A grand love affair

A grand love affair

FILM: Jodhaa Akbar
Ashutosh Gowariker
ACTORS: Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Mirror Ratiing: * * * *

As he pierces the air with his sword, his bare torso perfect, muscles taut, and sweat glistening on his sinewy back, Hrithik Roshan in his screen version of Mughal Emperor Jalaluddin Akbar makes you catch your breath.

Gowariker's film is set in the sixteenth century and it traces the graph of a confused but conscientious teenage prince, who has a crown thrust upon his head.  Though he is initially squeamish about getting his sword bloodied, he manages to become the emperor of Hindustan with relative ease; and through his conquests and deeds wins himself the title of Akbar the Great.

A still from Jodhaa Akbar
Simultaneously the film also follows the trajectory of Akbar's love story with the Rajput princess Jodhaa. Their dalliance is a politically motivated move, but it has the magic of a true-blue romance.

The first 20 minutes of the film unfold slowly because the plot-line and the various characters are established slowly. But once the Jodhaa-Akbar marriage is arranged, the magic of romance takes over. Interestingly the reticent Rajput princess Jodhaa (Aishwarya) is not too eager to give herself up to the all-powerful Mughal Emperor Akbar. And she walks into the relationship by laying down conditions; of how she will not convert to Islam; and she also requests for a temple to be made in her corner of the palace.

An indulgent Akbar agrees to fulfil his queen's wishes much to the chagrin of the hardliners in his court. And though he's liberal in thought, Jodhaa takes her own sweet time to warm up to her Prince Charming.

Here-in lies the magic of this love story.  The fact that the couple don't consummate their wedding on their first night; the fact that much of the romance is played out aankhon hi aankhon mein adds a lot of colour and character to this story. You get none of those been-there-done-that romantic cliches. 

Instead, Hrithik almost maks you smile as he caresses Aishwarya with his his longing, soulful eyes. And she, in turn, looks vulnerable and virginal as is expected of her.

Obviously while the romance between Jodhaa and Akbar is the mainstay of the plot there are several other dramatic moments provided by sub-plots revolving around deceit, conspiracy, murder and jealousy.

Ila Arun (Moham Anga) Akbar's surrogate mother and his queen Jodhaa are locked in a battle of jealousy; and then there is the emperor's brother-in-law played by debutant Nikitin Dheer (Shariffuddin Hussain), who keeps making innumerable plots to overthrow Akbar.

Kiron Deohans's cinematography is ostentatious.  The vibrant colours and images stay with you long after the lights come on.  Dialogue writer K P Saxena comes up with some powerful lines.

And Gowariker and story-writer Haider Ali provide a competent sceeenplay.

A R Rahman weaves magic with his sufiana 'Khwaja mere khwaja' and Javed Akhtar captures the magical mood perfectly in 'Azeem-o-shaan Shahenshah' and 'Khwaja mere...'

As for the performances, Hrithik Roshan brings to life Emperor Akbar in all his glory.  The actor is superlative in the intense moments, and charismatic when he is playing the romantic.

Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan looks picture-perfect and fits into queen Jodhaa's shoes with her restrained performance.

Of the supporting cast Ila Arun and Nikitin Dheer deliver.

But this enterprise belongs fully to Ashutosh Gowariker (Lagaan, Swades) who with his grand vision and utmost sincerity makes this larger-than-life-reel experience worth the price of a multiplex ticket.

The last time Hrithik and Aishwarya got together in Dhoom 2, they gave the box office an adrenaline rush.  Jodhaa-Akbar is unlikely to repeat that feat. Amitabh Bachchan in his voice-over rightly says that Jodhaa-Akbar is a chapter in history that didn't get its due. Gowariker's version might not make make history either but it will definitely add to Bollywood's repertoire of quality films.

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