Jodhaa Akbar (2008)

• Year: 2008
• Released: 15 Feb 2008
• Country: India
• Adwords: 37 wins & 29 nominations
• IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0449994/
• Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/jodhaa_akbar
• Metacritics: https://www.metacritic.com/movie/jodhaa-akbar
• Available in: 720p, 1080p,
• Language: Hindi, Urdu
• MPA Rating: Not Rated
• Genre: Action, Drama, History
• Runtime: 213 min
• Writer: Haidar Ali, Ashutosh Gowariker, K.P. Saxena
• Director: Ashutosh Gowariker
• Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sonu Sood
• Keywords: biography, husband wife relationship, sword fight, period drama, epic,

	7.5/10
	69/100
	75% – Critics
	78% – Audience

Jodhaa Akbar Storyline

Afer the Raja of Amer passes away, his brother, Veer Bharmal, crowns himself king, and looks after his nephew, Sujamal. After he and his wife, Padmavati, give birth to a girl, Jodhaa, they arrange her marriage with Ajabgarh’s Rajkumar Rattan Singh. Years later, Veer decides to hand over Amer’s reigns to Bhagwandas, instead of Sujamal, resulting in the later approaching Shahenshah Jalaluddin’s brother-in-law, Sharifuddin Hussain for assistance. Fearing an attack on his kingdom, Veer approaches the Shahenshah himself, pledges alliance to him, and even offers his daughter’s hand in marriage. Jalaluddin, whose life was always controlled by others, decides to marry a rather reluctant Jodhaa, who agrees to marry him on two conditions: that she will retain her Hindu Dharam, and will worship Bhagwan Shri Kishan in the Mughal palace, which he accepts. The marriage takes place, and Jodhaa places yet another condition on him: that she will only get intimate with him after she is ready, which he also accepts. Then Jalaluddin’s faith in Jodhaa is shattered when he learns that she has been meeting secretly with a male unknown to him; while Sujamal gets ready to attack Amer; disgruntled and oppressed Hindus, who are forced to pay a toll to their Mughal rulers for their Tirath Yatra, lose hope and faith; while his very own brother-in-law prepares to assassinate him and become the next Shahenshah of Hindustan.

Jodhaa Akbar Play trailer

Jodhaa Akbar Photos

Jodhaa Akbar Torrents Download

Jodhaa Akbar Subtitles Download

Jodhaa Akbar Movie Reviews

Very definitely a love story

As an American I knew little of this story or Emperor but had heard of the Moghuls. It doesn’t matter if it wasn’t exact because it is based on a happening. The movie is for entertainment so it doesn’t have to be exactly historically correct. It was not a documentary. Both of the leads were absolutely excellent in their roles. I was very impressed and especially by Hrithik Roshon. He is an excellent actor. I know little about the Bollywood movies but this one mesmerized me once I figured out how to turn on the subtitles.

I really liked the humor that was added to this movie. The part with the sword fighting and the irony of what how she lost to Akbar was funny. The line where he reminds her he is her husband going along with the sword fight. Many eye contact gestures between the two that were so touching and at times comical.

I really loved the Sufis and their singing in the movie. It was a nice blend of action, and romance. I like the fact they kept it in good taste and did not dwell on bloody battles or steamy love scenes between the Princess and the Emperor when they finally admitted their love for each other. It got the point across very romantically but tastefully and you don’t see that much anymore in most movies. Kudos to those who made this great, great movie. It is well worth anyone’s time to watch. It is an opulent and very enjoyable movie.

By far the prettiest Bollywood film I have ever seen.

“Jodhaa Akbar” is one of the prettiest Indian films I’ve ever seen. Not only are the sets and location shots in various castles in India gorgeous and overwhelming to the senses, the two stars, Hrithik Roshan (Akbar) and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (Jodhaa), are about the prettiest couple in film history! This is perfect for a romantic drama.

The story centers on part of the life of perhaps the greatest Mughal leader of India, Akbar the Great. It shows him from his teen years to his marriage to the Hindu woman, Empress Jodhaa. This marriage was pretty amazing, as the Mughals were Muslims and marriage of the emperor to a non-Muslim surely would have caused a lot of concern! But, it was also a pragmatic thing…helping to unify the various kingdoms and religions in India. The story goes from her sadness at learning she’s betrothed to him to her falling in love with him and vice-versa.

All in all, this is quite the spectacle….with HUGE battle scenes, gorgeous dance scenes (among the best in any Bollywood film I’ve seen) and some very nice acting. My only complaints are VERY minor. The film never mentioning that despite this being painted as a great romance, Akbar actually was married to at least 11 different women…such was the expected life of an emperor in those days. Additionally, I found the film occasionally confusing. Trying to figure out who is who isn’t always easy….and it’s a film that might benefit from watching it twice.

A Nutshell Review: Jodhaa Akbar

Today marks the premiere of Jodhaa Akbar here and the reasons for wanting to watch this film are simple – the pairing of Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, director Ashutosh Gowariker, and musician A.R. Rahman. It’s simply an irresistible combination, one that everyone in the cinema hall would attest to, given the full house, and the full house in the next screening.

Jodhaa Akbar is set in the 16th century, which tells of an arranged marriage for strategic alliance purposes that blossomed into true love between a Mughal emperor, Jalaluddin Mohammad (Hrithik Roshan) and a Rajput princess Jodha (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan). In fact, as how most historical epics would go, such as the likes of Alexander or peer Bollywood film Asoka (starring Shah Rukh Khan), while efforts are placed into extensive research to try and stay as authentic as possible, there still are various interpretations to characters, some of whom will be taken to task (like Oliver Stone’s vision of Colin Farrell as Alexander the Great) by audiences. The contention here is the story behind Jodha, and the various names she goes by with different retellings, and that is put up front even before the opening credits start to roll.

Director Gowariker’s pedigree with his successful epics like Lagaan and Swades puts him in good stead as he tackles this love story on multiple fronts. In fact, as he puts it, it’s a story about the meeting of two cultures and two religions, so basically, what’s in a name? Sometimes I wonder about similarities with the formation of big countries as we know it today, with China undergoing multiple civil styled wars in bids by conquerors to unite it, and with India, it seems that it’s no different. We get to see the multitudes of ethnic groups, each with their unique practices which we were given glimpses on, thanks to the superb art direction and wonderful, authentic sets recreated.

Jalaluddin Mohammad hails from the Mughals, and is a Muslim, who from young is told by various quarters what to do, and how to lead his life as Emperor of Hindustan. He gains a reputation on the battlefield, which could parallel those in Hollywood in terms of sheer scale and grandeur, even utilizing hordes of marauding elephants and settled into some icky territory when elephants rampage and stomp on soldiers. Blood aside, we see Jalaluddin slowly become a man of his own, and in a bid to forge a strategic alliance, he’s offered the hand of Jodha Bai. However, this arranged marriage was doomed a failure from all quarters, because of the difference in religion (she’s a Hindu) and culture. Furthermore, the reluctant Jodha makes it all the more difficult by asking for 2 conditions, that she be allowed to practice her religion, and to build a shrine in their bridal home. He agrees.

And in today’s context, I would say this act of proposition and acceptance would also raise some eyebrows sky high. But herein likes the key message that gets drummed through the movie – why can’t we love despite our differences? Why can’t we enjoy the diversity that each religion or culture bring, instead of baying for blood and inciting hatred? Jodhaa Akbar has its message of (religious) tolerance worn very prominently on its sleeve. It’s quite radical and forward thinking in Jalaluddin’s character, and we feel for the couple as they go journey from strangers to soul mates overcoming the various challenges posed from the outside, and between themselves as they try hard to break the thick ice.

But it’s not all lovey-dovey in turmoil times like theirs, where politicking takes place from the macro with the constant threat of war and the running of a country, to the micro where internal jealousies and the defending of personal turf rear their ugly head, which kind of reminisce the many petty backstabbings found behind closed royalty doors, with Jalaluddin’s nanny Maham Anga (Ila Arun) proving to be the attempted spoiler and go between in the marriage. And to leaders out there, there’s a scene which while it’s something that’s not new, is always apt to remind them not to sit on their ivory towers, but to walk the ground and hear the grumbling first hand, as nothing beats ground level intelligence.

In most parts, Jodhaa Akbar had reminded me of Cecil B DeMille’s historical productions, with its beautiful sets, costumes, great acting, and intense battle sequences. There are a couple of nice action set pieces ranging from full scale war with the clashing of two opposing sides (the elephants were a great bonus, trust me), to a duel which turns out to be a courtship ritual, something not new since both Hrithik and Aishwarya challenged each other before (though on the basketball court), with the latter quite well versed in swordplay given her earlier role in The Last Legion, and one featuring what I thought took a leaf out of the battle between Hector and Achilles in Troy.

Of course, no Bollywood movie will be without music and dance, and here, it’s done quite tastefully as you don’t expect sudden outbursts into song. The music by A.R. Rahman is top notch as usual, and dances here happen naturally as part of the narrative flow, with the first song coming out only just before the hour mark. Needless to say I found myself tapping my feet to almost all of them. There are a numerous plus points in this blockbuster, and if I’m telling you I’m getting the DVD when it’s released, I’m already giving this a vote of confidence that it’s a contender to make it to my top 10 movies of the year. Highly recommended!