'A Historical Romance Relived'
2/16/2008 7:42:37 AM
Film: JODHAA
AKBAR
Dir: Ashutosh Gowarikar
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai, Khulbhushan Kharbanda, Ila Arun, Suhasini
Mulay, Raza Murad, Punam Sinha, Niketan Dheer
Rating: GOOD
Tomake a historical romance, even with saleable stars like Hrithik Roshanand
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in today’s day and age is a pretty tallorder. And the
all important question is: does Jodhaa Akbar deliver?
We’llcome to that…but first we have to give u a backgrounder: The filmtraces
Akbar’s life from the tender age of 13 to the time he assumesthe
all-encompassing command of India as Mughal emperor JalaluddinMohammed Akbar.
Set in the 16th century when he was right in the middleof strengthening his
rule, Akbar’s marriage to Rajput princess Jodhaais a political move.
How it transforms into a gentle lovestory…between two very strong individuals
thrown together bycircumstances is the crux on which Gowarikar’s plot hinges.
Andthere in lies the dilemma. Jodhaa Akbar is not a pure love story. It isas
much the story of Akbar coming into his own, as it is a romance…andthe love
story forms the back drop for the many plots, sub plots andintricacies of the
Mughal court to unfold.
When you watch JodhaaAkbar, you immediately digest why many directors, are not
even capableof imagining a canvas this big. Considering director Ashutosh
Gowarikarwent through mammoth problems to film his version of an epic
romanceset in the Mughal era, a period recreated with painstaking detail
andresearch -- this very task is commendable.
You only wish therewas more to the Jodhaa Akbar love story than what the film
is able tosqueeze in. There is also no scale of comparison to indicate
Jodhaa’sstature in Akbar’s life with regards to his other wives &concubines.
Every chapter in Akbar’s early life is laid outimaginatively and in greater
detail than Jodhaa’s and so it’s naturalthat Hrithik Roshan has the meatier
part. And not for a moment does hedisappoint. Watch him come completely into
his own…even in a role thathe is obviously far removed from. Aishwarya Rai
Bachchan as thereticent, yet defiant Jodhaa is pleasing and pitches in a
decentperformance.
A special mention for Kiran Deohans’ magnificentcinematography and A R Rehman’s
compelling music score. At three hourstwenty minutes running time, Jodhaa Akbar
is a little too long, butmakes up for the length with its sheer body and feel.
Go watch it forHrithik’s paisa vasool performance.
So the TIMES NOW VERDICT for this one is undoubtedly, three stars.
http://timesnow.tv/NewsDtls.aspx?NewsID=5981
