JODHAA AKBAR MOVIE REVIEW - POST HERE - Page 2

Thanks for sharing!!! I really can't wait to see this movie. I'm seeing it tomorrow at 9 pm!!! Sooooooo excited to see my king akbar!!

Here's another review: The verdict first: Jodhaa Akbar is a clear winner, but it isn't the kind of movie that would knock off your socks.

One thought it would, considering the sheer size of its canvas: a $10 million budget, fascinating storyline and Bollywood's most beautiful onscreen couple in lead roles. So where did director Ashutosh Gowarikar slip up? Perhaps in the script, which, though coherent, is not cohesive.

But what the movie lacks in intent and bite, it more than makes up in visual appeal.


Jodhaa Akbar may not be most romantic Bollywood movie ever made, but it certainly is the most spectacular, which is why you need to watch it on the bigscreen and not wait for its DVD release.

And now the most important question. Do Hrithik Roshan and Aishwara look their part?

Yes, they do.

Cast as the fearless, yet compassionate and liberal Mughal emperor Jalaluddin Mohammad Akbar who takes on elephants with bare hands in his pastime and goes around town incognito to feel the pulse of his people, Hrithik is brilliant.

As is Aishwarya — the regal Rajput princess, Jodha Bai, who agrees to a marriage of alliance with Akbar but only on the condition that she would be allowed the freedom to practice her religion.

This is easily Aishwarya's best performance yet.

The on-screen chemistry between Aishwarya and Hrithik is amazing as they take the audience on a roller coaster ride of high emotion and drama with some stellar performances.

BEST SCENES OF THE MOVIE:

When Jodha Bai takes on Akbar's foster mother Maham Agha (played by Ila Arun) at a royal Rajput feast

Akar trying to woo a hard-to-get Jodha at her place in Amer

THUMBS UP:

* Lavish sets, brilliant acting, flawless direction

* Great music by AR Rahman

THUMBS DOWN:

* Overly long, plot not gripping

Source: http://www.naachgaana.com/2008/02/14/jodhaa-akbar-movie-revi ew/

Review
By Filmicafe.com, 14 February 2008

Jodhaa Akbar "The Eternal Love Story", Ashutosh Gorwarikar fifth movie after setting a record of giving 2 back to back hits "Swades" and "Lagaan", the expectations tied to his upcoming venture were definitely high. The question always remained could Ashutosh Gorwarikar pull a Hatrick with his Latest but most delayed venture "Jodhaa Akbar". The answer is Yes, Ashutosh pulls a Hatrick with a masterpiece like "Jodhaa Akbar"

Jodhaa Akbar is not only special and important for Ashutosh Gorwarikar but its also special to the entire cast and crew.
1) Its Aishwarya Rai Bachchan first film after her marriage
2) Hrithik Roshan steps on to silver screen after giving a hit with "Krissh" and "Dhoom2"
3) Hot pair of "Dhoom 2" Hrithik Roshan and Aishwariya Rai (Bachchan) come together once again after creating alot of Dhoom with "Dhoom 2".
4) Not only the hit pair of "Dhoom 2" stars in Jodhaa Akbar but the duo Ashutosh and A.R.Rahman come together once again with some extraordinary music for another period film.
5) Mr Amitabh Bachchan lending a hand in the promotion of Jodhaa Akbar.

Need any more reasons....

To start of with "Jodhaa Akbar" has been in news for all the wrong "reasons"
a) There was a controversy on the issue whether or not Jodhaa Bai was an actual being and it was politically incorrect to conjure up the "Love" story between Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar and Jodhaa Bai.
b) The Whole "Tu Tu Main Main" between the Bachchan family and Roshan family over the so called controverisal kiss in "Dhoom 2"
c) Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan daggers drawn at each other while shooting
d) The release date of the movie pushed forward from October 12, 2007 - Feburary 15, 2008.
e) Aishwarya Rai's nakhra's to Ashutosh's ghussa
f) Issues with the length of the movie being cut from 4 hrs to 3.20 - Most people raised issues whether Ashutosh was conveying a love story or a lullaby...

However after all the Hush Hush, secretive shooting and spending almost Rs 40 Crores on a period film, one could say that Ashutosh Gorwarikar has made a Hatrick with his latest period film " Jodhaa Akbar." Most capturing aspect of Jodhaa Akbar is touches the soul of millions out there who could relate back to historical love story with its up's and down.

Now For the story:

Jodhaa Akbar is the untold love story between Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar and Jodhaa Bai. Set in the sixteenth century Jodhaa Akbar, entails a love story about a marriage of alliance that gave birth to true love between a great Mughal Emperor, Akbar [Hrithik Roshan] and a Rajput princess, Jodhaa[Aishwarya Rai Bachchan]. Politically, success knew no bounds for Emperor Akbar, after having secured the Hindu Kush, he furthered his realm by conquest until his empire extended from Afghanistan to the Bay of Bengal, and from the Himalayas to the Godhavari River.

Through a shrewd blend of tolerance, generosity and force, Akbar won the allegiance of the Rajputs, the most belligerent Hindus. But little did Akbar know that when he married Jodhaa, a fiery Rajput princess, in order to further strengthen his relations with the Rajputs, he would in turn be embarking upon a new journey - the journey of true love. The daughter of King Bharmal of Amer [Kulbhushan Kharbanda], Jodhaa resented being reduced to a mere political pawn in this marriage of alliance, and Akbar's biggest challenge now did not merely lie in winning battles, but in winning the love of Jodhaa - a love hidden deep below resentment and extreme prejudice. Jodhaa Akbar is their untold love story.

They say "The more the viewer is inquisitive about you film the better it is". That certainly holds true for "Jodhaa Akbar", most of the newer generation including the old one were quite familiar with the tale of Akbar being bestowed with his son Salim, the Eternal Love story of Anarkli and Salim, Jodhaa bai being the pillar of support for Akbar and her son Salim. But how was it that an arranged marriage between an Empreor Akbar and feisty princess Jodhaa end up with a successful marriage when youngsters today reject the idea of "arranged marriages". Everyone saw Emperor Akbar as a fighter, a stern father but nobody ever saw his side of a husband and a friend, similarly we saw Jodhaa Bai as mother torn between her husband and son but how was her relationship alone with Akbar 10 years before Salim was born.

As a moviegoers one is remain glued to their seats right from the first frame to the last frame, the anxiousness, the anxiety creeps up and you hope and pray that the Movie's worth the watch. With a terrific star cast and crew, Director Ashutosh Gorwarikar tugs at the hurt of the moviegoers. To attempt a movie like "Jodhaa Akbar", it takes alot to of courage, knowledge and perseverance to come up with an imaginary yet close to heart love story.

Some of the magical moments trapped in the director and cinematographers camera
a) Hrithik taming an out of control elephant. No actor would even attempt going near an wild animal and to capture the right the emotions during the scene while not thinking about jeopardizing your life... leaves one stunned.
b)The two pre-conditions set by Jodhaa, before her marriage to Akbar. Who would think women at the time of 16th century would have the guts to put conditions on her own marriage instead of being submissive we see a new side to the 16th century women.
c) Jodhaa's fiery and feisty nature of cooking her own meal and being independent. Yet again touching the aspect of dependency on your "servants "and turning to be an independent woman clears the misconception about the women around 16th century.
d) Intermission where thread of trust weakens between Akbar and Jodhaa. Well enacted scene by Hrithik and Aishwarya, makes you want to stay glued to seat anticipating what will happen next.
e) The sword fight between Jodhaa Bai and Akbar
f) Finally the Climax of the "Jodhaa Akbar" leaves you spell bounded and speechless.

Ashutosh Gowariker has given the film a grand look, captured intricate details minutely and handled the theme beautifully. He captures your attention right from the first frame to last frame. One is entranced and awestruck with beautiful visuals. Full points to Haidar Ali and Ashutosh for writing a close to heart "Love Story" between Emperor Akbar and Jodhaa Bai. Gowariker leads the way as a director first, and as much as the man behind the story and screenplay.

"Jodhaa Akbar" is embellished with great cinematography ([Kiran Deohans] she uses uses color and camera to bring out the mood in each scene, with some of the most authentic sets recreated by [Nitin Desai], to the brilliant dialogues by [K.P. Saxena], summing up fantastic editing [Ballu Saluja] and soulful music by [A.R. Rahman]. Special mention to [Neeta Lulla] for creating 16th century era costumes and jewelry with attention being paid to the finest detail for every piece.

A R Rahmans background score combines with Kiran Deohans for a strong audio-visual impact. The songs impress by themselves, and instrumental notes from the songs work brilliantly in the background track - that keeps you listening and appreciating it from the titles to the credits at the end. The songs blend into the movie with Javed Akhtars mesmerizing lyrics. To compose music for such a film needs lot of dedication, imagination, research and understanding of directors vision and Rahman pulls it off with great lan. One can't imagine anyone else coming up with such a score which not only compliments the movie so well, also raises the bar for Ashutosh to make the visuals even more enticing in which Ashutosh and Kiran excel.

Coming to performances Jodhaa Akbar doesnt work only because of the mastermind behind the camera but also by some of the outstanding performances by the lead and supporting actors. After watching "Jodhaa Akbar" its difficult to imagine anyone elese playing the role of Emperor Akbar. Hrithik enacts his role to "T", the confidence and grace that Emperor would need, he embodies the role like a pro. Truly a mind-boggling performance. Aishwarya Rai gives her best performance to date. She uses her emotive eyes to the best of her ability. She essays the role of Jodhaa Bai with alot of grace and elegance and ends it a flawless performance. However the film doesnt rest on Hrithik and Aishwarya's shoulders but the supporting cast also add the trump card for the movie, rite from Kulbushan Kharbanda, Sonu Sood , Nikitin Dheer , Ila Arun, Punam S. Sinha add to finese of the movie.

On the whole, Jodhaa Akbar is one of the finest work directed by Ashutosh, A brilliant film indeed. A must watch for Everyone!! and truly a treat Ashutosh's, Hrithik's and Aishwarya's fans.

Gosh I just cant wait to see the film. I am watching it today.

Thanks for all the reviews guys.

Movie Review: Jodhaa Akbar, a masterpiece

(Abhijit Mhamunkar)
Publication Date 14/2/2008 7:21:44 PM(IST)


Young moghul emperor Jalaluddin (Hrithik) sets out to bring the entire India under his flagship and deploys orders to the neighbouring states to either accept his honour or face his wrath. This sets a wave of panic amongst the Rajputana states. While a few decide to accept it unconditionally, others start aligning to set up a front against him. Amongst them is also, Amer''s Raja Bharmal (Kulbhushan Kharbanda) who offers his acceptance with a condition that Jalaluddin will marry his only daughter Jodhaa (Aishwarya) in return. But just before their wedding, the fiery Rajput princess Jodhaa also sets her two clauses in front of Jalal, that he will not change her religion and allow her a small temple space within his fort. Jalal agrees and thus a marriage of alliance between two varied cultures and religions takes place for political gain.


With his marriage starts Jalal's journey of winning the love of his wife - who feels she has been used as a pawn in the game of politics - and fighting hidden enemies within and outside his trusted circle and eventually becoming Akbar the great.



Actors: From a young novice king with all his vulnerabilities to a lover who constantly strives to strengthen his relation with his wife and a no nonsense ruler who wins the hearts of his masses and enemies alike, Hrithik is nothing short of marvelous. Ladies are definitely going to swoon at his bare-chested sword practicing sequence. Aishwarya Rai not only looks her best ever on screen but delivers an astonishing performance and conveys a lot through her eyes. Sonu Sood playing Sujamal, her unfortunate brother makes a good impact whereas newcomer Nikitan Dheer as Akbar's scheming brother in law impresses with his electrifying screen presence. Poonam Sinha exudes grace while Ila Arun playing Hrithik's wily foster mother cum advisor is just perfect.

Direction: Ashutosh's labour of love is visible in every single frame of the movie. Having made one of the most opulent films in Indian Cinema, Gowariker deserves a bow for his vision and successful handling of the epic love story. He superbly merges two different tracks – the unusual romance between the royal couple and political intrigues. The wonderful songs are aptly placed moving the story ahead and their picturisation befitting. His casting is just perfect too. But at times you do keep feeling that the editing could have been tighter. But nevertheless, his is a splendid effort with great aid from Nitin Desai's awe inspiring production design, Kiran Deohans' outstanding cinematography and Ravi Dewan's edge of the seat action sequences.


Script: Gowariker and Haider Ali's script manages to cover a gamut of issues but at the same time tends to lengthen the running time (3 hr. 33 mins). But, they have succeeded in packing it up with some remarkable sequences, notably – Hrithik's taming of an errant elephant, Aish and Ila Arun's confrontation in the royal kitchen and the scene following it where Hrithik eats from the same platter which Aish was forced to eat it first, Hrithik confronting Aish after a misunderstanding over her character, Aish and Hrithik's sword fight, Hrithik expressing his love to Aish during sunset and the final one on one combat between Hrithik and Nikitan that reminds you of Brad Pitt – Eric Bana fight from Troy. The script is replete with many more such gems that make JA a great watch. s

Music: Apart from his music (that gradually grows on you), Rahman also makes an amazing impact with his background score. The Khwaja Mere Khwaja number takes you in a trance, the Azeem-o-shaan Shahenshah song leaves you spell bound by its picturisation while Jashne Bahara has a mesmerizing effect.

Source: http://www.mynews.in/fullstory.aspx?storyid=2330

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Movie Review: Jodhaa Akbar - It's fabulous! Director: Ashutosh Gowariker Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai Rating: ****  Let the cynics not disillusion you citing reasons of credibility, long runtime, Troy treatment references or the ancient jinx associated with historicals. Jodhaa Akbar is a brilliant work of cinematic excellence. Period! No there's more to the review. Just keep an adjective count hereon. Ashutosh Gowariker goes two more centuries back from his Lagaan era to deliver another magnificent masterpiece by weaving a gripping narrative around the Mughal Emperor Akbar and Rajput Princess Jodhaa. The beautifully recreated 15th Century period doesn't give any scope at pointing fingers and perfectionist too might feel it pointless to debate on historical facts, especially when the final output is conveniently convincing and equally entertaining. The film expectedly starts with the mandatory prologue in Amitabh Bachchan's voiceover on India being intruded since the advent of 11th Century and the Mughals arriving in five hundred years later. Clearly the Mughal invaders are shown in a positive light since they settled in India. And thereon emerges the third generation Mughal Prince Jallaluddin Mohammad (Hrithik Roshan) who grows up as a ruthless warrior and brave ruler but simultaneously possessing a heart of gold and a clean conscience. Right from the outset his character is established in heroic conduct which doesn't seek any transformation of sorts. So the story gets ample scope to focus on his love with Jodhaa. The Mughals strategize war with neighbouring Rajput kingdoms whereby Rajput King Bharmal (Kulbhushan Kharbanda) plans a peace treaty with Mughal by a marriage proposition of Jallaludin with his daughter Jodhaa (Aishwarya Rai). The alliance initiates love between the two but war with the remainder Rajputs. Both at the audience's advantage! That's the simplest you could summarize the three-hour plus script. Ashutosh has a skillful sense of vision and connects with the viewer with equivalent ease. The well-etched screenplay (co-written by Gowariker and Hyder Ali) maintains a perfect poise between historical relevance and contemporary entertainment. The film at no point becomes a lesson from history textbooks and at the same time doesn't take prose liberty either. Special mention should be given to the meticulous effort put in by K P Saxena in penning dialogues in chaste Hindi and unblemished Urdu dialect that re-erect the bygone era and in unison is also easily assimilative to the current generation. Right from the opening war sequence the film sets the ball rolling for an engrossing series of events to follow. Despite its long runtime, the film doesn't drag at any instance and uses the blitzkrieg technique of nonstop bombardments of episodes in its narration. Hrithik's taming of the elephant, swordfight with Aishwarya, dagger-combat in the climax and the magnanimously mounted battlefield sequences are some of the spectacularly executed scenes of this glorious effort. The minute detailing in Kiran Deohans' cinematography, Nitin Desai's production design, Neeta Lulla's costumes, Ravi Dewan's action and A R Rehman's background score is superlative, to say the least. On the flipside, the first 20 minutes of the second half tends to get a little slack with Akbar's attempts at gelling with his junta. The love duet in the latter reels acts as a dampner. Sonu Sood's death sequence turns out to be conveniently clichd and the final fight is fashionably filmi. With the entire movie revolving around Akbar, Hrithik has all in his favour and does complete justice to what he gets. One cannot think of a better Akbar as Hrithik effortlessly gets into his character, which the audience can easily identify with. Aishwarya appears as the ethereal beauty and does well. Sonu Sood has a conventional character but plays persuasively. Nikiten Dheer promises good potential. Ila Arun is impressive as the vicious foster-mother. But why does Poonam Sinha bear an accent? Other members of the cast are pretty convincing. Aishwarya and Hrithik bring to life the splendid chemistry between Jodhaa and Akbar as it is delicately simmered amidst a political backdrop. While the romance doesn't get mushy, the action doesn't get too heavy. The film very smoothly switches genres from a war drama to a love story with no palpable jolts. While the romance between Jodhaa and Akbar doesn't get mushy, the action doesn't get too heavy. The film very smoothly switches genres from a war drama to a love story with no palpable jolts. Everything is not just fair in 'love and war'. It's fabulous! http://movies.indiatimes.com/moviereview/2783121.cms

--------------------------------------------- Movie Review: A grand love affair Source: Mumbai Mirror Meena Iyer Mirror Ratiing: * * * * As he pierces the air with his sword, his bare torso perfect, muscles taut, and sweat glistening on his sinewy back, Hrithik Roshan in his screen version of Mughal Emperor Jalaluddin Akbar makes you catch your breath. Gowariker's film is set in the sixteenth century and it traces the graph of a confused but conscientious teenage prince, who has a crown thrust upon his head. Though he is initially squeamish about getting his sword bloodied, he manages to become the emperor of Hindustan with relative ease; and through his conquests and deeds wins himself the title of Akbar the Great. Simultaneously the film also follows the trajectory of Akbar's love story with the Rajput princess Jodhaa. Their dalliance is a politically motivated move, but it has the magic of a true-blue romance. The first 20 minutes of the film unfold slowly because the plot-line and the various characters are established slowly. But once the Jodhaa-Akbar marriage is arranged, the magic of romance takes over. Interestingly the reticent Rajput princess Jodhaa (Aishwarya) is not too eager to give herself up to the all-powerful Mughal Emperor Akbar. And she walks into the relationship by laying down conditions; of how she will not convert to Islam; and she also requests for a temple to be made in her corner of the palace. An indulgent Akbar agrees to fulfil his queen's wishes much to the chagrin of the hardliners in his court. And though he's liberal in thought, Jodhaa takes her own sweet time to warm up to her Prince Charming. Here-in lies the magic of this love story. The fact that the couple don't consummate their wedding on their first night; the fact that much of the romance is played out aankhon hi aankhon mein adds a lot of colour and character to this story. You get none of those been-there-done-that romantic cliches. Instead, Hrithik almost maks you smile as he caresses Aishwarya with his his longing, soulful eyes. And she, in turn, looks vulnerable and virginal as is expected of her. Obviously while the romance between Jodhaa and Akbar is the mainstay of the plot there are several other dramatic moments provided by sub-plots revolving around deceit, conspiracy, murder and jealousy. Ila Arun (Moham Anga) Akbar's surrogate mother and his queen Jodhaa are locked in a battle of jealousy; and then there is the emperor's brother-in-law played by debutant Nikitin Dheer (Shariffuddin Hussain), who keeps making innumerable plots to overthrow Akbar. Kiron Deohans's cinematography is ostentatious. The vibrant colours and images stay with you long after the lights come on. Dialogue writer K P Saxena comes up with some powerful lines. And Gowariker and story-writer Haider Ali provide a competent sceeenplay. A R Rahman weaves magic with his sufiana 'Khwaja mere khwaja' and Javed Akhtar captures the magical mood perfectly in 'Azeem-o-shaan Shahenshah' and 'Khwaja mere...' As for the performances, Hrithik Roshan brings to life Emperor Akbar in all his glory. The actor is superlative in the intense moments, and charismatic when he is playing the romantic. Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan looks picture-perfect and fits into queen Jodhaa's shoes with her restrained performance. Of the supporting cast Ila Arun and Nikitin Dheer deliver. But this enterprise belongs fully to Ashutosh Gowariker (Lagaan, Swades) who with his grand vision and utmost sincerity makes this larger-than-life-reel experience worth the price of a multiplex ticket. The last time Hrithik and Aishwarya got together in Dhoom 2, they gave the box office an adrenaline rush. Jodhaa-Akbar is unlikely to repeat that feat. Amitabh Bachchan in his voice-over rightly says that Jodhaa-Akbar is a chapter in history that didn't get its due. Gowariker's version might not make make history either but it will definitely add to Bollywood's repertoire of quality films.

Edited by Nika_d - 16 years ago

thanks thanks thanks a million,trillion..i was praying the film to be a hit because i am in awe of Hrithik and ashutosh.....,,ash should consider hrself lucky that she got to work with 2 magnam opus people.long live good cinema. 👏

Jodha Akbar Movie Review - Sify

Sonia Chopra

AR Rahman's lilting music; Ashutosh Gowariker's masterful direction; two supreme stars that look like they've been living their roles forever. If one expects the world of Jodhaa Akbar, it's not without reason.
And does the film stand up to these expectations? Yes, when it comes to grandeur, beauty, opulence, aesthetics and soul. But you'd be mistaken to compare it with Gowariker's recent works including Lagaan and Swades. Jodhaa Akbar has a much more simplistic treatment; at best a mish-mash of a love story and a historical drama.


After the first few minutes of the film that sound more like a history lesson, we are introduced to the story of Rajput princess Jodhaa, who is forced to marry Emperor of Hindustan Akbar for purely political reasons. Their love blossoms ever so hesitantly and tenderly amidst the tall towers of the Mughal palace. The moments stolen by this pair are heartwarming, as is their love founded on a strong base of friendship and mutual respect. While Akbar dotes on Jodhaa who insists on retaining her religion after marriage and even demands that a temple be made in her chambers; she, in turn, is the wife who stands by her husband through everything. Lovers' tiffs, misunderstandings and making up continues while you let out a slight yawn. There's even a sword-fighting scene between the two; call it a yesteryear equivalent of the basketball challenge between these very two actors in Dhoom 2.


Meanwhile we are made to follow the parallel stories of political betrayals, acquisitions and bloody wars. That Akbar is the ideal king is hammered into you till you want to scream that you get it; heck, there's even a full song called Azeem-o-Shaan Shahenshah that his people sing for him! That he's brave and all is portrayed in a total filmi scene where he fights a raging elephant bare-handed. It's his hobby, we're told. That he's molten-hot is told to us in a rather sweet portion where he practices sword-fighting bare-chested, even as the new queen Jodhaa shyly snatches a lusty glance or two. If one were to rate the film only as a love story it would score full marks; it's just the added burden of the other tracks that make the film cumbersome.


There's an attempt at striking a balance between pure storytelling and showing off the big bucks spent on the film through lingering shots of the sets and the jewellery. There's also a clear intention of making this historical film in a modern style using abrupt transitions between shots rather than the usual fade-ins and fade-outs; something one wishes Gowariker had used instead of the incongruous swipes. One expected a little more layering of the story from Gowariker who has chosen to tread the simplistic path. The simple, straightforward narrative, while more commercially attuned, is underutilising Gowariker's prowess as filmmaker.


What's truly interesting about Jodhaa Akbar is the peaceful message of communal harmony and tolerance that the film gives without making an overt statement. Also laudable is the message that an ideal marriage can exist only through mutual respect and equality, that being the basis of a strong foundation of lasting love.

Of the cast, Hrithik is just mind-blowing as Emperor Akbar; there could not have been a more appropriate casting. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, with her subtle make-up and bejeweled look, is great as well, often reminding one of her recent portrayal as Sujata in Guru. The supporting cast does very well. Ila Arun as the scheming and possessive caretaker is superb as is Sonu Sood as Jodhaa's brother. Poonam Sinha looks graceful and does well. Kulbhushan Kharbanda is alright, even though a bit hammy. The list of great actors who've done a great job and supported the film jointly on their shoulders is a long one.

Technically the film is brilliant, but that's stating the obvious, knowing Gowariker's past work. The camerawork (Kiran Deohans) is great, though unnecessarily mobile, especially in the battlefield sequences. Editing had to be tighter; no doubt about that. Music by AR Rahman is beautiful, but some songs like Jashn-e-Bahar and Khwaja Mere Khwaja are special.

As for the writing (Haider Ali and Gowariker), the film is written well; especially the little moments between the two feisty lovers. Talking about writing, there are some scenes beautifully thought out and excellently executed that just steal your heart away. Like the one where a posse of Sufis singing Khwaja Mere Khwaja seduce Akbar such that he gets up from his throne in a trance and throws himself in the dance with them. For this scene alone, the film is worth the ticket money and three hours plus spent.

The sets (Nitin Desai) are breathtaking and precisely authentic, without being over-the-top, thank god. Costumes by Neeta Lulla are fabulous and most of the jewellery adorned look like pieces of precious art.

If you can forgive the length of the film and sit through the political machinations that hold your interest only occasionally, there's a soulful love story enacted by two very enigmatic actors. You don't get to see that very often these days. Go for it, I say!

Verdict: Three stars

Jodha Akbar Movie Review - Passion for Cinema

iView Author : Sundeep Mann (UK)

It's been a long time since I have walked out of the cinema hall with a feeling of equanimity and the asseveration of having just witnessed a film that will go down in history as a classic. The last time I was overcome by such a feeling was with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's poetic Saawariya, a film that many people rejected for its folklore style.
Jodhaa Akbar rekindled my faith in why Hindi cinema is the greatest entertainer in the glimmering world of movie lights, for it could only be the Hindi film industry that could conceive such a monopolizing oeuvre.

Set in the 16th century, Jodha Akbar is a sumptuous saga of romance which blossoms under the schismatic setting of political astriction during the Mughal era.

Rajput King Bharmal of Amer (Khulbhushan Khabarnda) arranges a marriage of alliance between his daughter Jodhaa (Aishwarya Rai) and the Mughal Emperor Jalaudin Akbar (Hrithik Roshan) thus sewing the seed of tranquility between both communities.

However, Akbar is unaware that Jodha resents the consanguinity in which she has been used as seal against the polemics of politics, presenting him with a battle far greater than those he has enacted on the warfield…to conquer the love of his queen.

Armed with his heart as his weapon, Akbar's language of love is as confident as each swing of his sword and by the time he has managed to encapsulate Jodhaa, the soil of the Mughal dynasty is marred yet again with the threat of annexation in which Akbar's love for his kingdom becomes parallel to the love of his Jodhaa.

Asutosh Gowariker has to be congratulated for making a film with such conviction and executing his story on such a grand platform. Whilst the general consensus of many is that historical films dabble more in the complexities of the past through stolid like factual presentation, Gowariker is able to use his finesse of mixing drama with authenticity – the result being an exhilarating lesson in history which also carries a strong heart. The nail biting battle scenes have all been captured with sharp camera movements, transporting the viewer to the battlefield, the tense palaver between Ila Arun and Aishwarya demanded pin drop silence from everyone in the cinema hall…exemplary of the maestro director's ability to capture the audience and throw them into a bygone era.

Hrithik Roshan as the Great Emperor Akbar is awe-inspiring. His performance is of dizzying heights, meticulously delivered without any room for criticism. Roshan epitomizes perfection, both physically and creatively resulting in the finest screen presence to be witnessed since Amitabh Bachchan. His Akbar is powerful and unflinching yet in a split second can transform to a smirking lover of loyalty towards his queen presenting a humane depiction of a figure who was obviously more than just a temerarious ruler. Roshan proves yet again just why he is the finest male lead to grace the screen since the millennium.

Aishwarya Rai is always at her best when she is regal and in Jodhaa Akbar she is dignity personified. The character of Jodhaa demanded a fiery yet graceful streak of personality and Rai achieves this balance with uttermost ease. The scene where she exchanges heated words with Akbar upon his accusation of her deceit is tremendous as she conveys vulnerability with angst, using her eyes to emote a thousand words. A character that does not demand huge amounts of dialogues but more so relies on the ability for Rai to emote with her expressions resulting in a play of wholehearted curtailment. Jodhaa Akbar is sure to go down as one of Rai's finest examples of talent.

A R Rahman's music may not be of chartbusting quality but it moulds itself into the story in such a way that without becoming officious to the narrative, it still acts as a conclusive transition, especially the Sufi style "Khwaja Mere Khwaja" which oozes a spiritualistic aroma of melody. "Azeem O Shah Shahensha" is robust in its presentation and only electrifies the magnitude of the character that Akbar was.

One can not speak about Jodhaa Akbar without mentioning the cinematography and costumes. There is a danger that when films are seeped in such grandeur, they shimmer more for their ability to satisfy the visual palette rather than offer satiating content but Jodhaa Akbar does not suffer from this ailment. The need for the ostentatious presentation is fully justified and equally rewarding to the eye, be it the intricate halls of the palace or the deliciously crafted jewels, all have their place and thankfully due to a taut screenplay, do not serve as mere ornaments by which viewers can pass their time admiring their beauty. Rather, one spends the duration of the film engulfed in the proceedings of the story which are only taken to a higher level with the alluring ambience of the Mughal era.

Period dramas carry with them the promise of acting as tools for society, where in today's times many people are recalcitrant to pick up a book and read history; cinema offers them the opportunity of visually engaging with the quondam and interpreting facts in a more appealing manner. Jodhaa Akbar allows its audience all of this in a manner which is simplistic in relaying chronologic events yet also embarks on a simultaneous journey of love and acceptance, mixing the two to create an evocative experience.

History with a heart, Jodhaa Akbar ravages the screen with its royal fest of nobility and catalytic performances , crowning it's viewers with cinematic glory.

Film: Jodhaa Akbar
Director: Ashutosh Gowariker
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sonu Sood
Rating: ***



Hours after watching Jodhaa Akbar, the song 'Azeem-o-Shaan Shahenshah' keeps haunting you with its lilting melody and breath taking picturisation.Placed at a critical juncture of the film, it is a riot of colours captured beautifully by cinematographer Kiran Deohans and excellently choreographed. In fact, Jodhaa Akbar has quite a few such brilliant moments spread through the film. However, it's the matter in-between that restrict it to being just a good entertainer, and
not the great masterpiece it should have been.



Ashutosh Gowariker brings back lucky mascot Amitabh Bachchan to lend his baritone once again to the narrative (remember Lagaan?),which gives viewers a glimpse of Mughal history preceding the story.However, you tend to get lost in the heap of names and details thrust upon you, which don't really add to the story anyways.



But then, it's a historical, and certain rules need to be followed. If only the writers (Ashutosh Gowariker and Haider Ali) had done it in a more enjoyable manner, not making the first half drag like there's no tomorrow, and the editing (Ballu Saluja) could have been crisper, the film could have been much more enjoyable. So then. Our man Jalaluddin Muhammad (Hrithik Roshan) is the Shahenshah-e-Hindustan.A man of principles, he transforms from being a mere ruler to a lovedemperor, who cares for the common man, and is fair in his judgements . As he wins over one nemesis after another, his fame and glory grows,and he earns the epithet 'Akbar'. However, the real test lies in 'winning over the heart' (the phraseis repeated throughout the film, irritatingly) of Princess Jodhaabai , daughter of King Bharmal of Amer. In spite of agreeing to marry Akbar,Jodhaa refuses to accept the Mughal emperor as her husband. The marriage is a political arrangement between Akbar and King Bharmal,which will ensure a peaceful environment in the kingdom. How and why,is of course, forgotten once the marriage takes place.



There are a number of sub-plots too - Akbar's brother-in-law(newcomer Nikitin Dheer, menacing) aims to take his throne, Jodhaa's brother (Sonu Sood, effective) wants his rightful place in his empire,and there is a Rajputana clan afraid of Akbar overtaking their kingdoms.



The story has enough ingredients that make a political drama, and could have been set against any backdrop. The Mughal era, however,brings along with it the chance to be opulent, and at the same time,intriguing. Gowariker exploits this setting to the fullest, with well mounted war sequences, lavish sets and sprinkles it with sequences that have technical standards, not seen before in Hindi cinema.



Ravi Dewan's choreography of the action deserves special mention. In fact, the film is brilliant in all technical aspects, be it the eye-filling sets (Nitin Desai), visually-rich cinematography or the sumptuous costumes (Neeta Lulla). Dialogues (KP Saxena) are apt. AR Rahman does it again. The music is of an extremely superior nature, and the background score accentuates the grip over the drama. The maestro seems to be in his best form when working with Gowariker. The performances are first-rate too. Hrithik Roshan looks every inch the royal emperor he's meant to be. Everything about his persona, from body language to speech or even just the way he looks at his subjects, translate into a performance, which will win the actor a number of accolades. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan too matches up to Roshan, and carries off the queen's role with aplomb. Gowariker can easily take credit for extracting one the most finely-nuanced performance from her. In fact, the film has touches of brilliance which you know only Gowariker can bring to screen. The maker, as in his earlier movies, manages to infuse a patriotic fervour in the proceedings, which elevate the drama. He handles the romantic scenes with a sensitivity that makes them endearing.



Where the film misses out, is the pace. Although a love story essentially, the sub-plots mar the impact of the romance and slow down proceedings. After a point, it becomes difficult to decide whether the film was aimed to be a love saga, or a political drama. In fact, once Jodhaa and Akbar re-unite, the movie doesn't really have much reason to go on, except to tie the various loose ends left open by the writers. Also, though the film stands out at various places, it does not leave a lasting impact.



In the final analysis, Jodhaa Akbar is an honest effort with good performances, well-mounted sequences and great music. If only the editing and screenplay could have matched up to the other departments, it could have gone down in history as what you call a'blockbuster' film. But in the end, it's confined to being a good one-time watch.

Source : DNA

Jodha Akbar Movie Review - Indya.com

Jodhaa Akbar: Opulent Masterpiece

indya.com rating: 4 out of 5 *


Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai, Sonu Sood and Ila Arun

Director: Ashutosh Gowariker

Synopsis: Young moghul emperor Jalaluddin (Hrithik) sets out to bring the entire India under his flagship and deploys orders to the neighbouring states to either accept his honour or face his wrath. This sets a wave of panic amongst the Rajputana states. While a few decide to accept it unconditionally, others start aligning to set up a front against him. Amongst them is also, Amer's Raja Bharmal (Kulbhushan Kharbanda) who offers his acceptance with a condition that Jalaluddin will marry his only daughter Jodhaa (Aishwarya) in return. But just before their wedding, the fiery Rajput princess Jodhaa also sets her two clauses in front of Jalal, that he will not change her religion and allow her a small temple space within his fort. Jalal agrees and thus a marriage of alliance between two varied cultures and religions takes place for political gain.

With his marriage starts Jalal's journey of winning the love of his wife - who feels she has been used as a pawn in the game of politics - and fighting hidden enemies within and outside his trusted circle and eventually becoming Akbar the great.



Acting: From a young novice king with all his vulnerabilities to a lover who constantly strives to strengthen his relation with his wife and a no nonsense ruler who wins the hearts of his masses and enemies alike, Hrithik is nothing short of marvelous. Ladies are definitely going to swoon at his bare-chested sword practicing sequence. Aishwarya Rai not only looks her best ever on screen but delivers an astonishing performance and conveys a lot through her eyes. Sonu Sood playing Sujamal, her unfortunate brother makes a good impact whereas newcomer Nikitan Dheer as Akbar's scheming brother in law impresses with his electrifying screen presence. Poonam Sinha exudes grace while Ila Arun playing Hrithik's wily foster mother cum advisor is just perfect.

Direction: Ashutosh's labour of love is visible in every single frame of the movie. Having made one of the most opulent films in Indian cinema, Gowariker deserves a bow for his vision and successful handling of the epic love story. He superbly merges two different tracks – the unusual romance between the royal couple and political intrigues. The wonderful songs are aptly placed moving the story ahead and their picturisation befitting. His casting is just perfect too. But at times you do keep feeling that the editing could have been tighter. But nevertheless, his is a splendid effort with great aid from Nitin Desai's awe inspiring production design, Kiran Deohans' outstanding cinematography and Ravi Dewan's edge of the seat action sequences.



Script: Gowariker and Haider Ali's script manages to cover a gamut of issues but at the same time tends to lengthen the running time (3 hr. 33 mins). But, they have succeeded in packing it up with some remarkable sequences, notably – Hrithik's taming of an errant elephant, Aish and Ila Arun's confrontation in the royal kitchen and the scene following it where Hrithik eats from the same platter which Aish was forced to eat it first, Hrithik confronting Aish after a misunderstanding over her character, Aish and Hrithik's sword fight, Hrithik expressing his love to Aish during sunset and the final one on one combat between Hrithik and Nikitan that reminds you of Brad Pitt – Eric Bana fight from Troy. The script is replete with many more such gems that make JA a great watch.

Music: Apart from his music (that gradually grows on you), Rahman also makes an amazing impact with his background score. The Khwaja Mere Khwaja number takes you in a trance, the Azeem-o-shaan Shahenshah song leaves you spell bound by its picturisation while Jashne Bahara has a mesmerizing effect.