Jodha Akbar Movie Review
(39 votes, average: 4.28 out of 5)
Subhash K. Jha, Film: “Jodhaa-Akbar”; Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai, Sonu Sood, Ila Arun, Niketan Dheer; Director: Ashutosh Gowariker; Rating: *** 1/2
There is Hrithik Roshan as Akbar, in full regalia, watching a traditional sufi qawwalli when he suddenly goes into a spiritual trance and joins the qawwalls for a dance to divinity.
This historic moment that takes us beyond the dynasties of Mughal history, couldn’t have been possible without Hrithik’s amazing capacity to infiltrate the portals of divinity through dance movements.
As we traverse the simply stunning spectacle of Ashutosh Gowariker’s historical epic, often wonder-eyed and open-mouthed, we end up looking at Akbar as interpreted by Hrithik rather than as what the Mughal legend might have been.
The body language of the sword-wielding poet-warrior reminds us of Mel Gibson in “Braveheart” and Tom Cruise in “The Last Samurai” rather than Prithviraj Kapoor who played Akbar in K. Asif’s undying classic “Mughal-e-Azam” with such imposing imperiousness.
In terms of the creative and visual terrain covered in the three-hour, 20-minute journey, Gowariker’s vision subsumes a reined-in wealth of ideas and images into an opulent but aesthetic tale of love, romance, war, hatred and secularism.
The director transports us into an era when brother battled brother in bitter rage. But love blossomed in the heart of a secular Muslim emperor who married a fiercely individualistic Rajput princess and allowed her space to be her own person.
The narrative patterns Akbar’s chequered life of love and wars through the various characters who influence his mind and heart. To begin with, we see the young Akbar being moulded into a violent person, brimming with ideas of revenge and acquisition by his senapati-mentor Bairam Khan.
In a frightening burst of vengeful brutality, we see Akbar ordering his soldiers to throw a stubborn adversary head-first to death.
But all said and done, Gowariker’s Akbar is a man who’d rather live in peace than wallow in war. Alas, Akbar lived in violent battle-friendly times.
Then there’s the complex relationship that Akbar shares with his foster mother, played by Ila Arun. But the friction between the foster mother and Akbar’s new bride could be straight out of Indra Kumar’s “Beta”!
Gowariker also purposely brings in kitschy elements from commercial cinema to provide a kind of warm accessibility to his historic tale.
The filming of the durbar song “Azeem-o-shaan shahenshah” is the last word in spectacle. Breathtaking is the word that often comes to mind in this tale of vibrant valour and vitality.
Never before have we seen battle sequences so spectacular and energetic in Hindi cinema. Take the opening sequence where the battle lines close ranks in such passionate movements that the audience almost feels trampled in the middle.
Kiran Deohans’ swift but sublime cinematography is of international calibre, at par with “Gladiator” or “Braveheart”. A.R. Rahman’s music is a bit of a letdown though. Veering between authenticity and listener-friendliness, it’s a bit of a mellow mishmash signifying none of those enchanting echoes of Jodha and Akbar’s ever-lasting romanticism.
The love story occupies the pride of place in “Jodhaa-Akbar”. The sudden marital alliance between the benign king and the free-spirited Rajput princess, their post-marriage courtship, the misunderstanding that cuts through their growing fondness, and the final and irreversible reconciliation, are portrayed with exquisite fluidity.
Not once does the director allow the inherent opulence of his theme to overpower the love that grows between them.
Hrithik’s pleading, poetic eyes in a warrior’s face define the historic romance as much as Aishwarya’s swan-like grace and passionate individualism. After “Dhoom 2″, this pair surely whips up a Mughlai feast of passion and romance.
Watch “Jodhaa-Akbar” as a splendidly spiced-up slice of history. Or just savour the chemistry between the warrior and the princess, with hundreds of junior artistes, elephants, rabbits and parrots accompanying the couple’s journey from secularism to eternity.
— IANS
What a horrible movie! Reminds me of Jashpal Bhatti’s Flop Show, in particular the one episode about making serials.
Hrithik looks like a perfect cartoon in this movie, a complete misfit to the period and the ambiance. His catwalk in the movie makes one wonder - what he was thinking when he was playing the character (its not a ramp, for chrissake! Its supposed to be the Mughal era). The way he uses his sword looks really-really funny (I would like to request the makers of this movie as well as Hrithik to try and watch “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” in order to learn a lesson or two, if not about using the sword then at least about the expression that one should bear when wielding one) and the sequence of taming the elephant is simply hilarious. The war scenes looked just a clumsy attempt to copy the war sequences from western period movies (read Troy or Braveheart).
Watching the movie really made me doubt if it was coming from the hands of the same director who made Lagaan. What a drop in standards!!! And Mr. Rahman has probably put all the leftovers of the musical pieces that were left with him from his earlier works!! He seldom done something this bad before!
However the sets looked really great! I will give a 9 out of 10 for the sets of this movie.
All in all, a great comedy! But laughing for about three and a half hours is a tough job! Those who are still planning to watch it - I wish them best of luck!
FUCK U PRO…U DONT HAVE ANY TASTE IN MOVIES IT WAS A GREAT MOVIE…GO AND WATCH SOME PORN AND ENJOY U JACK-ASS
GREAT MOVIE …MUST WATCH!!
i agree wid f***
those who compar3es hollywood movies wid bollywood must keep in mind the budget involed! still jodha akbar shows the improved standards f war sequences!!
wounderfull movie…wish there could be an another part f this!!
ashutosh gowarikar rocks!!!
Is the best movie i hav seen in last 1 r two years…jab we met another great movie!
atleast much better those overhyped Om shanti om and sawariya!!
simple a fuck movei..dont like any of them..ash…and rithik…ash only for fucking..dont know any acting…..watch others..i did not even see complete movie..if you wana see acting ..go and watch amir ..or salman..shah rukh is also cartoon..never like him except dewdas….
o my God…how can u say that Jodha Akbar is a horrible movie? didnt watch the eternal love brooding in between Akbar and Jodha? this is perhaps one of the best movies in Indian History wich can Promote indis to the western…this is what we are and our originaliry…grand…piompo….power..
Ashutosh Gowarikar has shown that he is a class in himself. Hrithik produced another masterpiece performance. Ash was there with her beauty and unbelievable presence.
Another oscar nomination and a win this time.
A R Rehman music slowly gets into you and it is still going in.
terrible movies - did not enjoy it…….
i will give 2 out of 10 for this movies - even the songs was
shit.
Well, i would say film was well made, we should keep in mind the subject took by Gowariker, it was to portray Akbar-Jodha story, it might have clearly miss all the other great aspects of Emperor as great as Akbar but then he did justice to subject. Good thing is that he didn’t attempted to make a copy of K Asif’s masterpiece Mughal-e-Azam or he might have ended red faced like Ram Gopal ki Sholay.I Would rate it 4/5.
what a start of the year with another pathetic movie from bollywood. could have been better without Aishwarya ( I don’t even consider Aysh as an actress). Amir khan or salman khan could have done way better then Hrithik.
and yes the ranking, 1/5 and 1 is just for direction.
Most important point, Jodha’s story has no relevance in history. Jodha never played any important role in history. she was just another wife of Akbar.
i thought this movie was dragging on for ages, it was okay there were parts where it got boring but overall it was 5/10. the songs were very slow but after all it was a love story it wasnt a comedy or nothing. people should’ve been aware of what it was gonna be like, a love story duh! but not bad ..
Amazing movie….i thought they pulled it off real well…Acting was good and so was the music…settings and customes really blew me off….Inspiring movie
Why not make a movie showing the barbarity and death that Akbar brought with him to the native people of India?
Instead of this bullshit ass-kissing of Muslims, why not start making films showing them to be the barbarians they are, and that they have always been.
Enough with shoving muslim culture and moslems in general down our throats!
The songs are simply superb.. specially In lamho me, jashn e behaara and khwaja…. movie was good if not superb…
Well i dont completely agree with kaffir in last message… Akbar was really a great emperor as compared to others… Coz he made every people happy in their kingdom..
If we talk about barbarians about akbar than i wud say there is NO king who has not undergone this phase.., and akbar is a no exception… Coz to be a king is not easy.. they had to fight in order to expand their empire… And all this is ethical in that time… !! Anywaz this is my last message…. if any comment on my view.. than drop me a mail or message on ritesh.softwares@gmail.com ….
love you all…. bbye………
Really nice movie! Hrithik is just outstanding in his role!! I would rate the movie 4 out of 5.
i hated it, was just too long, predictable, no need to put us through 3hours of shit, especially the fight scenes how unnecessary were they. i will give it 1/5, cos the best part of the movies was seeing hrithik with no shirt on
jhoda akhbar is really a fantastic collection of romance played by the star hrithik &&& the beauty ash bachan…..
wow.. wat a great movie…
if u havent seen then go hurry up .. and wacth it….
HEY,its really a good movie,even though its quiet lengthy movie its not boring,and got a good flow of the story!!.
movie is superb must watch it
Simply sux. couldnt find any better word for it. couldnt even sit till half time. such a waste of money. can’t even compete Mughal E Ajam
nice movie if was short