Big B’s Alladin postoponed due to Aamir’s Ghajini?

It is said that when Amitabh Bachchan enters the scene everyone in the industry makes way for him. But not this time! The release of Big B starrer Alladin has been delayed and the reason cited is Aamir Khan’s Ghajini.
AB plays the role of a genie in Sujoy ghosh’s Alladin and it is said that the film aims at children. The shooting of the film has also been complete and they were planning to release the film in Christmas which is the right time for the target audience. But ever since Aamir Khan rescheduled the release date of his film Ghajini because of his illness the makers of Alladin has no choice but to delay the release to February.
However Sujoy has a different version to narrate. “Mr. Bachchan has no competition and we are not worried. We are yet to finish a promotional song with Mr. Bachchan and since he was busy with The Unforgettables we could not manage to do so.  The film also targets the kids and we needed an appropriate release. We had to reschedule the shooting dates and hence the delay.”


Courtesy: realbollywood.com

'Marma Yogi' - a historical extravaganza starts 26th

Kamal Haasan's Multi-lingual Multi-Million dollar Magnum opus 'Marma Yogi' would go on floors on September 26th in Tamilnadu.

Scripted and Directed by the Universal Star himself, Marmayogi will have its musical score by none other than A.R.Rahman.

Rahman said that he would do an extensive research for this period film. Rumors are going around that Kamal wants to complete this mega-project at a rapid pace to ensure it to be a Tamil New year release on April 14, 2009.

Co-produced by Pyramid Saimira and Rajkamal International, Managing Director of the former commented on Marmayogi as,"The project will be a landmark project in the technical as well as cinematic qualities and will try to project Indian cinema in the best possible manner internationally."

After Marmayogi, the leading method actor would feature in '19 steps'. Produced in English, the film will have its versions in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and Japanese and the production would start in April 2009.

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

Marmayogi's shooting set for September 25

Kamal Haasan’s Marmayogi, which was scheduled for an early September launch has been postponed by a month. The movie will be launched in Mumbai on October 18 but the shooting will begin on September 25 itself. Kamal is both scripting and directing the movie in which he plays the protagonist, while Trisha plays the female lead.

The movie is said to have two other heroines, with Shriya playing the second heroine. The look out for the third heroine is on, and it is said that Padmapriya is being considered for the role.

Hemamalini, who plays a negative role in the movie, has also been finalised and it is now confirmed that talks are on with Amitabh Bachchan for him to feature in an important role in the movie.

The shooting will began at Sedhusamudhram Falls.

Marmayogi is said to be shot in the backdrop of the seventh century. Apparently the different heroines of the film will appear at different points in the movie. Music for Marmayogi is by AR Rahman and two songs have already been completed.

The movie is said to be shot on the trot, with bulk dates being given by both heroines.

Shriya, who has just returned from Bangkok after shooting for Jaggubhai, and Trisha, who is working on Sarvam, will also be part of the photo shoot of the movie which is currently being held in the city. Marmayogi is produced jointly by Raajkamal Films and Pyramid Saimira.


Courtesy:

Amitabh to play Abhishek's grandad in Dilli 6

Amitabh Bachchan is known to sign on unusual roles and the latest is that the superstar will play his son Abhishek's grandad in Rakeysh Mehra's forthcoming Dilli 6.

Mehra's semi-autobiographical film has Abhishek playing the lead and also stars Sonam Kapoor, who made her debut in Saawariya. He also roped in Amitabh to play a specially written cameo.

Confirming the news, Amitabh said: "I play Abhishek's grandfather in Dilli 6."

Interestingly, the film already has veteran actress Waheeda Rehman. And one of the Big B's incentives for stepping into the picture so late is to share screen space with his favourite actress.

Amitabh has earlier worked with Mehra in Aks. And with Dilli 6 almost complete, Mehra already has plans of casting Amitabh in his next film unusually titled Paanch Kaurav.

"It's too early to talk about Paanch Kaurav. But it's in the caper-adventure genre. And it would be my third film with the Big B. I couldn't get luckier. I've also done three films with Abhishek," revealed Mehra, whose last film was Rang De Basanti.

"I was supposed to do Abhishek's launch film Samjhauta Express and then we were to do Bhairavi (with all the three Bachchans including Jaya). We had gone so deep into the discussions that we both feel we've already worked in those two films together. So our comfort level in Dilli 6 is as high as it would be for any director-actor team that has done three films together," the director said.


Courtesy: sify.com

Aamir unplugged: The star on Imran and upcoming projects

Aamir Khan is going through the best phase, professionally. "No one can predict which way the pendulum will swing, before a film releases. But Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na has fared beyond my expectations. I only wish Chachajaan [the late Nasir Husain] was alive to share the happiness. He was very close to Imran," says Aamir in a heart-to-heart conversation.

With Imran's debut vehicle proving a major hit, is Aamir guiding his nephew how to go about in his career?

I would never do that. It's important to take your own decisions. You must learn to walk without crutches. Right from the start of my career, I took my own decisions. I made mistakes, but those were my mistakes. I think, I've learnt more from my failures than hits and I would advice Imran the same.

But a number of people feel that if one wants to sign Imran, it has to be via Aamir. True?

Yeah, that's what everyone feels. In fact, a number of people do call up, enquiring about Imran, but I tell them, Yeh lo number, Imran ko khud phone karo," he laughs.

You have incorporated a song that was deleted from the final version of Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na. Why?

It's my favourite number, but Mansoor, Abbas and I took a call jointly. We felt the song was only making the film lengthier. But since the results are out, the song has been added in its third week. Initially, we thought of retaining it for just one week. But looking at the feedback, we may stretch it to three weeks. However, let me add, the song will not be a part of the final cut in the DVD. It will be featured in the unseen portions.

What’s up next as Ghajini is almost complete and slated for release in November?

I will begin shooting for Rajkumar Hirani's film from August onwards. It's called 3 Idiots. I am looking forward to working with Madhavan and Sharman Joshi [the Rang De Basanti team]. Kareena is also doing the film.

The topic moves on to his next project. Has he thought of his next directorial venture?

Not yet! I haven't started looking for stories either. Earlier, I was busy with Ghajini, then the release of Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na took most of my time.

But the buzz is, Aamir intends casting Bachchan Sr in his next film.

I was at a loss of words when Mr Bachchan said that he would love to work in a film directed by me. He's my favourite actor. It would be a privilege to direct him, but like I said, I haven't zeroed in on a subject yet.

What about Delhi Belly? Reportedly, the film will be made in English and not Hindi.

That's true! We are targeting the global audience. I don't want it to be a bilingual. We tried that earlier with Mangal Pandey but it didn't work.

With Ranbir Kapoor not part of the project anymore, will Imran step in?

Ranbir couldn't do the film due to date hassles. As for Imran, let's see. We haven't taken a call yet.


Courtesy: sify.com

'Marmayogi' goes to Sweden

Kollywood is abuzz with rumors that Kamal Haasan would commence shooting for his next film 'Marmayogi' in exotic locales in Sweden.

According to reports, the movie is set in the sixth century BC and so has taken precise care in fixing up appropriate locations. A few locations in Sweden appear to be on the mind of Kamal Haasan.

Touted to be a big-budget film, 'Marmayogi' features Hemamalini in a prominent role and efforts are on to cast Amitabh Bachchan in it. The crew would land in Sweden later next month to start shooting.

With 'Dasavatharam' proving to be a major hit for Kamal Haasan, he is all geared up to sustain the good run in the industry.

Directed and enacted by Kamal Haasan, the movie has musical score by A R Rahman.

Courtesy: behindwoods.com

Big B in 'Marmayogi'?

It has been confirmed that ‘Marmayogi’ will have veteran Bollywood actress Hemamalini playing a prominent role. But the biggest surprise that could lead to tremendous anticipation is that Amitabh Bachchan might be part of the project too. Kamal Haasan, it seems is trying to rope in the legendary actor for an interesting role.

According to sources, Kamal Haasan has recently expressed this desire saying ''We are working on ‘Marmayogi’ which will be on a grand scale and Amitabh Bachchan would be perfect for a role in the film”.

It can be recalled that plans were on to rope in the Big B for the Rajini starrer 'Sivaji'. However he declined the offer.

It would be interesting to see if the Shahensha of Hindi films is fascinated by 'Marmayogi'. Sure would be great if he is. If that happens, it will be the first time Amitab would be part of a Tamil film.

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

Aamir 'maamu' is a happy man

Aamir Khan is a happy man these days, and why should'nt he celebrate, after all his nephew Imran Khan's debut film Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na has been appreciated by both critics and audiences.

The film's young stars led by the big maamu Aamir, were at PVR Cinemas in Delhi for a special screening of the movie.


Confident amd happy with the initial reaction to his film actor Imran Khan said comparisons with ''uncle'' Aamir Khan are inevitable.

"Some say I am a good actor, and some including Genelia think I am bad actor," laughed Imran.

Aamir, who has left no stone unturned in promoting Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na is now looking forward to his next release Ghajini and also on mending fences with Amitabh Bachchan.

Courtesy: ndtvmovies.com

I’m dying to see what I’ve done in ‘Delhi 6′, says Rakeysh Mehra

After his blockbuster “Rang De Basanti”, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra is busy shooting “Dilli 6″ and says his wife Bharathi has just begun to edit this Abhishek Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor starrer. The director is curious to see the outcome of his hard work. “I’m dying to see what I’ve done in ‘Delhi 6′. I haven’t entered the editing studio yet. Since she is doing the editing, she first needs to be happy with my work. I need to let her do her work. It’s the same with any other technician on board,” Mehra told IANS.

“I can’t sit on A.R. Rahman’s head when he’s composing a song. Or I can’t instruct Binod Pradhan on the lighting when he’s shooting. To me, editing is the purest art form in cinema. It’s the only vocation that’s truly related to cinema.

“If you see cinematography it originates in photography and painting. Screenplay writing originated from plays, stories and literature. Acting has its roots in folk and theatre. Direction is also a derivative. Film editing is the only pure and original art form. It’s the only vocation born for and out of cinema. So I’d rather let it be done by someone who knows her job.”

Mehra believes screen writing and editing are the backbones of a movie.

“The way scenes are cut determines the film. I don’t know her job better than her, so I let Bharathi take care of the material. What would I do sitting with her? I’ve got better things to do in life.”

Mehra is far from fatigued.

“Am I tired? Tiredness is a state of mind. But yes, I did need a break. So I’m writing and that for me is a break from direction. While directing I was reaching the sets every day at 8 a.m. and leaving at 10 p.m. Writing requires a different discipline and a different energy. I’m already writing my next film.”

Whom will he cast now?

“I never think of whom to cast while writing. The characters get cast on their own. The script chooses the actor. The one I’m writing now needn’t be the one that I’ll direct next. What one makes depends on so many factors including the availability of the actors that I want.

“Yes, I do have a wish-list for my next film. But one has to have options. Suppose I don’t get Rahman for the music, I might go with Vangelis (Greek composer). And it’d become a totally different tune. And if it’s Om Puri instead of Amitji (Amitabh Bachchan), it’s a different film.”

Courtesy: thaindian.com

Friend or foe, Aamir Khan invites all to 'Jaane Tu' premiere

The premiere of Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na is going to be a star-studded affair with the who’s who of Bollywood in attendance.

Aamir Khan is leaving not a single stone unturned to give a grand launch to his nephew Imran Khan via his home production ‘Jaane Tu’, co-starring Genelia D'Souza .

Not only has the star invited his friends and fierce competitors from the film industry, he has also extended an olive branch, along with the invitation, to the people he hasn’t gotten along with for years – and one of them is Ram Gopal Varma .


Aamir and Ramu had fallout during the making of their hit film Rangeela and never reconciled thereafter. Years passed but the chill in their relation never thawed. Until recently, when Aamir – presently in a happy phase of his life – decided to let bygones by bygone and invited Ramu to the premiere of ‘Jaane Tu’. Ramu has reciprocated Aamir’s gesture in the same spirit and accepted the invitation. The filmmaker says ‘come rain or high water’ (as is the case in Mumbai these days) he will attend the function.

A source from the industry says Aamir has also invited the Bhatts ( Mahesh Bhatt , in particular) with whom he had huge creative differences during the making of ‘Ghulam’.

And on Monday, Aamir dropped by on the sets of Yuvraaj at Filmistan Studios to invite filmmaker Subhash Ghai and Salman Khan .

Among the people on Aamir’s guest list for the premiere are: Amitabh Bachchan (including family), Shahrukh Khan , Salman Khan, Akshaye Khanna , Rajkumar Hirani , Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Kunal Kohli .

On the other hand, the Bawejas are holding the premiere of their big movie Love Story 2050 in London. The film, introducing Harman Baweja , will release on July 4 but will have special sneak peek screenings at multiplexes beginning Thursday night.

Courtesy: apunkachoice.com

Marmayogi - short film ready

Grandeur seems to be another name for Kamal. After the success of Dasavatharam, he has moved on with his next project Marmayogi, the launch of which is tipped to be one of its kind in the history of Tamil cinema. When Kamal approached producers Saimira and expressed his desire to have a grand launch function, they were too willing to heed to Ulaga Nayagan’s wishes. The function is scheduled to be held in Mumbai at the Grand Hotel with some of the bigwigs of Bollywood like Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Shah Rukh Khan etc. in the invitee’s list.


Kamal, known for his penchant to stand out tall among his contemporaries, has planned a different inaugural function for Marmayogi. A short film would be showcased to the audience which will talk about the cast and crew of Marmayogi, locations where the film will be shot etc. It has been said that the film will have leading Bollywood actors like Hema Malini and is likely to be shot in African countries.

Courtesy: behindwoods.com

Working with Aamir is fantastic: Jiah

In a short span of less than two years, this sultry babe with an enchanting pout and lustrous locks has worked with bigwigs like Ram Gopal Varma and Amitabh Bachchan.

Actress Jiah Khan, who has now bagged Aamir Khan's prestigious project Ghajini, talks to NT about some of the things close to her heart.

We don't get to hear anything about you these days. What are you up to?

My entire energy and waking hours are dedicated to Ghajini these days. It is such an engrossing film that I don't even have the time to think about anything else. But I am not supposed to say anything else about the project.

There are rumours that you have chopped your lustrous locks for one of the forthcoming films on Shahid Kapur's advice...

No way! I will never do that unless a role really demands it. All these rumours are silly.

If you had to choose between Ramu and Aamir as your favourite director, whom would you choose?

(Giggles) This is a tough one! Each one is a genius in his own right and their techniques are quite distinctly different. So, both remain my favourites.

With your western upbringing and exotic looks, you are just right for the crossover projects. Why aren't you doing these?

I am doing a couple of such projects. The discussions are on, but till the time I actually sign these, it won't be appropriate to talk about them.

You were quite bowled over by Big B after Nishabd. Who are the other industry men who are hot according to you?

I haven't worked with many of them to comment on them. But yes, I find those who are not married, quite hot. Shahid for one, is a wonderful guy to work with.

You are doing quite a few stunts these days for your films. Is it because your role model Angelina Jolie also does her own stunts?

Yeah, maybe! Angelina's stunts are quite awe-inspiring. I also like the way she lives her life on her own terms and I admire her concern for children and animals.

Doesn't it scare you sometimes that you might get hurt?

It maybe scary at times but unless you do your own stunts, you can't convince the audience about the depth of your emotions on screen. So, you have to go for it. After all, it is for a cause.

Grapevine has it that you will be appearing in Dhoom:3. Are you ready to change your image for that?

It's not confirmed as yet. But, if it comes through and the role demands it, I don't mind changing my look completely.

One recent movie that you really liked...

Taare Zameen Par. There wasn't a single minute when I didn't cry during that movie. I felt completely drained out emotionally. And when the lights were switched on in the theatre, I saw that all the people had tears in their eyes.

And what do you have to say about Aamir Khan?

Meeting him and working with him is an experience in itself. As a director he's fantastic. I absorb any advice or input that he gives me. He's a wonderful person too.

Who's the lucky man in your life?

I am not very comfortable talking about my private life but I will say just one thing 'I am so happy these days'!

What about your singing aspirations? After all, you are a trained opera singer.

I play piano and sing and dance at home. But that's a very private thing. These things help me to destress.

Courtesy: timesofindia.com

Rare honor for Rahman

Acclaimed music composer A R Rahman will be presented with a life time achievement award by International Indian Film Academy (IIFA).

The award would be presented to Rahman on 6 June at a grand function to be held at Bangkok.

The award is being presented to Rahman for his immense contribution to promote Indian film music abroad and also making a mark internationally.

The function would be attended by the likes of Shahrukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan among others.

Courtesy:indiaglitz.com

Rahman goes designer for Cannes

The music maestro has hired designer duo Shantanu and Nikhil to dress him up for the coveted film festival, reports Sheree Gomes-Gupta

He has wowed audiences the world over with his superlative performances, and his music probably overshadows everything else he does…or even wears. But, as we recently learnt, AR Rahman isn’t just conscious of the beats he composes, but also the way he looks.


Not only does the music maestro have a stylist, but he has roped in his favourite designers — Shantanu and Nikhil — to dress him up for the Cannes Film Festival, starting May 14.

“His style sense completely gels with our brand philosophy, which is understated, classic, sophisticated and luxurious. Which is why he loves our clothes and has been wearing them to his concerts,” says Nikhil Mehra of the designer duo.

So, what’ll he be wearing? “We’ve made him a navy blue jodhpuri bandgala, reminiscent of his Indian heritage, yet with a very stylish cut and silhouette suitable for red carpet dressing. Bringing in the luxe touch to the outfit is the appliqué work on the jacket inspired by the Mughal era. The outfit pays tribute to Rahman, both as a man and as an artiste who does India proud,” he adds.

Interestingly, the music composer had just one request for the designers — to avoid the colour black. “Yes, he does not like the colour black. But apart from that one input, he left the designing to us,” reveals Nikhil.

Known best for their red carpet dressing, having designed for the likes of Amitabh Bachchan, Sushmita Sen, Shilpa Shetty and Saif Ali Khan, among others, for several award functions, the two are now in the midst of getting their line for the IFFA awards in place. “We’re busy finishing the collection and will be soon sending the designs out to various actresses,” informs Nikhil.

And while they’ve got a whole bevy of beauties on their wish list, they’re hoping Deepika Padukone, Konkana Sen Sharma and Katrina Kaif will wear their red carpet style to the IFFA. “Let’s see how it works out,” he says.

Courtesy: dnaIndia.com

Rahman's 'Ada' six years in the making

The maestro is back in the news after mesmerizing with his last outing Jodhaa Akbar. After delivering the music for one of the most grand and majestic films Hindi cinema has seen, A.R. Rahman's next outing is in the form of a more modest venture. Debut director Tanvir Ahmad's Ada with the tag-line "A way of life" will release later this year.
In fact, the film has been on the floors for about six years and earlier boasted of a cast including Amitabh Bachchan. Now, the film has been re-vamped with newcomers and should be completed by next month. It stars Rahul Roy, Nauheed Cyrusi and Ayesha Jhulka in pivotal roles.

Of the music, Rahman tells CNN-IBN, "The music of the film actually took six years to make because the film started six years back in 2002. The music has a very old school melody feel. But it also has other tunes so it does have a colour of different genres in it.
"Since the making of the music has spanned over six years, audiences can expect a large range of tunes coming their way! In addition to Ada, A.R. Rahman has Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, Ghajini and Yuvraaj slated for release this year.

Courtesy: bollyspice.com

First look at Dilli 6

The next film from Rang De Basanti’s Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Dilli 6 is a semi-autobiographical take on his younger days in Delhi, mainly set in the old lanes of Chandni Chowk.

What’s new is the casting of the film which has been more of a game of musical chairs. First, it was Abhishek Bachchan, then Hrithik Roshan, Akshay Kumar, Siddharth (of Rang De Basanti fame), Kunal Kapoor and even Ranbir Kapoor! Ironically, the lead role landed in the lap of AB’s baby, who had earlier turned it down. We bring you the views of the final hero of Dilli 6, Abhishek Bachchan, who explained as to why it all started in the first place. “Earlier, I did not have dates. Rakeysh came back some months later with a reworked script.


Thankfully, I could manage to juggle the scheds of Drona and Dilli 6.” Reportedly, the sets for the film constructed in Sambhar in Rajasthan gives a feel that the film has been shot in Chandni Chowk. Meanwhile, Sonam Kapoor too has been signed opposite Abhishek. Apart from the duo, the film also stars Waheeda Rehman, Om Puri, Atul Kulkarni and Divya Dutta. Music for has been composed by A R Rahman. A little history: Rakeysh was supposed to launch Abhishek with Samjhauta Express in 2000 but that somehow did not happen. Never mind, they are also doing Bhairavi, where the three Bachchans come together on screen for the first time. Aamir’s star value definitely helped Rang De Basanti do better at the box-office; will Abhishek do the same for Dilli 6? At least that is what Rakeysh must be expecting from junior Bachchan.

Courtesy: newindpress.com

Big B to play Abhishek's grandpa

Amitabh Bachchan will be seen playing Abhishek Bachchan’s grandfather in director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s film Dilli 6 .

Abhishek Bachchan may not have liked the idea of playing the younger Big B in Shoojit Sircar’s in-the-making film ‘Shoebite’, but the senior Bachchan has happily agreed to act in Mehra’s semi-autobiographical flick starring Abhishek and Sonam Kapoor in lead roles.


The film has Amitabh and Waheeda Rahman playing grandparents of the character played by Abhishek.

Big B and Waheeda ji have worked together in a number of films in the 70s and 80s, and ‘Dilli 6’ marks their coming together after a long gap of about 25 years.

Mehra, who is extremely fond of Waheeda ji (she was also part of his Rang De Basanti ), reportedly wanted her only to play the role of Abhi’s grandma.

Reports say that the two senior actors have already shot a few portions of the film in Rajasthan.

Courtesy: Apunkachoice.com

Hrithik Roshan's dervish dance wins hearts

The response to Jodhaa Akbar from critics may be mixed. But there is one extraordinary sequence in the film that has won the hearts of critics and audiences alike.

That sequence is when emperor Akbar ( Hrithik Roshan ) goes into a trance while listening to the qawwali “Khwaja Mere Khwaja”. Quietly, the emperor rises from his seat, walks into the whirling dervishes and begins to whirl with one hand pointed to the sky and the other pointed to the earth.


Now, we all know how good a dancer Hrithik is. But before shooting this sequence, even he was clueless. Though the whirling doesn’t require any complicated steps, Hrithik had to do it with genuine feeling so as not to make the dance look superficial.

And the conviction with which Hrithik conveyed the spiritual ecstasy of Akbar in that dance has won hearts.

None other than superstar Amitabh Bachchan had lavish praise for this particular sequence in the film.

In fact, Big B has reportedly stated that such an outstanding moment has not been captured in cinema since Stanley Kubrick’s film ‘A Space Odyssey’.

And almost every movie critic has complimented this very sequence.

For the song’s composer, A R Rahman , “Khwaja Mere Khwaja” is a very personal and spiritual number. Rahman originally composed the song three years ago only for himself. It was much later when Ashutosh Gowarikar approached him to compose for ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ did Rahman decide to use the song in the film.

Courtesy: Apunkachoice.com

Mani's next - story revealed!

Mani Ratnam’s newest film project returns to a territory he is master of: a simple, deep love story beautifully and impeccably told in the way only this maestro can. Think Alaipaiyuthey, except the couple is now negotiating married life amidst the frantic pace of modern life. Will the story also perhaps deal with how contemporary couples balance careers with marriage and family? There is something doubly interesting about this project – the stars that will play this couple are Abishek and Ash. The glittering echo between the fictional and the real couple is obvious, adding to the buzz.

It’s nice to have Mani Ratnam come back from larger than life stories like Guru to doing something more intimate, feel-good, lyrical and romantic. And where there’s Mani there’s always that other maestro, A.R.Rahman. Taking a cue from the story and theme of this yet untitled movie, the model for Rahman’s songs could well be Alaipaiyuthey. Richly lyrical romantic ballads, intoxicatingly choreographed and shot. Which brings us to the cinematographer – rumour has it that Mani is most likely going to bring his veteran cameraman in - P.C. Sriram. If you recall, P.C. and Mani together revolutionized the use of lighting and camera work in Tamil cinema once. Rumour also has it that the Big B will make a cameo. But let’s wait and see what develops – with this publicity shy director
nothing is confirmed until he confirms it.

Courtesy: Behindwoods.com

Jodhaa Akbar: A royal love story

Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai, Sonu Sood, Kulbhushan Kharbanda

Direction: Ashutosh Gowarikar

Music: A R Rahman

Production: UTV Motion Pictures
A love story, sweet and romantic. An interpretation of the rich history of a great Mughal emperor. A visual treat. Choose any one of these or all three, for Jodhaa Akbar is all in one: this is carefully crafted, meticulously executed high-class cinema. Ashuthosh Gowariker has proved his mastery over his craft beyond doubt. Handling the nitty-gritty details of history can be a bit irksome, and there are quite a few creative liberties taken in Jodhaa Akbar - not everything is straight out of the textbook. (This is told to us right at the start with an unconventional disclaimer). But then, that is the only way to keep a movie from turning into a documentary.

Jodhaa Akbar begins at a period when Humayun has just passed away and a 13-year-old Mohammad Jalaluddin is forced to ascend the throne and recapture Delhi from a barbaric looking king. Amitabh Bacchan’s baritone voice takes us through the early years of the young king till he emerges a man, with a dream of unifying all of India under the Delhi sultanate. He sets forth trying to realize the dream that generations before him have nursed. And learns that just battalions cannot win over the people of a country and that’s when one of the Rajput kings, driven to desperation by dynastic politics, offers his daughter’s hand to Jalaluddin in return for protection and amnesty. That’s where the beautiful and very different love story begins. Beautiful, because it is not love that begins in courtship and goes through romance, it is born instead out of compulsion and blooms out of companionship, respect and mutual admiration. In short, it is an arranged relationship turning romantic; the way wine matures in barrels over years.

Jodhaa Akbar shows how even an emperor is still a humble learner when it comes to love, how he evolves as a man after discovering love, how he begins to despise battle, embrace peace and become a better king. All this is captured amidst the grand and sometimes opulent settings of Mughal India, the splendor of court life, the high life of the royalty, the thrill of battle and the complex alliances and conspiracies that run rife in the politics of the empire. The first hour is all about setting the pace and building the characters. If you feel like yawning in the first hour or so, don’t feel disheartened: things pick up and never slow down from then on. That is around the time when Jodhaa and Jalaluddin start discovering their admiration for each other. From then on, right till the end the script moves at a brisk pace, not giving any room for boredom.

Moving on to the other aspects: the set design has to be definitely admired for successfully transporting us back to the 16th century. You don’t have to be a historian or have a thorough knowledge of different styles of architecture to appreciate it, it looks good and you are certain to admire it.

The settings of the Rajput palaces in Rajasthan look better and more colorful than the palatial rooms of the Mughals. Costumes are another high point of the film: Jalaluddin looks resplendent and majestic, and a lot of attention to detail has been showered on every character appearing in the film, all of whom look genuinely period. The cinematographer too has done a fine job, especially in the opening battle sequence, the scale of which really sets the tone for the film. Rahman’s score is another highlight of this movie. You don’t really notice the songs; you feel them as they waft in and out of the movie with ease, Jashn-e-bahaara stands out while Shaan-O-Shahenshah thunders with its drumbeats as Akbar’s reign grows in power and popularity.
Jodhaa Akbar

Certain scenes in the movie will remain with you long after you leave the theatre. The battle scenes, the climatic one-on-one fight, both the sword fights involving Aishwarya (she must have worked really hard at them), the ‘elephant taming’ scene and some sweet moments of veiled, subtle romance between the lead pair, whose chemistry is really excellent. Also memorable is the scene where Aishwarya herself cooks for the king. The point where Jalaluddin is adorned with the title Akbar (The Great) is a key moment.

Moving on to the cast- Hrithik has lived the role, he looks majestic and is always in command, except when in front of Aishwarya who has given one of her best performances (right up there with Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Guru), not to mention how good she looks. All other members of the cast add to the impact, with Sonu Sood and Ila Arun in particular doing well.

On the flip side (not really negatives), the first hour as mentioned earlier might put you off, there are certain scenes, right at the beginning and at the fag end that remind one of Troy (the Brad Pitt, Eric Bana starrer). If you are a stickler for historical accuracy, then you might find the movie a bit trying. Also, don’t expect an Akbar Nama or anything of that sort. You won’t find any of Akbar’s famous contemporaries like Birbal or Tansen in this movie, it is set in a slightly earlier period of his life; Todarmal is the only familiar name in the list of characters. You might need some patience to hear a thoroughly detailed narrative that lasts three and a half hours; people with edgy feet might get restless.

Where Jodhaa Akbar scores is that it remains true to its theme. It is a love story first and the life of an emperor next. The soul of the movie lies in the relationship, and Ashuthosh Gowariker had dealt with it superbly. It’s the kind of movie whose fate is a bit difficult to predict, but whatever the result, Ashuthosh Gowariker deserves a great round of applause for his guts and vision, which only a handful of directors in India possess. A sequel showing the rest of Akbar’s reign might not be a bad idea.

Verdict: A visual feast, an intoxicating love story



Courtesy: Behindwoods.com