Reviewed by Tajpal Rathore
Updated 11 February 2008
Contains moderate battle violence
One is perhaps starting to expect too much from director
Ashutosh Gowariker after such masterpieces like Lagaanand Swades. But he seems
to raise the bar with his historicmagnum-opus, Jodhaa Akbar. The ever-selective
Hrithik Roshan stars asthe benevolent Akbar, the Mughal emperor, who falls in
love withgracious Jodhaa, the Hindu Rajput princess, played effortlessly
byAishwarya Rai. Although the 16th-century love story upon which it'sbased
might be long forgotten, this endearing treatment sears into thememory through
sheer size and scale alone.
Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar is a righteous and tolerant emperor, ruler
of the Mughal Empire. So tolerant in fact that he accepts a Hindu
Rajput princess as his wife under an alliance that gradually blossoms
into true love. The obvious implications of the Hindu/Muslim
reconciliation abound, but the sting in all this comes in the form of
Maham Anga (Ila Arun), a shrewd and manipulative woman and aunt to
Akbar, who plans to eradicate competition from anyone else he holds
dear. She concocts a devious plan that challenges Jodhaa's integrity
and results in her being cast out. At the same time, a political storm
is brewing elsewhere, as other armies challenge Akbar's honourable
rule. But can he conquer hearts as well as minds like the outspoken
Jodhaa had once questioned?
"EVERYTHING IS BIG AND GRAND"
Extensive though it is, Jodhaa Akbar cannot be discussed using small
talk. Everything in the film is big and grand: the palaces, the armies
and most importantly, the love story. It hits at the heartstrings and
somehow has enough energy to sustain itself through the bloated script
that perhaps should've been chopped. Ravishing Rai is convincing enough
but its Roshan's majestic performance as the love-struck warrior that
packs the punch; it's his film from start to finish. Don't let the
running time put you off watching this unashamedly epic tale.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2008/02/11/jodhaa_akbar_2008_review.shtml
