbound by the movie.

I did not find it even a bit too long. Every scene was justified. I had heard that since it was a film based mainly on the relationship of Jodha Bai and Akbar, hence the other war-strategy-politics scenes could have been kept short. But I don't think so. A man in love is very different from the same man at every other aspect of life. To understand one role, it is necessary that one also has glimpses of the other, hence the necessity of those non-romantic shots. The same man who throws his own blood relative off the roof, until he dies, is also capable of putting unshakable faith in God and at the same time capable of loving a woman hopelessly.

I had goose bumps when I saw the ‘Khwaja’ song, specially the place where all the singers get up and start moving in rounds, one hand pointing up hailing peace from heaven and one hand pointing down, directing the peace to earth. I had been told about the meaning of the gesture before, that’s why I think I could enjoy it more. The light shining from heaven was a bit unnecessary maybe, but it was not overdone.

What I found most attractive in the movie is the subtlety depicted in many of the scenes. The scene in which Akbar asks to be served in the same plate in which Jodha Bai had tasted the food is one of the most romantic scenes that I have seen in recent times. The sword fight between Akbar and Jodha was another of those subtle romantic scenes.

That’s why I was a bit disappointed when an elaborate ‘touchy’ love scene was shown with a song (when Jodha came back from her parent’s place). This is one of the places of the movie, that I mentioned in the beginning of this article, that I did not like. When things can be said more eloquently with eyes, then actual contact need not be shown. The other scene which I thought was a bit overdone was the scene where a bare bodied Akbar tries to impress Jodha with his sword skills. Yes, I must agree it was a pleasure to watch Hrithik that way and it was perhaps an effort to commercialize the film, but ‘Akbar’ doing that is a bit odd. Love has it’s own ways of expression though, so I won’t be surprised if some old manuscript drawing showing Akbar actually doing that is unearthed some day! But surely, this is not something that Ashutosh Gowarikar would have known!

The music and background was awesome, very soothing and very subtle (again ). Since music and background score of the film was the only part that had been unanimously applauded, so my expectation was very high. I think the music added character to the film; to some extent it provided an identity to the film.

I did want to watch this movie in big screen. The elaborate set, costume and battle sequences would have looked much better there. But, all my friends had already seen it. So, I had to do with a DVD from my locality’s DVD parlor.

And now, Mr Hrithik Roshan, if you are reading his then here comes the biggest compliment that you might ever receive.
My uncle’s 5 year old daughter had come and we were watching the film together. She, like any kid had too many questions to ask. For example, towards the end of the sword fight between Jodha and Akbar when they stand for quite a few seconds very close to each other, with Jodha’s back rested against a pillar, their swords (and eyes) locked, my little cousin looked at me and asked ‘why are they breathing so hard?’.
Now she made an observation. I had explained to her that it was the young boy shown in the first battle who grew up to be Hrithik. She kept quite for some time then remarked ‘the young boy has grown up to be a very handsome man’!!!! Then she kept quite for some more time and then as if in continuation to what she had earlier remarked said ‘it’s the way he talks and the way the swelling in his neck (read adam’s apple) moves, that makes him all the more handsome’!!! I really don’t think Hrithik Roshan will ever receive any compliment as big as this.