** *http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=129425* ** *JODHAA AKBAR* is a sixteenth-century love story about a marriage alliance that gave birth to true love between a great Mughal emperor and a Rajput princess, but in the trailers and as well as stories from what we got to know about *Jodhaa Akbar, *there was a news, which was hidden but revealed later by AR Rahman. The news about Aishwarya Rai's singing ability. Yes, it's true. We all know about Aishwarya's beauty but it was Ashutosh Gowariker, who saw the beauty of Aishwarya within. He discovered the budding talent of Aishwarya.
It was music composer Rahman who gave away the sweet little secret of Aishwarya, at the music launch of *Jodhaa Akbar. *As according to Rahman, "There is an interesting story behind the song called *Mana Mohana* (song devoted to Lord Krishna) in the film, which is sung by singer Bela Shende. Initially Gowariker wanted Aishwarya to dub for the song, as he believed that she could sing the tune splendidly. However our dates never worked out. When Ash was ready I was busy recording something else and vice versa. The co-ordination didn't happen. So Bela went ahead and sang this wonderful song." He added, "Also I have sung one song myself, which is called *Khwaja Mere Khwaja*, a prayer which is regularly sung at Ajmer Sharif durgah. I had composed the song for myself much before *Jodhaa Akbar* was conceived! I just happened to make Gowariker hear the song. He loved it and said he wanted the song in the film," added the music composer, who is all set to launch his music school soon. The sounds and songs are very contemporary, the music is simple - mainly instruments and vocals and there are no flashy use of sounds. The movie itself is surrounded with superstars; if you think *Jodhaa Akbar* just belonged to the Bachchan bahu and Hrithik Roshan, then I guess you are wrong. The film also has reel life Jodhaa's real life father-in-law, Amitabh Bachchan in it. You will not see him but hear him in the film as he is all set to give a voiceover to the film, the way he did for Gowariker Oscar-nominated *Lagaan*. As Bachchan says, "Ashu included me in the cast and crew of *Jodhaa* in his speech. This is a little unfair for others as I am just giving a voiceover to the film. My association with Ashu goes back to *Lagaan* where I did the same. *Lagaan* did very well and I am sure *Jodhaa Akbar* will also repeat its success. My work in *Jodhaa* hasn't started as yet." Well, the love hidden deep below bitterness and extreme chauvinism in *Jodhaa Akbar* is there for all to see, I am sure the untold love story would turn out to be a big hit. -- regards, Vithur A.R.RAHMAN - THE ABODE OF DIVINE MUSIC
