Rohit’s Weblog

One of the most awaited movies in recent times has finally released as a four hour uncut version in the USA on valentine’s day and a day later in India. Talk about Globalisation!!. A movie about a Mughal king whose ancestors invaded India and looted it getting married to a Rajput princess in the 15th Century now being directed by Ashutosh Gowarikar(director of the “Oscar Nominated” Lagaan) releasing on Valentine’s Day( A day to commemorate St.Valentine who belongs to some other country) in the United states of America before releasing in the country it is made.

So much for it. Gowarikar, the man who was impressive with his more than 3 hr long movies like Lagaan and Swades couldn’t have come up with something shorter. The movie raised quite an uproar even before it released as the self proclaimed historians had different stories to tell. But after all it is just a movie. I would have loved to believe that Lagaan was a true story. Now for the interesting part. The star cast-It has Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bacchan playing the lead roles. I find it strange when people say they have excellent chemistry on screen because frankly I dint find any of that in Dhoom 2. But both of them have the aesthetic appeal that suits the film. The movie starts off with the omnipresent Amithab Bacchan’s narration which brings you back the exciting memories of Lagaan. First half hour of the movie is filled with Akbar’s conquests and his dream of becoming the emperor of unified India. The battle sequences are not as magnanimous as they look in the trailers but atleast had the look and feel of those times. Akbar played by Hrithik is portrayed as the imperious yet benevolent emperor who goes any distance to achieve his ambition. The decision to marry Jodha-the rajput princess comes as one of his political appeasement decisions. The story of Jodha starts of as any Rajput princess’ story in which she is engaged in her childhood and grows up in a very protected environment but is taught all battleship skills by her cousin Sujamal(played by Sonu Sood)who is the heir apparent to her kingdom and has an important role to play in this story. All hell and confusion breaks loose when the King(jodha’s father) decides against making Sujamal the next king. Due to all the internal tensions that follow in the kingdom, the King asks Akbar to marry his daughter Jodha. This is where their story begins..

For a change, this story is about Love after marriage. For the most parts ,the movie focuses on the subtle romantic scenes between the lead pair. The number of people playing antagonists to this relation range from Akbar’s brother-in-law to the royal clergy to the foster mother of Akbar. Overcoming all kinds of misunderstandings and hardships, Love prevails. This is the bottom line of the story.Strangely enough,this is the same Akbar who plays the villain in the love life of his son as depicted in another immortal movie called Mughal-e-azam. There are other scenes which portray Akbar’s initiatives as an emperor to win the hearts of his people which run as sidetrack of the central theme. The director’s research was confined to the habits and lifestyle of people at that time rather than other interesting things about Akbar’s reign. There was no major mention of the ‘Navratnas’ in Akbar’s court. Music is pleasing to the ears. A.R.Rehman is like the Sachin of Indian Music industry who rarely fails to deliver even after the huge burden of expectations. The picturisation of the songs is very aesthetically done. The supporting cast was majorly the same people from Lagaan. Aishwarya palying the independent princess did more justice to her role than Hrithik to his. The length I felt was much longer than the story to be told. I really felt this as it was a second showJ

A must watch movie for its style rather than the substance. I cannot say it is a great movie but certainly not worth the wait. It is an honest attempt by the director to break away from stereotypes but I has the reputation which is difficult to live up to.

So ppl try to keep up with my slight nuances and feel free to comment. This is a democratic nation where freedom of speech is honored