*http://www.southasiabiz.com/2007/11/arrehman_and_ronnie_screwvala.html* ** *Jodhaa Akbar* brought them together for the second time. Yes, I am talking about talented director, Ashutosh Gowariker, UTV CEO and producer, Ronnie Screwvala and A. R. Rahman. They first came together in Shah Rukh Khan starrer *Swades* <http://www.utvmotionpictures.com/swades-movie.asp>. In an interview with India Times, producer Ronnie Screwvala talked about *Jodhaa Akbar*.
[image: Ronnie Screwvala]<http://us.indiantelevision.com/interviews/y2k3/executive/rscrewvala.htm> Here is an excerpt<http://www.hrithikrules.com/filmography/displayArt.php?fname=akbarjodha/utvronie.txt&movname=akbarjodha>of the interview: *After RDB's official entry at the Oscars and Life in a Metro's roaring international success, what records have you planned to break with Jodhaa Akbar? * *Jodhaa Akbar is a once in a lifetime film. It is an epic love story made especially for the younger generation and is an untold story of Jodhaa and Akbar. The grandeur, the sets, costumes, story, performances, direction... everything is simply spectacular and thus we are quite confident that people will appreciate our efforts. Having said that, Rang De Basanti and Life in a Metro are blockbusters but we haven't set them as the benchmark for Jodhaa Akbar. Jodhaa Akbar is global in its appeal. It's a western film. * *What was your first reaction when Ashutosh approached you for this film? * *He gave me the script; I read it and gave him a call at 3 in the morning to confirm my presence in the project. The film is basically a love story with the backdrop of a war. The film traces the love and life journey of Mughal emperor Akbar and his Rajput Hindu wife Jodhaa. Their life from the age of 13 till they are 28 is what is portrayed on screen. 'Alliance' marriages are common in India and how love evolves between such couple is the story of Jodhaa Akbar. * *How has the chemistry between Hrithik and Ash shaped up? * *Their chemistry is the USP of this film. They don't look Hrithik or Ash but they look Jodhaa and Akbar in the film. * *Considering the film's 'historic' genre, how much research was conducted and how factual is the film? * *Every historical film needs fair amount of research and so was the case of Jodhaa Akbar. The director and story writer have made sure that the film is factually correct.* *Jodhaa Akbar* was supposed to be released this year but at the last moment the decision was made to release it next year. When asked about this change in schedule Ronnie Screwvala said that the movie was huge in terms of editing and they needed time to market the movie. Hence the delay has been made. [image: A.R.Rehman]<http://www.behindwoods.com/features/News/News29/10-9-05/hindi-movies-news-arrehman.html> On the other hand, Allah Rakha Rahman is very optimistic with the music of *Jodhaa Akbar*. This is the third time Rahman is composing music for Ashutosh Gowariker's movie. The music album of *Jodhaa Akbar* contains 12 songs<http://www.behindwoods.com/features/News/News29/10-9-05/hindi-movies-news-arrehman.html>. The Hindu <http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200710161440.htm>reports: "*Jodha Akbar* is a romantic story about a king falling in love with a princess and I have tried to keep the music contemporary so that it satisfies both critics and the music lovers," he says. "The music of the film is very much what is required for the film. We have celebration songs and quawallis," he adds. Rahman, who composed the music of Subhash Ghei's 'Kisna' is once again paring up with the director in his latest flick, 'Yuvraaj'. According to Filmi Khabar<http://filmikhabar.com/2007/10/10/jodhaa-akbar-music-to-release-on-november-27/>, the music of *Jodhaa Akbar* will be launched on 27th November. On 12thOctober, the theatrical promo was released. Unfortunately, two of the songs were deducted from the movie to keep it within three hours. One of the songs was a qawwali sung by A. R. Rahman. Ashutosh Gowariker first sought Rahman's consent for this deduction. Only to shoot the song, a lavish set was built. Aishwarya wanted to add those songs in her upcoming movies but Ashutosh has decided to add the songs in the DVD version -- regards, Vithur A.R.RAHMAN - THE GOD OF MUSIC
