Jodhaa Akbar

Jodhaa Akbar

MAIN CAST:
Aishwarya Rai -- Jodhaa
Hrithik Roshan -- Emperor Akbar

BRIEF PLOT OVERVIEW:
Mughal Emperor Akbar agrees to marry Jodhaa, a Rajput princess, merely as a political move. As the two come to know each other, however, they slowly start to fall in love.

FILM -- 4.5/5
Maybe I'm just a wuss for a gorgeous high-def movie, but I really love how Jodhaa Akbar is put together. The script is surprisingly well-written, with absolutely beautiful dialogue that sounds like poetry as it slips from the characters' mouths. The costumes and sets are obviously very lavish, but unlike Devdas' decadent style, Jodhaa Akbar's brocade-laden landscape really works and doesn't make you feel like an outsider. Combined with the careful use of slow-moving cameras, these period-accurate costumes and sets actually made me feel like I belonged in Jodhaa's world, perhaps as a handmaiden watching the action unfold. There's no real dancing to speak of, but Aishwarya Rai and Hrithik Roshan display their trademark grace in several swordfighting scenes. Also, major kudos to the special effects department for the great battle scenes! I do have several minor complaints, however, and the first one is a common one: this movie is REALLY long. It took me 3 nights just to finish my first viewing! But Jodhaa Akbar IS an epic, and with the exception of about 5 minutes of fluff, I felt like every scene was necessary, so I'm not too bothered by that. Also, the UTV version of the film uses white subtitles that aren't outlined in black, so at times, it's hard to read them.

CHARACTERS -- 5/5
Ladies and gentlemen, hold on to your hats: I think Aishwarya Rai did a great job in this movie. Yes, yes, I know I complain all the time about her being more of a visual centerpiece than an actress who can never convince me that she's the character, but I really loved her as Jodhaa! Rai is at her best as the quiet but proud Rajput princess who, while not an explosive character, is certainly a dynamic one. (I was actually pretty annoyed by how much of a wuss Jodhaa was when Sojumal was about to be arrested and she didn't run after him, but then I realized she was probably shocked and confused by what was going on.) Her voice is soft, her spirit is loud. Rai's make-up is also very plain and natural, and I loved that--this is the most beautiful I've ever seen her. And who better to play the husband of the most beautiful woman in India than the most beautiful man in India? That's right, it's the one and only Hrithik Roshan! His mustache mars his youthful prettiness, but only a bit, and his "Emperor voice" sounded really tacked-on and fake at times, but I grew to believe it. Like Aishwarya Rai as Jodhaa, Hrithik is at his best so far as Akbar. He looks gorgeous doing it, too; I'm not ashamed to admit that I got a bit hot in the panties when Akbar was practicing his swordfighting shirtless. Hrithik/Aishwarya is also one of my absolute favorite jodis (and the only jodi I think Aishwarya really looks comfortable in), and the chemistry between the two is incredible. There were several points where I honestly wouldn't have been surprised if they just started ripping each other's clothes off! The supporting cast is absolutely HUGE, so I won't go in to major detail. I will say that every actor and actress represents their character marvelously, with a special nod towards Sonu Sood, who looks like a young Amitabh Bachchan and plays Sojumal with ease.

SOUNDTRACK -- 4/5
Jodhaa Akbar's soundtrack isn't the best I've ever heard, but it's still pretty damn good. Like Devdas' soundtrack, these songs really add to the epic feel of the film. My favorite is "Azeem-O-Shaan Shahenshah," which is used on the DVD menus and on a lot of the trailers as well. There's a reason why, folks, and it's because that song is frippin' AWESOME and really fits the expansive, dramatic nature of the film. "Khwaja Mere Khwaja" is absolutely gorgeous in its simplicity, although I still think it should have been a minute or two shorter. "Jashn-E-Bahaara" and "In Lamhon Ke Daaman Mein" are also lovely, but I usually only listen to them as background music. The lyrics are interesting in that they are very simple, yet surprisingly moving and effective.

OVERALL -- 4.5/5
Jodhaa Akbar is not the kind of movie you watch in one sitting on a Friday night while you hang out with your buddies. It's long, even by epic standards, and the characters develop at an almost agonizingly slow pace. Yet this is what makes Jodhaa Akbar so effective as a character-driven romance tale. This movie doesn't rush you through things, it lets you connect to the characters and immerse yourself in the grandiose storyline. The length ruins the film's replay value a bit, but I still think Jodhaa Akbar is a beautiful and unique film that I will watch often, and I fully appreciate its value as an epic romance. It at least deserves a viewing for the career highlight performances by Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai, as well as the gorgeous period costumes they wear.

TOTAL SCORE -- 18/20 (almost perfect)