|
| Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sonu Sood, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Suhasini Mulay | | Director: Ashutosh Gowariker | | Producer: Ashutosh Gowarikar, Ronnie Screwvala | | Music: A R Rahman |
Anupama Chopra, Consulting Editor, Films
The first word that came to my mind as I watched Jodhaa Akbar was epic.
Everything about this film is big – the scale on which it has been mounted, the passion which director and co-producer Ashutosh Gowariker has poured into every frame, the startling beauty of its leads Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and its daunting length of three hours and 20 minutes.
Ashutosh isn't a timid director. He finds no satisfaction in creating the generic, instantly disposable Bollywood film.
Ashutosh dreams big and goes where other filmmakers fear to tread. Who else but Ashutosh could create a sublime, superbly erotic love story about an already married couple, who live in the 16th century. Jodhaa and Akbar marry to keep the peace between Rajputs and Mughals.
The night before the wedding, her mother gives her a vial of poison, a way out in case she cannot bear the humiliation.
It turns out that she doesn’t need it. Akbar, an uneducated but enlightened monarch, refuses to force himself on his wary wife. He promises that he will come to her bed only when her heart gives her permission to be one with him.
What follows is a hesitant, yearning romance in which husband and wife overcome their religious and cultural differences and some serious harem intrigues and learn to love each other. Is any of this true? Nobody knows and frankly I don’t think you’ll care because Ashutosh and his writer Haider Ali create this romance so convincingly.
Hrithik and Aishwarya have enough electricity to light up a few of the vast palaces art director Nitin Desai has so painstakingly created in the film. In an interview, Ashutosh said that Hrithik and Aishwarya were his dream cast. I think they were his only cast. It's impossible to imagine any other actors playing these roles.
Hrithik embodies the great emperor without ever becoming theatrical. He is regal, imposing, sometimes haughty but always human.
Aishwarya carries the lighter load, nicely. She looks more beautiful than she has in any of her recent films. Her eyes flash fire, especially in a sword fighting sequence, in which she nearly decapitates her husband.
This is, as far as I know, the only sword fighting as sexual foreplay sequence in Hindi cinema. What weighs the film down are the peripherals surrounding this romance. The political intrigues and anti-Akbar plots are predictable and limp. So are the actors enacting them. Many of the supporting characters are pure cardboard and scenes just seem to go dead when Akbar and Jodhaa exit the frame.
This would have been less problematic if the film was shorter but at three hours plus, it becomes frustratingly dull.
The first half of the film is exhilarating but in the second you are likely to get impatient and restless. The last 15 minutes feel like the end of a marathon.
Despite this, I strongly recommend Jodhaa Akbar. Ashutosh, Hrithik and Aishwarya want half a day of your life.
It's a big demand but this is a worthy film. Jodhaa Akbar is a grand and gorgeous labour of love.
Watch it!
|
|
Surfer Speaks....
Jodha Akbar-a best epic after Mughal-e-Azam.The movie which is based on romance,history of Akbar and wars between two kingdoms.Ashutosh has moved from excellence to perfection.Doubtlessly,the movie is disliked by many people as it is a history but this is the best example of Mughals and Emperors.And it is quite lengthy which makes it frustatingly dull.
The dialogues,cinematography,costumes and sword fighting sequence are absolutely superb.Hrithik did a flawless job.He has shown a marvellous performance in acting as well as in fighting. He is looking a real Shehanshah.Aish is equally looking stunning and beautiful-Her eyes are so impressive and full of fire in sword fighting sequence.There is a fantastic and fabulous expression of relationship between Jodha and Akbar.The pair has done wonders to the movie.
Music is soul-stirring.The songs are perfectly situational.Khwaja mere Khwaja is eternal...same is with Azeemo-o-Shaan,,and nonetheless the song Jashan-e-Bahara is equally enchanting...must watch movie... -- KIMI AERI (kim_aeri21@yahoo.com)
Acccording to me after Mugahl-e- azam JODHA AKBAR is the best epic film.Ashutosh has done an awesome job and his efforts need to be applauded.
Hrithik is looking a real shehanshah in the movie.Aish is equally looking nice.The love of the emperor(HRITHIK) towards his princess(AISH)is very fascinating.No doubt the movie is disliked by many people and that too for the reason that movie is too lengthy which creates boredom for some audience.
The songs are very nice.The Dance of Hrithik in khwaja mere khwaja is liked by many people.A.R rahman is genious.Thousands of people are dancing together in a superb coordination in the title track.
The chemistry between Hrithik and Aish is superb.The fight scenes of the movie are also beautifully cinematographed.
I recommend everyone to watch this movie..... -- KIMI AERI (kim_aeri21@yahoo.com)
After much much acclaimed patriotic piece like lagaan and swades, Ashutosh gowariker coming up with a periodic movie jodha Akbar. jodha akber is a love story between the mughal emperor akbar and a rajput princess jodha. hrithik and aishwaraya are very good acting performed in this film. Music by A.R.rahman is perfect classic material. cinemaphotography is of international standards.kiran deohan`s performed very better in this work. beside this, lyrics,editing,choreography and direction is also very well of this film. -- Manpreet singh (goldy_journalist007)
|
|
|
|
|
|