Sooooo pretty! Sooooo much eye candy! Jodhaa Akbar

The love story of Mughal emperor Akbar and Rajput princess Jodhaa, interpreted by Ashutosh Gowariker, the story of how India was conquered by the Mughals, and so much eye candy, that’s Jodhaa Akbar for me. I had rather low expectations, as I’d read some unfavourable reviews, but I was pleasantly surprised.

I didn’t know anything about the Mughals before I saw JA; there’s lots I should and want to catch up on, where to start? That’s why I cannot say anything as to if and how historically correct or adequate JA is. To me, it’s a tale about an emperor who actually wanted not to conquer, but to win the people’s hearts. On the other hand, it’s a tale about a woman who shapes her fate, and does not only acquiesce it. She marries Akbar for reasons of state, nevertheless she isn’t the victim of those reasons, but presents her demands and wishes. Possibly it’s a fairytale, but it doesn’t matter much to me. It’s beautifully told, and I agree with the main messages.

The story of Akbar’s quest to win Jodhaa’s heart mirrors his quest to be “a good regent” to the nations he has conquered: Her feelings when she hears of the planned marriage are reflected in the different kings’ reactions when Akbar’s envoy presents Akbar’s demand, that they should join his empire: some (most) cry out “Never!” – Jodhaa’s first reaction. One agrees immediately, without conditions – she agrees much later. One agrees, and presents his demands – that’s what Jodhaa does, too. The beautiful thing is that Akbar agrees to her conditions, and respects her. He’s a very enlightened emperor for his time, at least in my european eyes. We neither had his respect for other’s beliefs, nor for women’s right to self-determined sexuality back then.

There’s really lots and lots of eye candy: Hrithik is hot hot hot, he can wear those period clothes and look hot in them (btw, Shahrukh Khan can’t). I loved the scene when he’s doing some sword practice, bare chested. So much for drooling. Aishwarya looks beautiful, too, and everyone except Akbar’s nurse wears so much jewellery! Loved the Azeem-O-Shaan Shahenshah picturisation – the only song that I liked before I saw the movie. Big drums! Lots of folks in (probably) traditional costumes! All of them dancing together! Wonderful choreography! The other song I got to like in the movie, when I saw it in context, is Mann Mohana, that seems to be a prayer. The other songs are not too bad, but I don’t really like them.

JA shows beautiful people wearing wonderful clothes and jewellery, in beautiful surroundings. Besides that it has battles with battle elefants (that’s always a bonus, though I was a little shocked that they showed how the elefants stamped and trampled down soldiers. It’s what a battle elefant has to do, but it ain’t pretty). It has duels. Intrigues. Love. Betrayal. Beautiful cinematography. It has lengths – when Jodhaa and Akbar finally loved each other, I nearly was relieved that the movie would be over soon, and then came another intrigue. Damn. Nevertheless, I really love JA, though it really ain’t the best movie I’ve seen, because of the beauty and opulence it shows.