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An invincible player is not the one who is talented - its not the one whose skills demand a standing ovation - its not someone who has a history of creating history in winning. An invincible player is the one who knows that at any point , at any juncture of the game, the whole game can turn upside down. An invincible player is the one who knows that he/she is not invincible. An invincible player is the one who sees himself/herself not as a winner - but as a GAMECHANGER.
This is what Jalaal, Ruqqu and to some extent, even Jodha needs to learn. Mostly, Jalaal. His trust in the ones who claim to love him, honour him and owe allegiance to him - Maham. Adham, Ruqqu reflects two things - 1. Jalaal has a very naive heart - if you were to take a needle's prick for him, he would believe that you will give your life for him. 2. He gives a lot of leverage and liberties to the ones he holds important and they ride on his flexible reins.
He needs to change both the traits mentioned above. Its not that Jalaal is dependent/ excessively reliant on these three - when he has to raise his voice and orbs and say 'ENOUGH', he does it - but that is not enough. He has to stop looking for support and company-in-plotting in them. He has to find someone real who is an equal and is objective in view and character. And that is how Jodha comes into play and that is how his fixation with her is explained, apart from his heated passion for her as a man.
Today,even though Jalaal was quite miffed with Jodha's lecture to Adham in the open ( remember that its 1500s before you start harping about women rights ) - he let her say what she wanted to and then, calmly but firmly told her to return to her chambers. Jodha's fearless spirit both frustrates and fascinates him - and that is why he is so cuckoo all the time these days.
I do not doubt Jalaal's sense of justice as such after witnessing his trial with the Hindu Artists. He is harsh and strict because of his nature - but he gives them a fair chance to keep their case , just like he had given that Rajput king. If you manage to convince him with proofs and believable arguments , he will stand by you and he has done this before. After he has questioned the artists, he tells Adham to basically take a walk and he stands by the Hindus. So, if you can prove your side true and convince Jalaal, he will stand by you. Its dicey, though.
Jodha, on the other hand, even though overwhelmed and touched by the love of her mom-in-law , continues to live in a 'fixated fear; of Jalaal even though , on the surface she shows no signs of being scared of him. She believes that even if Jalaal is breathing , he is breathing to make her life hell. Her pre-conditioned hatred and Jalaal's monstrous behaviour that night have made Jodha so awry that she is opaque to any possibility of Jalaal doing anything out of sheer goodness.
The 'aankhon ki gustaakhiyaan' match during the festival in the darbaar is worth a watch for two things. One, Jalaal and Jodha have eyes only for each-other - there was a veil between them and yet,Jalaal would keep looking at her and her eyes would keep wandering to Jalaal. No love lost here, though. Jalaal keeps looking at Jodha's image because its habitual. Jodha keeps looking at Jalaal wondering what her man has got up his sleeve next. Jalaal imagines Jodha spewing the Rajput glory in his face but in that imagination, he appreciates her brave spirit. Jodha has begun to read Jalaal's mysterious persona unconsciously , so when Jalaal mentions ' mohraa and khel' , she knows he is talking about her, taking off from their conversation in the morning.
As for the play of chess, its echoing in meanings and symbolism. And am not talking about Ruqqu's over confidence or Jodha's silent honour here. Ruqqu proudly says that she has surrounded the Baadshah ( Jodha's baadshah as she says ) and he is gonna fall. This indicates lack of emotional attachment to Jalaal. Jodha looks worried and we know that she will save Baadshah.That indicates that Jodha won't let Jalaal become a genie in the lamp for the likes of Ruqqu and MA. She maybe late but she will save him by nurturing him with love , perseverance and turn him into a balanced human-being who doesn't think that having a heart is a sign of weakness. That is the whole essence of the chessboard scene , only if Jodha saves the King on the board. ...after all, Jodha is the gamechanger in this story and the gamechanger always wins. So, Jalaal toh Jodha ka hokar hi rahega, Ruqqaiya Begum.😉
Precap? This is the beginning of Jodha's fight to prove to the Mughals that there is nothing known as " Gairr Kaum". Jab banaane waale ne koi farak nahiin kiyaa, toh insaan kya cheez hai. Right?
P.S- Ohh, just curious, Jodha. How does it matter what Ruqqu demands from Jalaal? ...Its none of your business , right?... Or is it? Ittna mut socho Jalaal ke baare mein...😆
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