Monday, January 14, 2008

'Jodhaa Akbar' promises to be a spectacle

Hrithik RoshanThe Hrithik Roshan – Aishwarya Rai Bachchan starrer Jodhaa Akbar , made at a whopping budget of Rs.400 million, promises to be a sheer spectacle to watch.

The film that is scheduled to release on February 15, directed and co-produced by Ashutosh Gowarikar , and produced by UTV Motion Pictures.

The historical film is based on the romance between Emperor Akbar and Rajput princess Jodhabai and has Hrithik and Ash playing the protagonists.


‘Jodhaa Akbar’ is a sixteenth century love story about a marriage of alliance that gave birth to true love between a great Mughal emperor, Akbar, and a Rajput princess, Jodhaa.

Political success knew no bounds for Emperor Akbar (Hrithik). After having secured the Hindu Kush, he furthered his realm by conquest until his empire extended from Afghanistan to the Bay of Bengal, and from the Himalayas to the Godavari River.

Through a shrewd blend of diplomacy, intimidation and brute force, Akbar won the allegiance of the Rajputs, the strongest of the Hindu castes.

But little did Akbar know that when he married Jodhaa (Ash), a fiery Rajput princess, in order to further strengthen his relations with the Rajputs, he would in turn be embarking upon a new journey – the journey of true love.

The daughter of King Bharmal of Amer, Jodhaa resented being reduced to a mere political pawn in this marriage of alliance, and Akbar’s biggest challenge now did not merely lie in winning battles, but in winning the love of Jodhaa – a love hidden deep below resentment and extreme prejudice. ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ is their untold love story.

In reality Akbar's wife was never known as Jodhabai. The use of the name Jodhabai appears to have been a 19th century mistake. Her real name was Hira-kunwari before marriage and after marriage she was known as Mariam-uz-Zamani. While this name change is debatable, Jodha, however, remained Hindu for the rest of her life she was married to Akbar.

According to history and some historical texts, Akbar actually did meet Jodha before they were married. It was Akbar who proposed to her father for her hand in marriage to create an alliance and also because he somehow became very fond of her. Akbar had many wives, some of them Rajput princesses.

Gowarikar hired a research team of historians and scholars from New Delhi, Lucknow, Agra and Jaipur to guide him on this film and help him keep things historically accurate.

Over 80 elephants, 100 horses and 55 camels are being used in the movie. Name Of main song titled “Azeem O Shan, Shahenshah”, featured about one thousand dancers in traditional costumes, wielding swords and shields at a grand location in Karjat.

The questions being asked is if the audience will accept a period drama in today's times and whether they will accept Hrithik playing a historical character.

But otherwise ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ is expected to be a sheer spectacle to watch.

Courtesy: ApunkaChoice.com

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