JODHAA AKBAR MOVIE REVIEW
AshustoshGowariker has outdone himself. This movie is a masterpiece, a completeinterpretation of what the director has visualized. From costumes, tobody language, to background score, to the songs, sets, manpower andlighting... Gowariker has everything spot-on. Cinematographer KiranDeohans captures through his wide lens the glory of the Moghul Erarecreated by Nitin Desai. A R Rahman uses the beat of huge drums totransport you to another era. Pure, acoustic delight. Ravi Dewanrecreates the fights that have you on the edge of your seats, whileRaju Khan, Rekha Chinni Prakash and Ash Kumar combine to give you somebreathtaking dances to do justice to the costumes of Neeta Lulla. Thechoreography of the tracks Khwaja Mere Khwaja and Azeem-O-ShaanShahenshah leave you awestruck.Now, for the performances. Theperfectionist that he is, Gowariker has taken pains to pick his entirecast and each one blends with the other to transport you back to an eragone by. Even the extras have been carefully picked.Hrithik Roshan andAishwarya Rai Bachahan in the lead role, contrary to beliefs, have comeout looking super cool. Both actors complement each other, and bothhave been given the space to build their characters. I would rate thisas Aishwarya’s best performance to date. This is credit to a gooddirector who knows how to extract a performance from his actor. As forHrithik, he soaks in the moment and one can see him completelysurrender himself to Gowariker. He has worked hard on his body languageand dialogue delivery. He portrays well the qualities of Akbar. He maynot be the perfect Akbar, but he does enough to relive the role of theEmperor; that of a gentle and tolerant ruler with a love for hissubjects who even put his life on the line to save his country. Hisdialogue towards the end where he subjects himself to the might ofSharifuddin Hussain for a sword fight, 'Hum Hindustan ko galat haatonmein jaate nahin dekh sakta', draws a huge applause.Considering theintricacies of the subject, I guess the three-hour plus length of themovie could not have been avoided.TO GO OR NOT: Oh yes, politicians andlovers and all those interested in good cinema, a must watch. JODHAAAKBAR is sure to bag a host of awards at next year’s ceremonies. Rating : 5/5 http://csitdinesh.blogspot.com/2008/02/jodhaa-akbar-movie-review.html
