Jodha Akbar - A spectacular historical epic

By: Faridoon Shahryar, IndiaFM
Thursday, October 11, 2007

Spectacular is a small word to define the theatrical trailer of Jodhaa Akbar. For one hasn't seen such opulent grandeur in a long time. Right from the first frame till the last of this three and a half minute trailer, the efforts that seem to have gone into this love story or the “marriage of alliance" between one of the most charismatic Mughal rulers and the princess of arch rivals Rajputs, is simply unbelievable.

There were doubts whether Hritik Roshan would be able to suit a historical. But it's not him that you see wielding swords of power or provoking the battle-hungry elephant. It's Akbar. As for Aishwarya, well, it can safely be said that after Salman Khan, the crackling chemistry she shares with Roshan junior is the stuff that shall be talked about fifty years from now.

One can make out from the promo that Jodhaa Akbar is steeped in political conspiracies of India of five hundred years ago in the backdrop of a grand love story. Jodhaa is a strong woman who is well versed with sword fighting, yet there's an ethereal quality about her that succumbs to the winking-charms of young 'Azeem-o-Shaan Shahenshah' Akbar. The giant opposition to their union stands on the pedestal of the Hindu-Muslim union which is attributed as being unlucky.

There are gigantic scenes of war that make you compare them with some of the best historicals of all times where everyone fights ferociously. Stinging arrows whiz past the ears and the air smells of raw blood. Palaces are rife with intrigues and vily insinuations. The promo ends symbolically with Jodhaa written in Hindi (supposedly the language of Hindus) and Akbar written in Urdu (A language supposedly spoken by Muslims).

Everything about Jodhaa Akbar reeks of wealth. Rich sets, the kind that can make any big Hollywood Production proud, made-to-detail jewellery that shimmers in your eyes instantaneously, the coquettish curtains that come in between two aching lovers, starched-n-creased costumes, real-life wigs-n-beards with no strand of hair disturbing the tranquility of perfection, crafty camerawork for it veers constantly taking surprising angles and a background score that is definitely larger than life. Marhaba!

Hritik Roshan and Aishwarya seem to have effortlessly fitted into the huge lahengas and sherwanis, but one actor that stands out is Ila Arun. Her vitriolic voice rings long after the promo has ended. Everything seems perfect about Jodhaa Akbar if you take the promo into account. But will it match K Asif's Mughal-e-Azam (yes there seems a genuine attempt to meet the colossal setting of the masterpiece filmed over a painstaking span of ten years), well that one can only say only after the movie releases on January 25th 2008. For now, relish the Jodhaa Akbar promo. You wouldn't have seen anything of this sort. Ever!