Jodha Akbar - Review

When one hears the title and gets to see the trailers one may back off wondering if this movie is worth it or not.

After a week’s hard work and stress and tension no one is in a mood to sit and watch a three-hour, history class.

So why should one watch this movie???? So what If It has a strong and famous cast of actors?

A.R. Rehman has composed the music but if one actually listens to it, one finds it to be very dragging and slow.

Time factor is another issue, the movie is said to be three solid hours.Infact 3+ hours of time.

Language is another big concern, because the language used in the movie is urdu.

So Is it worth it ????

Well, yes it is, Critics have claimed that this movie is unique comparatively to all the classic movies that has been made so far. Am sure all of u have an idea of the story line by now. Ash a rajput princess is forced into marrying a Muslim King Akbar- Hrithik. She resents it and the whole movie is about how Hrithik i.e. Akbar wins the lady’s heart.

When it comes to language, director Ashutosh Gowarikar has been very smart. Of course Urdu is spoken but at the same time there is an equal dose of Hindi used. Akbar speaks in Urdu, Jodhaa in Hindi - and it’s easy to decipher.

The casting is perfect. Critics state “It’s difficult to imagine anyone else in the role of Emperor Akbar. Hrithik seems born to play this role and he enacts it with such precision, such flourish, such confidence that it leaves you asking for more. A mind-boggling performance without doubt!
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is superb. Oh yes, she looks ethereal — a compliment she has heard a trillion times before. What’s new in that? But watch her emote in this film. You realise the amazing talent that has hitherto not been tapped by any movie maker. A flawless performance indeed!”

This is what they have to say abut the music “A.R. Rahman’s music is not the type that you take to instantly, but yes, it gels beautifully with the mood of the film. Azeem-o-Shaan Shahenshah and Jashn-e-Bahara are the best tracks in terms of tune. In terms of choreography, Azeem-o-Shaan Shahenshah is awe-inspiring, while the execution of Khwaja Mere Khwaja is outstanding. Rahman’s background score is simply extra-ordinary.”

The three+ hours spent in the theatre they say leaves one “Spell Bound” but at the same time one tends to feel the pinch at some occasions [only].

Some scenes worth watching according to the critic are

· The war sequence at the very outset. You realise the scale and magnitude of the film at the very beginning.
· Hrithik taming an out-of-control elephant. It’s hair-raising.
· The two pre-conditions set by Jodhaa, before her marriage to Akbar. Very interesting.
· The confrontation between Ila Arun and Ash at the kitchen, when Ash decides to make the meal herself.
· The immediate sequence, when Ash is asked to taste the food herself by Ila before she’s about to serve the food to the Emperor and his associates. Once done, Hrithik demanding that he be served the meal from the same platter that Jodhaa had used.
· The intermission point, which sows the seeds of a misunderstanding between Hrithik and Ash.
· Post-interval, Hrithik returning to Amer to get Ash back to Agra and the welcome ceremony by his mother-in-law [Suhasini Mulay].
· The sword fight the very next morning, between Hrithik and Ash.
· The Azeem-o-Shaan Shahenshah track, when the entire kingdom hails Hrithik.
· The fight in the climax [reminds you of the fight between Brad Pitt and Eric Bana in Troy].
Amazing moments indeed…

On the whole, Jodhaa Akbar is, without a shred of doubt, a brilliant film in all respects. This historical has all it takes to prove the first blockbuster of 2008. Very strongly recommended

Well, this is what the critics and jury feel