In a world wrought with religious fundamentalism and violence, Jodhaa Akbar, director Ashutosh Gowariker's latest venture gives a refreshing peek into the history of Hindu-Muslim unity. The movie is both a 16th century love story, and a chronicle of religious respect between two very different people.
"Akbar, the great," is said to have been one of the finest Mughal (Muslim) emperors to rule India, and is played by the handsome and talented actor Hrithik Roshan who fits the character like a glove. To bring unity among various kingdoms diplomatically, rather than waging a war, he takes a Rajput (Hindu) princess Jodhabai as a wife, much to the chagrin of everyone including the princess herself. The ravishing Aishwarya Rai Bachchan does full justice to the role of Jodha.
Princess Jodhabai, who has been used as a pawn in a political move, challenges the emperor and says she will agree to the wedding under two conditions—that he let her remain a Hindu and that he builds a temple for her inside his Mughal palace, something unheard of. Akbar concedes to her demands. Eventually love blooms between the two of them, and the rest is history. It is said that Jodha and Akbar ruled together for many years as king and queen.
This is definitely one of the better recent Bollywood movies and was very well received among North American audiences—the film is reported to have grossed $1.3 million dollars at the box office there in the first weekend alone. It has its share of singing and dancing, but the musicals are all very tasteful and choreographed to the score of renowned music director A.R. Rahman, of Bombay Dreams fame.
This movie arrived with its own set of controversies and objections from religious fundamentalists. The ones worth mentioning are historical in nature. Some historians say that Jodha was Emperor Akbar's daughter in law, and not his wife. Others say that while Akbar did marry a Rajput princess from the same kingdom as in the story, her name was not Jodhabai.
Gowarikar, who is also the director of the Academy Award-nominated Bollywood flick Lagaan, responded by saying that "While making the film I did my best to go by the book. I consulted the best historians and went through the most rigorous research. And there are different names used for Akbar's wife, Jodha being one of them. In fact, there's a disclaimer about the Rajput queen's name at the beginning of the film. But to see that, the protesters have to see the film."
Controversial or not, this is an entertaining and thought-provoking film that makes one sit back and wonder—if in the 16th century, inter-religious marriage was eventually accepted, four centuries later, why do we still keep fighting about it? Why does Hindu and Muslim religious discord still exist?
--written by Visi Tilak
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I'm very happily married. However if I had to Re-marry, as long as I did not have to touch or smell Alcohol(the kind that You drink) and he doesn't have a problem with my eating of beef and lamb,and my practice of Jummah and Ramadan~~~~I think that this would make him a very Muslim like Hindu.~~~~Muslim Female+ Hindu Male=A Big Challange
i do not know what the gentleman wa refering to when he mentioned Naredra modi. he must be somehwere else when the muslims backed by misaraf in pakistan were creating problems in gujarat. being a Cm, should mr. modi take their crap like Nehru and the congreee party and do nothing. we the ciitizen of india back N. mody in what he di and is doing. as the world can see there are not that many incidents in Gujarat anymore and everybody is help be they be hindu or muslim.
I loved the movie.. Made a lot of sense. God is God whatever name you choose to call him/her/it... And which ever path you choose to follow, all eventually leads to God..
I must congratulate Mr Ashutosh Gourikar over the wonderful job accomplished in making 'Jodha-Akbar'. I have watched the movie as an unbiased person and I must say that I am very much impressed with it. From A to Z every thing was planned and executed very meticulously and marvelously. He chose a difficult job; but very well done. The movie has succeeded in projecting a correct image of the Emperor Akbar in achieving a fair play, justice and religious harmony. In my opinion the movie deserves an Oscar.
I do agree that Mr Ashutosh Gowarikar has tackled and conquered a very difficult subject indeed. He has managed to show that love between two individuals can exist regardless of religion and that Muslims and Hindus can and did live in harmony once upon a time. Also, just like Jalalludin learned from his wife and vice versa, in marriage we should realize that there is alot we can learn from our partner. The movie was a true gem indeed.
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