Box Office Hungama

'A Historical Romance Relived'

Film: JODHAA AKBAR

Dir: Ashutosh Gowarikar

Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai, Khulbhushan Kharbanda, Ila Arun, Suhasini Mulay, Raza Murad, Punam Sinha, Niketan Dheer

To make a historical romance, even with saleable stars like Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in today’s day and age is a pretty tall order. And the all important question is: does Jodhaa Akbar deliver?We’ll come to that…but first we have to give you a backgrounder: The film traces Akbar’s life from the tender age of 13 to the time he assumes the all-encompassing command of India as Mughal emperor Jalaluddin Mohammed Akbar. Set in the 16th century when he was right in the middle of strengthening his rule, Akbar’s marriage to Rajput princess Jodhaa is a political move.How it transforms into a gentle love story…between two very strong individuals thrown together by circumstances is the crux on which Gowarikar’s plot hinges.And there in lies the dilemma. Jodhaa Akbar is not a pure love story. It is as much the story of Akbar coming into his own, as it is a romance…and the love story forms the back drop for the many plots, sub plots and intricacies of the Mughal court to unfold.When you watch Jodhaa Akbar, you immediately digest why many directors, are not even capable of imagining a canvas this big. Considering director Ashutosh Gowarikar went through mammoth problems to film his version of an epic romance set in the Mughal era, a period recreated with painstaking detail and research -- this very task is commendable.You only wish there was more to the Jodhaa Akbar love story than what the film is able to squeeze in. There is also no scale of comparison to indicate Jodhaa’s stature in Akbar’s life with regards to his other wives & concubines.Every chapter in Akbar’s early life is laid out imaginatively and in greater detail than Jodhaa’s and so it’s natural that Hrithik Roshan has the meatier part. And not for a moment does he disappoint. Watch him come completely into his own…even in a role that he is obviously far removed from. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as the reticent, yet defiant Jodhaa is pleasing and pitches in a decent performance.A special mention for Kiran Deohans’ magnificent cinematography and A R Rehman’s compelling music score. At three hours twenty minutes running time, Jodhaa Akbar is a little too long, but makes up for the length with its sheer body and feel. Go watch it for Hrithik’s paisa vasool performance.So the TIMES NOW VERDICT for this one is undoubtedly, three stars