Jodhaa Akbar

Ashutosh Gowarikar's Jodhaa Akbar is an epic movie to say the least. With a running time of almost 3 hrs and 45 minutes, it's not a movie for people with the attention span of a fly! It's not a movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat with thrilling action sequences either. It's a slow, languorous movie but makes for a nice watch.

My favorite scene in the entire movie is the sword-fighting scene between Jodhaa & Akbar. The scene drips with sensuality, inspite of being an action sequence. The scene is about a woman who is courageous enough, and who has the self-confidence to take on a man who has challenged her to a physical duel. In a hand-to-hand combat a woman would most probably not win against a man due to obvious physical limitations, but sword-fighting is more about skill, concentration and alertness than physical prowess. The smirk on Akbar's face because he is at once impressed by his wife's ability to master a skill that is predominantly considered a male bastion and knows that he will beat her at it, combined with the anger in Jodhaa's eyes and her feistiness at her pride being wounded, imparts seething sensuality to the scene.

Jodhaa Akbar is a movie that was made for Hritik Roshan, and the actor does almost complete justice to the Mughal ruler who was famous for his secularism, kind-heartedness and tolerance for religions other than his own. I say almost because the one department where he falls slightly short is the voice department. He's a bit too soft spoken to be an emperor though full marks to him for trying his best!

Jodhaa Akbar is the story of two adults whose marriage is a political move, and how they come to admire and respect each other over time. Love is a result of this respect and admiration. So it would have helped Ashutosh Gowarikar's case if he had refrained from calling the movie the love story of Jodhaa and Akbar. The political machinations and extollment of Akbar's virtues get just as much screen time, if not more, as the love story of Jodhaa & Akbar.

It's a testimony to A R Rahman's genius that he's scored a bhajan as well as a Sufi folk song in the same movie. 'Khwaja mere khwaja' elevates you to another level, while 'Marhaba' makes Akbar endearing to all. Then ofcourse, there's 'Jashn-e-Bahara' that is about love and longing, and is as lilting as it gets.

Jodhaa Akbar made me feel great about being born an Indian. Ours is probably the only country in the world where people of all faiths have complete freedom to practise their religions, without being marginalized or made to feel like minority. It's a precious virtue that all of us Indians, regardless of cast, creed or religion, should guard with our lives.