History is a suject which I didn't like during school days. But with each year added to my age, I think I am getting more and more interested in history. India has a vast and rich culture, being one of the oldest civilizations in the world. And hence, Indian history is marked with constant events of attacks, since the land always flourished with all sorts of wealth the earth has given to mankind. And this is what Big B tells us in the introduction to "Jodha Akbar", Ashutosh Gowariker's latest release.The movie is about relationship of Princess Jodhabai of Amer and the mogul emperor Akbar. Emperor Akbar was put to rule at a very early age in his life. The mogul way of rule was very cruel and ambitious, but Akbar (whose actual name was Jalaluddin Mohammed or Jalal) was not very comfortable with it. He was a king with emotion and consideration for mankind, unlike his predecessors. However, he becomes more successful and powerful with this strategy and acquires new kingdoms. In this forward stride, he comes across kingdom of Amer, which proposes to accept his rule on the condition that he marries princess Jodha. Both Jodha and Akbar get married as a compromise and have terms of agreement. However, marriage is not just about living together, and what happens later is very nicely and softly put down in the movie.
The movie is long but you don't really feel the length, since it is intermittently lined with strategies and plots such that you never lose interest. And if there's nothing, there are the grand sets designed beautifully by Nitin Desai, the same person behind the grand sets of Hum dil de chuke... and Devdas. And the credit for the sets goes to Ashutosh, who has made them look just apt for the scenes and no more gaudy or showy, unlike S. L. Bhansali. The sets involve you right at the start where you get a slight recall of LOTR. And thats not the only place where the shot
is brilliant, Hrithik's shot of taming the wild elephant is also majestic. And Hrithik has performed well too. He has fully delivered to the needs of his character and shown all facets of the emperor perfectly, be it calmness or vengeance, love or hatred. Aish also looks very good in tradiitonal wear and I liked her for the first time in ethnic outfit. Rahman's music is good as always.
All in all, the beginning of '08 has been grand for bollywood, and I sincerely feel that the movie should be nominated in the best film category for the Oscars. It has got everything it needs to reach that stage. Ashutosh has done well and maitained his level of direction and I wish him all the best for his future projects (e.g. I heard he's making a movie on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj next...;)).
Rating - * * * * *
