One of the Greatest Motion Pictures of Our Time
Rating
(4.5/5)
By MovieTalkies.com, 15 February 2008.
Release Date : 15 February 2008
One of
the greatest motion pictures of our time, Jodhaa Akbar is asixteenth century
epic romance with heavy doses of electrifying dramaand wide canvas battle
sequences. Possibly the most ambitious and gutsyfilm to come out of Indian
cinema in recent years, possibly decades,Jodhaa Akbar is unchartered cinema
territory, breaking new ground inits filming and its mise-en-scene.
Ashutosh Gowariker takes on the mammoth task of making a prequel
toMughal-E-Azam, writing the possible love story between Emperor Akbarand
Jodhabai, which starts as a marriage of alliance when King Bharmalof Amer gives
his daughter's hand in marriage to Emperor Akbar. Fromthe Battle of Panipat
where the thirteen-year-old Jalaluddin wascrowned to his conquests and his
benevolent and just role that won himthe title of 'Akbar,' meaning 'The Great,'
the film traces the graph ofthe mighty emperor and his love for the defiant
Rajput princess. WhileMughal-E-Azam was Salim's love story, Jodhaa Akbar is
Akbar's lovestory. No other comparisons can be made between these two films,
andboth are masterpieces in their own right, rich and wide in theirstagings.
But Jodhaa Akbar is a film for today, contemporary in itsoutlook, with the
central love story flavoured with politicalconspiracies and palace intrigue,
and a very important film thatbesides its dramatic
entertainment also makes us realise the manyshades of secularism and its
importance.
Hrithik Roshan as Akbar is magnificent, giving a fantastic performancethat has
to be seen to be believed; his vocal intonations andcommanding expressions,
working every facial muscle in delivering hislines, makes you almost believe he
is a Mughal. When he proclaims 'Yehhamaara Mulk hai' or when he says 'Hamle ke
liye tayyaar' or when headmonishes his religious adviser Saadir Adasi in his
court forinterfering in matters of governance, you realize what a fine
actorHrithik is. Gowariker may have taken his time to make this film, butthe
effort is all there on the screen. You see a mature Hrithik who notonly
delivers fine dialogue with great command, but Gowariker puts himthrough an
elephant taming sequence, a sword duel with Jodhaa, battles,and a climactic
combat with the main villain; making good use of thebuild and prowess of the
star, the director makes this magnum opus asyoung and contemporary as possible
and at the same time vividlydetailed in time.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as Jodhaa is so real and convincing as a Rajputprincess
that you feel she has never before looked so good in a role.Aided by the grand
jewellery and costume finery, she shines as theprincess who makes the greatest
sacrifice for her people, consenting toa marriage of alliance with the Mughals.
The grace of her swordplaycoupled with some fine horse-riding makes you wonder
what kind ofpreparation went behind this film. Kudos to Gowariker for making
hisstars every inch the character they are enacting, and more.
Besides the eponymous pair, every actor puts in a splendid performance,but
worthy of mention above all supporting players is Ila Arun as MahamAnga,
Akbar's mother-like figure and guide, who has been instrumentalin bringing up
the young Jalal and now guides him in his governance.Sonu Sood as Jodhaa's
brother is also commendable, and Nikitin Dheer asSharifuddin, Akbar's
treacherous brother-in-law, is menacing and aworthy adversary to Hrithik's
Akbar.
The cinematography by Kiiran Deohans is regal and sweeping, be itcapturing the
romance between the players or the action in the battlesequences; from the
harsh sun-draped landscapes of Rajasthan to thetorch and candlelit interiors of
Agra fort, the lighting is impeccable,with all visuals aided by the rich
production design of Nitin Desai.The costumes by Neeta Lulla and the jewellery
by Tanishq add to thewondrous staging, creating imagery that speaks volumes.
Momentum to theromance and the action on-screen is given by crisp editing by
BalluSaluja coupled with Rahman's magnificent background score, and thesongs
also work well with the screenplay. Khwaja mere Khwaja isdivinely shot, and
Azeem-O-Shaan Shahenshah is a song that is so grandin its picturisation that it
makes you wonder how Gowariker and hischoreographers Rekha and Chinni Prakash
actually managed it! Hundredsand possibly thousand plus dancers create
choreographed geometry thatchallenges all that
has been done to-date in Indian cinema.
A great film that is undoubtedly Gowariker's labour of love, with
everydepartment standing by his vision and helping it come alive oncelluloid.
The spectacular scale coupled with the veteran director'ssensitive and
emotionally evolved direction, a rare combination inIndian cinema, makes this
film unique. Jodhaa Akbar will rule cinemas!
