Selvaraghavan teams up with Rehman?

Director Selvaraghavan says there is nothing wrong in his relationship with music director Yuvan Shankar Raja. On the other hand, Yuvan says that they have 'developed' some misunderstandings and that they are no more together. Yuvan has already opted out of 'Aayirathil Oruvan', which has been in the making by Selvaraghavan for more than the past couple of years.

Yuvan also said recently that reconciliation between appeared a far-away reality. Meanwhile, it is reliably learnt that Selvaraghavan has decided to join hands with A.R. Rehman to compose music in his films from now onwards. Selvaraghavan has been booked by U TV to direct their debut film, for which Rehman has also been signed reportedly for a hitherto unheard of fee.

In their happy days, Yuvan and Selvaa used to go to Bangkok to compose the songs for their films. With A.R. Rehman, Selva has to learn other ways of getting the tunes. He has reportedly narrated the story to the music wizard and has to get back to him only when he is informed by Rehman after the songs are composed and kept ready. 

Courtesy: chennaionline.com

Disney buys N American rights for TZP

In a first of its kind deal, Walt Disney has bought home video rights of Taare Zameen Par for the North American market. This is the first time an international studio has bought the video rights of an Indian film.

Disney, which inked the deal with UTV Motion Pictures that holds the overseas rights of the Aamir Khan-starrer, paid Rs 7 crore for the video rights.

"Disney as a brand has association with family and children. They have seen Taare Zameen Par as content that has a brand fit. Also, the film is being seen as one of the classics of recent times. Despite it not being a conventional NRI fare, the film has done very well in the overseas market, especially in North America," said Siddharth Roy Kapoor of UTV Motion Pictures.

Taare Zameen Par was released in December 2007 and became a critical as well as commercial success. The film, starring Darsheel Safary and Aamir Khan, was hailed for its sensitivity and it grossed in the range of Rs 100 crore worldwide.

Disney had earlier entered into a co-production tie-up with Yash Raj Films to produce the animation venture Roadside Romeo . Sony has entered into a three-film co-production deal with PNC. Indian films obtained official remake rights of Italian Job .

Warner Bros is producing Akshay Kumar-starrer Chandni Chowk To China . Each of these deals are only facilitating industry to industry contact at various levels.

Courtesy: timesofindia.com

Rockstar no longer happening?

Imtiaz Ali's mega project Rockstar that was to have cast John Abraham has been apparently sent to the backburner.

The story revolved around a bored businessman who takes the subway daily to his work place. Then he is suddenly transported to the world of rock n' roll music where he becomes a rockstar. The project was initially supposed to have been produced by UTV but now they are not doing the project.

Following this composer A R Rahman also opted out of the project. "Rahman was very interested since he could have done something different in this film but when UTV backed out, so did Rahman," says a close aide to the composer. Our reliable sources say that the project may not take off at all.

Incidentally, Imtiaz is busy with Saif Ali Khan's project with Deepika and another with Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor.
John has Nagesh Kukunoor’s Aashayein and Karan Johar-Tarun Mansukhani's Dostana to look forward to. The latter has cast him opposite Priyanka Chopra.

Courtesy: dnaindia.com

T-Series acquires the Music Rights of 20 films from UTV

This can probably be touted as one of the biggest landmark deals in the Indian Music industry, which has seen a resurgence over the past few months. According to reliable sources, music label major T-Series, run by music baron Bhushan Kumar, has acquired the music rights for 20 forthcoming films of UTV Motion Pictures at a whopping Rs. 27.50 crores, in what is arguably the biggest music deal in the industry.

Some of the major titles include Dilli 6 of Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra starring Abhishek Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor at Rs. 5 crores, Main Aur Mrs Khanna starring Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor at Rs. 6 crores. It is learnt that two films starring Shahid Kapoor were closed at Rs. 3.5 crores each.

UTV Motion Pictures is one of India's largest integrated film studios and has had a record year at the box office in the current year, with films like Jodhaa Akbar and the critically acclaimed Aamir in recent times. The studio had ventured into the music business by launching its own label UTV Music with Jodhaa Akbar, however, had Sony BMG distributing Aamir and with this partnership has possibly entered into a strategic relationship with the leader in the industry, T-Series.

Music has been an integral component of Bollywood not just in terms of content, but indeed in marketing of the film and getting an encouraging opening. When Bollywood Hungama contacted T-Series to confirm and ask if their marketing initiatives had resulted in this acquisition, they refused to comment. We will be tracking this alliance and will have more for you very soon.

Courtesy: indiafm.com

Rajini Boss to rock North India

Superstar Rajinikanth's Shivaji, the Blockbuster of the year 2007, is now all set to hit theatres in Northern India. The reshooting and dubbing work of the film is over now and the producers are now negotiating with their Mumbai and upcountry counterparts to release the movie in big way.

Even the Tamil version was a hit for North Indian audiences all over India and the film has successfully completed its 100th day mark in two theaters in Mumbai and one in New Delhi (as said by AVM).


The Hindi version of Shivaji will hit the screens with nearly 350 prints all over the country. There are number of big names also contending for the distribution rights of the great film including the UTV Group, the producers of Jodha Akbar.

According to the producers, the movie will be a big summer treat for the North Indian viewers and releasing date will be announced soon after completing the distribution formalities.

Courtesy: oneIndia.in

Jodha Akbar is 2008’s blockbuster

Bollywood Magnum Opus, Jodha Akbar has swept box office collections netting over Rs 120 crore worldwide since one month of its release. The epic tale of love between emperor Akbar and his Rajput wife Jodha Bai has made 90 crores in India and the rest, abroad. With these box office figures it has become truly the first real blockbuster of 2008.


Riding high on the marvelous performance of Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai under the able direction of Ashuthosh Gowariker (Of Lagaan and swadesh fame), the movie has captured the imagination of audiences’ worldwide. The movie is the second time the hit pair of Aishwarya and Hrithik have starred together since last year’s hit Dhoom-2. Released over 25 countries, Jodha Akbar has been dubbed into Tamil and Telegu and subtitled into English, Dutch, and Arabic.

Talking about the film’s box office response, Director of UTV Motion Pictures and co-producer of the film Siddharth Roy Kapur said, “The response ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ has received not only in India but worldwide by both critics and viewers is worth all the hard work. ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ is an epic not merely by virtue of the timeless story it tells, but also because of the tremendous tribulations its creation entailed. In fact, the film is a standing monumental testament to Oscar nominated director Ashutosh Gowariker’s vision and commitment. To complement Ashutosh Gowariker’s efforts are power-packed performances by Hrithik and Aishwarya.”

The movie had faced bans in several Indian states due to opposition by various communal groups who wished to fan sentiments against the story line of the romance between a Muslim emperor and his Hindu wife. But ultimately the freedom of expression triumphed.

Jodha akbar has the distinction of being one among the highest grossing Hindi movies ever in its opening weekend with 25 core plus netting in India and 35 crore plus abroad. In India alone, the film released in nearly 1000 screens of which 400 were through digital cinemas. The scale of its release makes ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ the biggest ever release for an Indian film till date, according to company sources.
Courtesy:

Tamil Jodha Akbar bombs badly

The Tamil regional dubbed release of Hrithik Roshan-Aishwarya Rai starrer Jodha Akbar has proven to be a disaster for UTV. The film has bombed even though past Hindi films have done good business in the state in their dubbed versions.

It was released in 8 theaters in Chennai. But there have been reports of Jodhaa Akbar having been taken off after matinee show itself on opening day due to lack of audience and replaced with 10,000 BC a Hollywood release this week which has open to over 95% response.


Given the dubbing costs and print costs, JA's local version will prove to be a big loser.

Courtesy: Ibosnetwork.com

'Jodhaa Akbar' now in Tamil

Ashutosh Gowariker’s magnum opus 'Jodhaa Akbar', starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai, after having impressed the hindi-speaking audience, would now be released in Tamil.

The music for the film is by maestro A.R. Rahman, who has come out with some grand numbers. The Tamil lyrics have been written by Na. Muthukumar. The audio, that has been released recently, is doing well, say sources.


The film has turned out to be a super-hit, especially in the overseas market where it is doing terrific business aided by favourable reviews from the foreign press. The domestic revenue too has been above average considering that the film has not been released in Rajasthan and has been banned in Madhya Pradesh and certain other areas.

The Hindi version, released two weeks back, has so far collected 65 lakhs from Chennai alone. This is indeed quite a feat, considering the film’s running time of 3 hours and 30 minutes.

However, UTV is planning to release a more tightly-edited version. The dubbed version would be released across Tamil Nadu on 6th of March.

Courtesy: Msn.com

MP High Court Gives Clearence To ‘Jodhaa Akbar’

Finally, Madhya Pradesh High Court has wiped out the ban on ‘Jodha Akbar’s’ exhibition across the state.

Siddharth Roy Kapur, UTV Motion Pictures director said, “The Madhya
Pradesh High Court has ruled in favour of UTV and we are commencing the
screening of Jodhaa Akbar immediately across the state. This is a huge
boost to all advocates of creative freedom in our country, and we are
very grateful to the court for recognising the validity of our stand
and allowing Jodhaa Akbar to resume screenings.”

Right from the outset, Gowariker’s Jodhaa Akbar has been bounded by
arguments, and turned an issue of abhorrence for the Rajputs.

The Rajputs said that Ashutosh Gowariker has hurt their feelings and
they felt that the movie maker has low them by picturing wrong concepts
and has exploited Indian history.

Despite being prohibited in Rajasthan, Ambala and parts of Gujrat and
Bihar, the movie also confronted temporary postponement in MP
accompanying protest against it by the Rajput community at cinema
houses.

This made UTV move the MP High Court to receive order revoked leading to their final win.

While talking about the HC decision issued, Ashutosh greeted the judgment with relief and respect for the High Court verdict.

He said, “The film portrays love between two cultures and religions
through a marriage of alliance between a Mughal emperor and a Rajput
princess. This is an alliance that took place 450 years ago; an
alliance that we need to respect, admire and learn from even today. He
also adds that a disclaimer had been inserted at the start of the film
saying that the film is a work of fiction and it draws from history but
at the same time it is not the exact representation of it and there can
be other viewpoints.”

Courtesy: topnews.in

Box Office: Jodha Akbar opening falls 11 crores short; 2nd week advance

UTV software has claimed a Rs 38.5 crore opening weeked gross (including overseas) claim for Jodha Akbar, 25 crores of which they claim are India grosses. These, notwithstanding disputes, are decent, not historic recordbreaking opening numbers that was being expected for the mega budget epic.

Below are the opening weekend distributor worldwide gross figures for some high profile films of last year whose distributors released their weekend figures:

Salaam-E-Ishq - Rs. 50 crore (Eros)
Partner - Rs. 42 crore (Eros)
Heyy Baby - Rs 41 crore (Eros)
Jodha Akbar - Rs. 39 crore (UTV)
Jab We Met - Rs. 12 crore (UTV)

These figures again are distributor claims, not independently verified. At times, ticket sales have been believed to be much less than advertised claims.

Meanwhile advance booking for 2nd week for Jodha Akbar has opened to an underwhelming response again Except for south which is better on limited screenings, bookings in Mumbai stand at 25% for its 2nd Friday despite a blank open week with no releases. That is below average for 2nd week. For reference, the film is trending worse than Hrithik Roshan's last non-hit at the box office, Lakshya.

Moreover unlike Lakshya, the film is still recording 0 collections from Rajasthan and looks to be heading for a washout from that territory, which means a loss of upto 6-7 crores, including in part the other centers where the screenings were stopped.

Pirate CDs have also come out in the market and videos are available on the internet.

At best, Jodha Akbar looks to be an above average/average film and having been forced out of the northwest, if the collections in other parts of India don't turn upside over the coming week, it can still be heading towards emerging the first big budget flop of 2008, a major loss of a film many were hoping would set new box office milestones across India for years to come.

Courtesy: Ibosnetwork.com

A Jodha-Akbar museum!

A thing of beauty is a joy forever. Painstakingly crafted with a keen eye for detail, the sets of Jodha Akbar lent the much needed feeling of grandeur to the movie set around the prosperous Mughal and Rajputana empires. Now, that the movie has been released the sets that were built for the purpose can be dismantled. But the makers of Jodha Akbar seem to have something else in mind. After all it is not easy for anyone with a creative slant of mind to ruthlessly pull down a piece of art, that too one that has generated such a positive buzz wherever it has been shown on the big screen.

Yes, the magnificent sets of Jodha Akbar will not be pulled down, they will remain a testimony to the effort and time that went into their making. They will rightfully be opened up for the public get a first hand experience of how it looks. After all a 2 dimensional view on the big screen, however well shot cannot match the 3 dimensional experience of real life. The plans will be rolled out soon. Of course, the public will have to pay a nominal fee, but the perfection of the sets justifies that. The man behind the idea is the man who made the sets himself, Nithin Chandrakanth Desai of ND studios.

Hats off to him for turning the wheel of time to take us back to the times of Akbar and lets hope that this adds to the rich tourist attractions of our country.

Courtesy: Behindwoods.com

'Each song in Jodhaa Akbar has its own potential'

The last song to appear in Jodhaa Akbar, Inn Lamhon Ke Daaman Mein, is one of the most haunting songs composed by A R Rahman.

But like many of his fabled compositions, this one will also take time to make a lasting impact. The song is used mostly in the background, as Jodhaa and Akbar make love for the first time.

The number is sung by Sonu Nigam, and Madhushree who, in recent years, has emerged as one of Rahman's favourites.

The composer says the song challenged him considerably.

"It comes in the climax of the film," he says. "It was very important to have the song right. If it is too slow, it will bring the whole energy down. If it is too fast, it won't do justice to the situation. The end of the film shows Jodhaa finally loving Akbar for the first time since their wedding."

He had to play 'a kind of dynamic composition where it starts on a soothing note, and then goes to the big chorus,' he says.

"It has a full journey in it," he adds. "I think it is very good."

Many cannot understand how a big historical film like Jodhaa Akbar has only five songs. Old classics like Mughal-E-Azam and Pakeezah have quite a few songs in them.

"Numbers don't count," Rahman answers bluntly. "Roja, Dil Se, Bombay and Guru each had five songs. The real songs in that film were five; others were used in the background.

"Each song in Jodhaa Akbar has its own potential," he continues. "So we kept them simple. We did not want to overload things."

The music of Jodhaa Akbar is not confined to songs alone, he asserts.

"Once the film is released, they (UTV, the film's producer) may release the soundtrack, with the theme of the film and other compositions," he says.

"I take composing the background music for a film to be a very serious business," he continues. "There are a lot of people, who do just five songs and leave it for someone else to compose the background. You need 20 times the energy (of composing songs) to produce the background score. You need three to four months."

The time he took to compose the background score for Jodhaa Akbar, he adds, he could have used to compose songs for five to six films.

"It (the background score) is a commitment to the movie," he continues. "It is all about artistic honesty. It also helps you grow musically. In this film, I loved doing the background music because of the depth of the subject and interesting situations."


But on many occasions, when a filmmaker tells him the film's story, he knows in his heart, that he should not take up the film.

"When I am doing a song," he says, "the director has to live with the song and when I am doing a film's background music, I have to watch the film and have to live with the film all my life."

That is why he rejects many films, he adds.

Working for the third time with Gowariker reinforced Rahman's admiration for the filmmaker.

"Very few people recognise the kind of warmth in music, the pulse, the soul of the music," Rahman says. "He is one of them. Mani Ratnam and Subhash Ghai also are like him. Ashutosh has the talent for spotting fine music. There are so many ideas that he has to consider while working on a film. But to pick the right things and give them to the people, to present them in a very dignified way, is very important to him.

"There is no use in us in composing beautiful stuff and then getting it thrown away, without any respect to the music," Rahman continues. "It is very important for a director to sit and like something, and challenge the composer from time to time. Ashutosh does it."


Courtesy: Rediff.com

Ash, Abhishek in a Disney film?

After increasing its stake in the UTV-promoted television channel, Hungama, Walt Disney is all set to make an entry into the Hindi film industry. And their first project seems to be already underway.

Sources inform Gullu that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan had a long meeting with Disney officials two weeks ago, and they have decided to make a film with her. It will be directed by Mani Ratnam, and may also star Abhishek Bachchan

Ever since Mani Ratnam's brother, G Srinivasan, died in an accident, his production house, Madras Talkies, has been lying low. Guru (with Aishwarya and Abhishek) was the last film to be produced by Madras Talkies.

Mani Ratnam has never ventured out of his family's production house after it was formed. But now, it seems, he is keen to work with Disney and UTV.

The untitled film for which the script is being worked out will begin at the end of this year, and will release next year.

Courtesy: Rediff.com

Jodhaa Akbar could make even more money than OSO

Getting a royal welcome on both sides of the Atlantic, Ashutosh Gowariker's Jodhaa Akbar, grabbed an estimated $1.3 million in North America and $750,000 in the United Kingdom over the weekend.

Factoring in the Gulf countries, the Caribbean and Australia, the three day haul could reach an awesome $3 million.

The film may not have crossover appeal to the mainstream audiences but anyone who reads the opening of The New York Times review may be tempted to see it. 'They may not make'em like they used to in Hollywood,' critic Rachel Saltz wrote, 'but sometimes in India they still do. Jodhaa Akbar... is filmmaking on the grand scale of Cecil B De Mille (The Ten Commandments), with romance, stirring battles, and enough elephants and gold to sink the Titanic .'
The US box-office was especially impressive given the awful weather conditions in the Midwest.

"If the goodwill and enthusiasm for the film continues, and we at UTV feel it will, Jodhaa Akbar could make even more money than Om Shanti Om," said Lokesh Dhar for distributor UTV. "We are not looking at the success of this film in terms of another hit for UTV (which has distributed hits like Don). It could become the all-time highest grossing Bollywood film in North America."

Farah Khan's OSO starring Shah Rukh Khan , who also produced it, grossed about $3.8 million in North America and holds the record.

"Despite the fact that Jodhaa Akbar is three-and-a-half hours long," Dhar continued, "and theatres are having less number of shows, we are doing extraordinary business."

The film, which got decent reviews from many mainstream publications including The New York Times and a few pans like the one in the San Francisco Chronicle, had a record 135 prints released in North America. In the United Kingdom it has some 70 prints.

The full week's gross outside India could exceed $4.5 million. Even if the film's takings were to fall by 50 percent in subsequent weeks as it traditionally happens for Bollywood movies, it could still end up with some $8 million.

Unlike in India where the entertainment tax takes away nearly 50 percent of the box office collection, Bollywood producers get about 65 percent of the overseas take.

Bollywood insiders believe that even if Jodhaa Akbar does not do spectacular business in India, the overseas moolah will help it recuperate its reported $10 million budget.

Another reason why the film may not suffer a steep decline in the second week is that there are no big movies challenging Jodhaa Akbar for several weeks, till the action thriller Race, which is also distributed by UTV.

"We strongly feel that Jodhaa Akbar is not going to be a one week phenomenon," Dhar said. "Many people are telling us that they are seeing the film two or three times, taking friends and family members who may not usually see films in theatres. The word has gone out that this is one film you ought to see on the big screen first."

Indian Americans are also spreading the word that Jodhaa Akbar is not like the typical Bollywood production, and some of them are quoting reviews like the one in The New York Times.

'These royals are played by Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan,' Saltz continued, 'two rather astonishing specimens of human beauty. Neither is a great actor, but both know what's required of a star and seem to the palace born.'

She did not forget the music and Kiiran Deohans for his cinematography. 'The film bounces along to a memorable score by A R Rahman. (I am still humming the songs),' Saltz wrote.

Giving the film four stars out of five, the BBC's Tajpal Rathore wrote: 'One is perhaps starting to expect too much from director Ashutosh Gowarikar after such masterpieces like Lagaan and Swades . But he seems to raise the bar with his historic magnum opus, Jodhaa Akbar.'

'Extensive though it is, Jodhaa Akbar cannot be discussed using small talk,' Rathore wrote. 'Everything in the film is big and grand: the palaces, the armies and most importantly, the love story. It hits at the heartstrings and somehow has enough energy to sustain itself through the bloated script that perhaps should've been chopped. Ravishing Rai is convincing enough but it's Roshan's majestic performance as the love-struck warrior that packs the punch; it's his film from start to finish.'

Gowariker knows how to tell a story, declared Sandip Ray in the San Francisco Chronicle, referring specially to Lagaan. But in the new film, the review said, he seems overwhelmed by the sheer weight of history.

'The never-ending opening sequence, a CliffsNotes version of Indian history in superstar Amitabh Bachchan's sonorous baritone, doesn't help either,' Roy added.' Or perhaps the film just topples over under the sheer weight of all that gold jewelry.'

The problem with Jodha and Akbar is that they are both too noble, the reviewer continued.

'Epic stories need epic tragedies or at least forbidden love,' he added.' In the 1960 classic Mughal-E-Azam, the rebellious prince (actually the son of Akbar) falls in love with the beautiful courtesan, and her defiant songs became the anthem of star-crossed lovers. (You still hear South Asians singing it at gay pride parades.)'

But there are moments when the film manages to break free of its limitations, the review said. 'Jodha and Akbar duel in an empty palace courtyard, their swordplay turning into foreplay,' it explained. 'A crowd of Sufis whirl, their white outfits glowing against the brick red earth, and the emperor leaves his seat to dance ecstatically with them. These are the real human moments in the film. One just wishes there were a few more.'

Many viewers in New York and New Jersey cinemas said they were not deterred by the film's length. "We have watched on DVD some films which are just about two hours long and we have found them boring," said a 50-year-old man who had driven 40 miles from Connecticut to see the film in a New York theatre with his wife and grown children "But if a film is well made, who worries about the time? And this kind of a film one must first see in a theatre, never mind what good home entertainment system we have at home."


Courtesy: Rediff.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

'Akbar' pleads for security from getting taken down

As Jodha Akbar (Hrithik Roshan - Aishwarya Rai) is about to release, tensions are high for the film's viewers' safety in the state of Rajasthan and possibly elsewhere.

So UTV and Ronnie Screwvala have now filed an appeal to the court of Jaipur through a judge Mohammad Rafiq, to help Jodha Akbar succeed its way in Rajasthan.

The issue however is beyond the judge and about security to be provided by the BJP Rajasthan government. And it is a dicey one in Rajasthan where elections are due soon, as the BJP government can not afford to alienate its Rajasthan constituency by being seen as providing cover to Jodha Akbar.


Several Hindu organizations, claiming the film to be grossly distortive and politically motivated, have threatened to take to the streets if Jodha Akbar was brought to Rajasthan.

However in many parts, theaters are alleged to have refused Jodhaa Akbar on their own, and the rest that are screening it are doing so under threat of Hindu Rajput attacks.

Courtesy: Ibosnetwork.com

'Filmmaking is not for the faint-hearted'

With Jodhaa Akbar ready to roll out across over 1,200 theatres worldwide -- at least 125 of them in North America -- distributor and co-producer UTV expects another breakthrough hit. For UTV Chairman Ronnie Screwvala, there cannot be any real business without calculated risks.

Ronnie Screwvala

Screwvala is emerging as the first India-based film producer to co-produce films in Hollywood with film companies associated with Sony and Fox Searchlight.

In India, he is steadily emerging as a producer with rare vision, courage and success. 'He is 'the frontrunner in the race to become Bollywood's Jack Warner -- the man who transformed parochial American cinema into its modern global form,' declared Newsweek recently.


In June, Screwvala's biggest Hollywood venture yet, the sci-fi film The Happening, directed by M Night Shyamalan, will roll out to more than 2500 theatres in North America.

What is special about Jodhaa Akbar?

It is a visually stunning and superbly directed film about a little known aspect of Indian history. People know of Akbar, his rebellious son and Anarkali. People also know that Jodhaa was a Rajput wife of Akbar. But how many of us have known this great love story and the mystical bond between the two?

Aishwarya and Hrithik in Jodhaa AkbarSome people may say this is a period film, this is history and it may not be exciting...

The story of the film takes place in the 16th century but the film feels like a contemporary movie. It is a love story for our times. It was left to Ashutosh Gowariker to make a film of such huge magnitude and intensity that future generations may speak of Jodhaa and Akbar in the same breath they would talk about Akbar's rebellious son Salim and Anarkali, the dancing girl.

What is the buzz for the movie like?

I feel there is tremendous excitement for this film and for good reasons. Those who have seen the previews know they have glimpsed something unseen in Indian films. The word is out that the scale on which this film has been made is unprecedented. It is also Hrithik Roshan's first film in a year, and the audiences are expecting an excellent on screen chemistry between Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (Jodhaa) and Hrithik (Akbar). And people expect Ashu to have made a film even more engrossing and timely than his best work to date, Lagaan [Images].

But the film also runs more than three hours...

It has so much of intrigue and drama, apart from romance, that there would not be any dull moment in it. What is Ashu excellent is at telling a beautiful story while the spectacle unfolds and the screen is filled with great visuals and that is the biggest strength of the film.

Why will the film resonate with audiences today?

One of the reasons, we expect the film to reach wide audiences is due to the important fact that it is more of a love story than a historical film. It is not what you think as a traditional period or historical film. History serves as a backdrop to tell a marvelous story that looks not only at an unusual alliance between Jodhaa and Akbar but also at the religious, cultural and political issues of the times.

What would be some of the issues it addresses?

The film also deals with the issue of arranged marriage. Arranged marriages are quite common across India even today but how many of them are successful like that of Jodhaa and Akbar? The film could ignite new discussions about arranged marriages and love marriages. We expect people to come out of the screenings, talking a lot about the old times and their own lives.

There will be a lot of curiosity how the film opens.

I feel it is not going to be a two or three week phenomenon. It could become a long running hit.

What kind of repeat value does the film have?

We expect people to enjoy the spectacle and romance the first time they see the film. But we also expect many to return to the theatres a few days later to get more of the story, character developments and various underlying themes of the film.

Such things happen in the case of literary mystery books. People rush through the book for the suspense and then return to enjoy its language.

Certainly. Among the many films we have released some have had strong repeat audiences. Rang De Basanti [Images] was one. And I expect a similar reaction to Jodhaa Akbar, too.

Who would be the audience for Jodhaa Akbar abroad?

It will be playing primarily in the Diaspora market. But I would not be surprised if the word about the film gets out, and there would be some crossover audiences. It has the scale and appeal of a mainstream Hollywood film.

You have produced films like Jodhaa Akbar, The Namesake [Images], Life In A... Metro and Rang De Basanti that many others would have shunned or considered risky.

These are calculated risks. Once we are convinced -- and a lot depends on the script and the commitment of the director -- we greenlight the project within a few days. When Anurag Basu came to us with the proposal for Life In A ...Metro, we liked the concept immediately. I was fascinated that a band would be featured in the film and it would be used to propel the story. The gut feeling worked out to be true.

What would you tell younger filmmakers who are planning to produce or direct a film?

Always remember this: Filmmaking is not for the faint-hearted

You also sign a director to one or more films...

If I am convinced that the director I have signed -- whether a newcomer or a veteran -- is passionate about the project and is capable of streamlined production, it makes sense to have a bond that goes beyond one film. And that is why when Anurag Basu came to us with the idea of making Metro, I said, let us make more films with him.

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra following Rang De Basanti is working on Dilli 6 and we are distributing the new film, too. We have made two films with Ashutosh Gowariker, Swades [Images] and Jodhaa Akbar. We released Aamir Khan's [Images] Taare Zameen Par [Images]. We are also releasing his next film as a producer though he is not in it; he did not direct it either.

Some directors including Basu and Mehra had made films which weren't successful before they approached UTV.

That tells something about the UTV philosophy. We don't really look at the past. Everything depends on the filmmaker's concept, script and commitment.

When someone like Mira Nair approaches with you with a project like The Namesake, which is based on a well-known book, do you make time to read the book?

I read the book, and, of course, I read the script. I have been telling those who had the fear that Mira may not do justice to the novel to see the film and read the book again or read it for the first time. I am sure you will end up appreciating the film better.

If you were to say in a few sentences what the driving philosophy behind UTV movies is...

We have made films that are beyond the song and dance routine. There are, of course, songs and dances in our films but they are truly situational and propel the story. We don't care for films which have songs for the sake of having them. We are looking at the bigger picture. And we are interested in being world players. Apart from the film projects we have signed with the production company of Will Smith [Images] and Chris Rock, we are also co-producing Night Shyamalan's film, The Happening.

You have often talked about transparency in business.

This is very important to me, and a small measure of this is reflected in the box-office grosses we put out, especially in North America and the United Kingdom, week after week. Just as Hollywood studios release the box-office information each weekend, we too do so, whether a film is a success or not.

Only a few movie companies in India seem to have your business concept when it comes to transparency.

There are good reasons for that kind of a business. Many films were -- and still are -- produced by family concerns. They looked at it as a cash flow business. We never really realise whether a film had made money or not because of lack of transparency. But at UTV we look at the films as a profit and loss business. We want accountability at every stage of the production and distribution.

You started your Hollywood career with a relatively low budget film, co-producing a Chris Rock comedy, I Think I Love My Wife (reportedly costing $12 million).

We are moving towards bigger budget films, too. We are clear on where we want to go. Our ambition is to be a global Indian entertainment company. And I don't see any reason why we can't make big-budget Hollywood films.

Do you think the kind of deals you are forging in Hollywood would have been possible two decades ago? You would have been expected to spend many months living in London [Images] or Hollywood then...

This is the age of globalisation. I come to Hollywood several times in a year. But given the rapid communication modes today, a lot of business can be done with Hollywood while one is in Bombay.

Courtesy: Rediff.com

Tamil theaters supporting the Rajasthani Rajputs against Jodha Akbar?

Unlike what was being reported earlier, Jodha Akbar will not be able to make it in dubbed versions in Tamil Nadu this week. 'Officially' the Tamil distributors are believed to have told the makers the demand is not strong enough for it to follow the likes of Krrish, Dhoom 2 and Guru to have a regional sub-release also in the south. However it could be they are heeding the calls of the Hindu Rajput groups who have asked people of every state to shun the film because of what is being called an attempt to distort Indian & Hindu history via a movie.

The other aspect could be purely financial. UTV is said to have asked for over 2 crores for the territory which is believed to be too much given its theme and setting at the moment.

Even the Hindi version in Chennai is not having a huge release with only 2 theaters currently planning to exhibit the mughal-rajput saga on Friday.

Courtesy: Ibosnetwork.com

Debate continues over Jodha Bai

Who was Jodha Bai? That's the crux of the controversy that's dogging Ashutosh Gowarikar magnum opus Jodha Akbar that releases this week.

A section of the Rajput community opposing the film claims that it's historically incorrect to say that Jodha was Akbar's wife but historians themselves are divided.

Some historians say Jodhaa was Akbar's daughter-in-law, which is what school textbooks also say but others claim she was married to Akbar.

In fact she was not a Jaipur princess at all but from Jodhpur and wife of Salim or Jehangir.

They claim, the Jaipur Princess Akbar was married to, was called Harkan or Heera Bai but coming out in support of the film is none other than the royal families of Jaipur and Kishangarh.

The royal families say there is not much in a name. Akbar's consort was a Jaipur princess and Gowarikar only went ahead with the film once they cleared the script and if anybody has any objections it should be them.

While school children studying Satish Chandra 's NCERT text book are taught that Jodha Bai was the wife of Jehangir other historians claim that in fact if you look at primary sources there is no mention of the name Jodha at all.

In fact the name Jodha only crops up in the past 200 years when Col Todd in his annals and antiquities of Rajasthan writes that Jodha was probably married to Akbar. So the mystery deepens as to who was Jodha?

The Mughals came to India as invaders but it was Akbar who embraced Hindustan as his own. His marriage with the daughter of Rajput kings of Amber was a political alliance that turned the Rajputs from foes into friends.

But who was this princess who entered into the first Hindu-Muslim alliance in history?

Original records like Ain-I-Akbari and histories of the Amber kings confirm that in 1562 Akbar married Raja Bharmal's daughter at Sambhar about a 100 km from modern Jaipur but the name of this princess is far from clear.

"Our geneology, the documents of the Royal Family are the most authentic records, and in our records, different names appear. She is called Hira Bai and Harkan Bai and some historians call her Jodha. So he took the most popular name for the film," said Maharaja Brajraj Singh, Kishangarh Royal family.

But Ashutosh Gowarikar says the film should not be judged only in the context of the title but as an exploration of an inter-faith relationship.

"For me what became important was to get into the research. I read the Rajput history-some called her Harka Bai, Shahi Bai, Jodha Bai. I also read the history of Jaipur, where it mentions Uday Singh the Raja, who gave his daughter away to Jehangir but her name was Jodh. Both Jodha and Jodh are different I could have called my film Harka-Akbar or Meera-Akbar but I thought some historians might object to it so I kept the popular name," said Gowarikar.

So, how did the name Jodha become popular?

Some historians like Col Todd have called Akbar's wife Jodha and Films like Mughal-e-Azam, which picked up the name entrenched it in public memory.

But the Rajput community that's opposing the film says the time has now come to set the record straight. They claim Jodha was from Jodhpur and she was married not to Akbar but to his son Jehangir.

Prof Khangarot, Historian and spokespeson for the Rajput sabha said, "Do you have a right to make your own history or change history. Jodha Bai was the daughter of Mota Raja of Jodhpur, who wed Salim and became the mother of Shahjahan."

The Rajput Karni Sena has already started burning posters of the film. They say they won't allow it to be shown in Rajasthan. But the Jaipur royals, who support the film say Gowarikar's has depicted Rajput culture with sensitivity.

Maharani Padmini Devi, Jaipur royal family said, "We went through the script before he started the movie, the mahurat shot was taken here. We are the closest in relation to Jodha, therefore if there was anything objectionable we would have not endorsed it."

Some historians are of the opinion that the name Jodha does not figure in any original records of the time.

Infact, it is only in the past 200 years that the name begins to appear in historical narratives. So what is history?

There is no definite answer, there is recorded history and there are oral traditions, there are legends and myths. The the answers to who was Jodha probably lies in the matrix of our past.

Courtesy: Ndtvmovies.com

‘Jodhaa Akbar’ - a tale of romance, marriage and grandeur

An experimental filmmaker at heart, Ashutosh Gowariker in his latest film “Jodhaa Akbar” experiments with the romantic genre. Touching new levels of lavishness and grandeur, the magnum opus releasing Friday has a dream cast - Hrithik Roshan as Akbar and Aishwarya Rai as Jodha.

Set in the 16th century, the epic love story explores a marriage alliance entered between two cultures and religions for political gain.

When Hindu King Bharmal of Amer decided to give his daughter Jodha’s hand to Mughal emperor Akbar, little did the emperor know that in his efforts to strengthen relations with the Rajputs, he in turn would be embarking on a new journey - that of true love.

Using his imagination and creativity, Gowariker has tried to portray this political alliance as a romantic tale.

From the battlefield where the young Akbar was crowned the emperor, through the conquests that won him the title of ‘Akbar the Great’, to winning the love of the beautiful Jodha, the film traces the impressive graph of Akbar and his romance with a defiant princess.

Produced by UTV, the film is made on a budget of Rs.400 million ($10 million). It will have a world premiere and be showcased in more than 115 theatres in the US alone.

The risk factors are also very high for Gowariker, whose last film “Swades” got critical acclaim, but wasn’t a frontrunner at the box office. Also, earlier historical sagas like Akbar Khan’s “Taj Mahal” and J.P. Dutta’s “Umrao Jaan” have failed to generate curiosity and lure the audience.

Courtesy: Freshnews.in