"The only reason I gave a 3 and not lower is because of the director's efforts to bring out a classic. The reason the 7 is lost is because he used history to his convenience and imagination. If you want to bring out a classic, why not just do that ? Pick a story that doesn't tell the kids that this was what Akbar was like. Why not Sheela-Rizwan or something that doesn't tell the kids stupid false stories about their country's history. It is a known fact that Akbar was a war monger and plunderer. His relatively liberal religious tolerance compared to his predecessors and ancestors does not make him the greatest ruler of India. It was nowhere mentioned about his warrior abilities. He is known for his administrative and political skill. Yet we are made to believe that he was a great warrior. He had 30 some wives in his harem and they are not mentioned anywhere in the film. Jodhaa (almost all historians agree thats not her real name) was not his first wife nor his last. We don't even have an account that says she was his favorite. Akbar didn't mention her name in his auto-biography, Akbarnama. So now a movie with an attractive star-cast with great music is being thrust down our throats with history lessons embedded. Bollywood's director's may not be the smartest of the lot but these showmen do a disservice to history and reality by painting everything rainbow when India's past is filled with loot and murder by crusaders and "native" Moguls. It is sad that everyone is happy with false history and lies in the nation that was founded by a man who spent his life finding the power of truth."
--Anonymous author on IMDB
After going through so much controversy and loads of anticipation, the movie impressed me with excellent cinematography, standout music from A.R. Rehman, the elaborate dance sequence after Akbar annuls pilgrimage tax (Azeem-O-Shaan-Shahenshah) and fresh dialogues. The movie impresses one with a splash of color, beautifully decorated sets and great costumes from Neeta Lulla.
Last night I was impressed by how Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was casted in the classic. The acting by Hritik, Aishwarya and the talented support case was excellent. The storyline portrays Akbar in good light, choosing to embark upon his personal life rather than showcasing his war exploits.
Overall, despite the bastardization of history by Ashutosh Gowarikar and Haider Ali, the movie gets a 4.0/5.0 from me based purely on film making merit.
1 comments:
4 on 5......hmmmmmm...thats too generous of you sir...
Till now, i had never seemed to grasped the concept about why people make such a fuss about a movie ...a period film...so what if a lil facts are fudged...i mean i know its a movie, so the sugar coating has to be there. We cant even agree on the present given everyone having different views, let alone being scholarly revisionists in the absence of "truthful" information about what happened 300 yrs ago.
Then one odd day i realised how we all, me being no exception, have a habit of oversimplifying things....and given that i was a kid who learnt the couting till 30 from madhuri dixit's ek do teen song...i can fathom how the movie could leave an impression on those who know squat about akbar.....
The funniest part of the movie....hritik flexing his body and practicing with sword and aish watching for a good 5 minutes....and i did not realize wtf was going on ...
till i seeked a clarification from my friend beside me leading to a few giggles around me... :)
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