For me, two histories fascinate me like haunted ghosts - Rajputs and Mughals. When I decided my first grand tour of India, my first choice were Rajasthan, Fatehpur Sikri, and Agra. Their stories are full of valor, pride, betrayal, and when I first heard, Ashutosh Gowariker will be making a film based on Akbar’s life, my expectations were touched sky level.
Ashutosh Gowariker’s Jodha Akbar(2008) is the story of formative years of legendary Mughal emperor, Akbar the great and his romantic life with fiery young Rajput princess, Jodhaa.
*Story
*Set in the sixteenth century, Jodha Akbar is an epic love story at the backdrop of rise of the Mughal Empire. After defeating Hindu king, Hemu in Panipat war with the help of his uncle Bairam Khan, young prince of Mughal Empire, Jalaluddin claims Delhi. In next 14 years, Jalaluddin Mohammad(Hrithik Roshan) along with his uncle builds the Mughal empire making Agra as biggest empire in Hindustan. Jalaluddin is been helped by his uncle in military matters, Muslim saints in religious matters, and Hindu Rana Todermal in finance matters.
As Mughal empire was expanding and merging other kingdoms into their empire by force or fear, great race called Rajputs from Rajputana refuses to surrender. After rebellion from his nephew Sujalmal, Hindu King Bharmal(Kulbhushan Kharbanda) of Amer forced to offer Jodhaa(Aishwarya Rai), his daughter’s hand to Mughal emperor for Mughal protection. When Jalaluddin finds out that Muslims who travels to Mecca for Hajj from Gujarat ports are having problems crossing Rajputana and Hindu King of Amer holds key political map to protect them, Jalaluddin accepts Amer King’s marriage proposal.
Just prior to the marriage, Jodhaa lays two conditions to Jalaluddin for the marriage - She will continue follow her religion and Hindu temple will be build in her palace. Impressed by fearsome nature of Jodha, Jalaluddin accepts her conditions. Mesmerized by defiant nature of Rajput princess, Jalaluddin redirects his focus from winning the battles to the winning the love of the beautiful Jodha. Soon marriage of alliance between two cultures and religions for political gain turns its focus on epic romance.
As Jalaluddin tries to please Jodha, he embarks on the journey of becoming beloved emperor by allowing equal status of Hindu and Muslim religions in his empire, abolishing Hindu pilgrimage tax, squashing traitors from the Muslim empire, and winning of love of all his people including Jodhaa turning him into one of the greatest Mughal Empire - Akbar the great.
What I Liked
First two battle scenes - One when Akbar was young and second when Akbar was adult - Both battles sequences are spectacular.
Hithrik’s entry - This was stunning buildup and we as an audience knew something big is approaching. Mughal empire just sent out messages to all kingdoms around Agra to either merge with their empire or ready for war. Series of scenes with kings refusing, accepting, considering Mughal’s message, we see one warrior getting ready for war, and that warrior - Akbar’s face renders on the silver screen saying "Hamle Ke Liye Taiyaar" - Simply Outstanding.
Stunning Cinematography and spectacular shots of forts especially night shots of Agra Fort and Amber Fort - One should watch this movie to only see this. Interior and exterior shots of Agra fort and Amber fort, interiors Akbar-Jodha’s intimate palace in Agra fort, interiors of Agra fort’s Kitchen, exteriors around Amber Fort are simply masterpieces. I have been to Jaipur and Agra and it felt like those palaces came alive on silver screen - Simply Brilliant.
Music - What one should say about Jodha-Akbar’s music? As Hrithik responds - "How is music? It’s Rahman, Is it different? Its Rahman, Is it mind-blowing? Its Rahman, Is it masterpiece? It’s Rahman." Thought of Jodha Akbar’s music means Royal, Epic, Romantic, Divine, Dignified, and Melodious and that’s what it is. Five Songs - One has Epic feeling tribute to Akbar- Azeem-O-Shaan Shahenshah, Sufi Qawwalli for Muslim religion - Khwaja Mere Khawaja, Bhajan for Hindu religion - Mann Mohana, One for royal romance - Jashn-E-Bahaara, and one for tribute to love - In Lamhon Ke Daaman Mein are brilliantly shot and worth to watch.
Hrithik and Aishwarya’s powerhouse performances - Both Hrithik and Aishwarya were born to play Akbar and Jodhaa. Hrithik is royal, regal, and charismatic as Mughal Emperor. Aishwarya is luminous, feisty, yet amazingly simple beauty as Rajput Princess.
Costumes and Jwellery - Just look at Hrithik and Aishwarya and you see royal wealth everywhere. Aishwarya being a Rajput princess looks simple but Hrithik as Mughal emperor looks imperial with amazing costumes.
How Akbar gets up and his divinely spiritual dance at the end of Sufi Qawwalli falling in lap of god on his wedding-night - Best moment of the movie.
*What I Didn’t Like
*1. First 15-20 minutes takes long time to start - One of the biggest problems with Jodha-Akbar is it takes too long to build the momentum. First half an hour when Ashutosh focuses on the Akbar’s young life, Jodha’s young life, Akbar’s ultimatum to neighborhood kingdoms, Jodha’s step-brother’s problems seems never-ending history class.
Half-backed Screenplay - The relation between Jodha and her brother and the relation between Akbar and his brother-in-law.
Mann Mohana’s placement - In the situation where Akbar is busy discussing people’s problem in Diwan-E-Aaam, placement of Mann Mohana song was both amusing and stupid at times. One doesn’t want to see beautiful bhajan rendered in the middle of emperor’s important meetings.
Ash-Hithrik’s Sword Duel - We knew this wasn’t serious duel. It was game played between two lovers and what is started as mesmerizing swordplay soon becomes overdrawn duel.
My Biggest Problem with the Film
Ashutosh’s love for his material - Knowing track-record of Aushotosh’s films with Lagaan, Swadesh, and now Jodha-Akbar, one thing is sure that he doesn’t know how to edit and control the film in manageable time. He seems falling in love with his script and just like no mother wants to abandon their child, Ashutosh doesn’t want to abandon any scenes. That’s where his biggest pitfall with the Jodha-Akbar. Ashutosh needed to know how far he needs to go with Akbar’s history - If his movie focuses on Akbar-Jodha’s love story then movie should have ended with Azeem-o-Shan Shehanshah when Akbar and Jodha reunite. Scenes after that showing Hithrik’s failed assassination, his recovery, and his duel with his step brother was unnecessary. Last half an hour is more of Akbar the warrior part and it should have been in the future Akbar’s stories told by Ashutosh.
*Conclusion
*Make no mistake; Jodha Akbar is an epic love story between the warrior and the princess. 30% is the historical fact and 70% is the fiction. Forget about authenticity of Mughal or Rajput history, if you want to see royal love story then watch this film. If you are real history buff and expect to see Akbar the great running his empire then you will be disappointed. Since I fall in between, I have mixed feelings about the overall impact of the movie. Overall, Jodha Akbar is a grand spectacle in epic proposition but failed to stand along with magnum opus of Indian films like Mughal-E-Azam.