Jodha-Akbar- a VERY cursory movie review
Hindi movie titles these days are binary. Either they begin with ‘K’ or they don’t. So this one doesn’t, for starters. The title is also unambiguous, unlike for example a ‘Pyar mein kabhi kabhi’ which could be set around anything from Mahmud of Ghazni to the September 11th attacks. Infact, make the most of the title, its one of the few things in the movie that is not subject to multiple interpretations..:>
Visually, for at least half the time, the movie is a treat. Tanishq has done as amazing a job on the stones and mirrors as whoever else has done on the clothes. Creative and genuinely harks back to a Mughal era feel. Personally I fell in love with Jodha’s room- my favourite movie room ever now. Except its a bit big by modern housing standards..The other part of the visuals may or may not be appreciated depending on your taste- I find the sight of a six foot something villain wallowing in a sauna rather traumatizing, as also a disgusted elephant having to pretend to be cowed by Akbar (I bet it had its revenge in the rehearsals).
Entertainment-wise the movie has little competition in the recent past, unintentionally that is. But a MUST is that you see it with the right kind of company..I had the best :>, particularly well suited for this movie’s requirements, too. It’d decide whether you collapse in an agony of laughter or get a migraine through staring unbelievingly. Think of a cliché, come up with an obvious dialogue, and its there. And the dances, Oh God the dances! (Special mention: ‘khwaja meri khwaja’- watch poor Hrithik forced to sacrifice those amazing dancing skills).
On a more serious (and generous) note, some of the character actors are genuinely good, and every actor is anyway desperately trying to rescue a non existent story. Unfortunately the movie’s neither good, nor so bad that it becomes good. It is, sadly, just painfully mediocre. How could you, Gowariker? Not after Lagaan and Swades. Really not.
So go watch it, but not alone. You may not come back...
2 comments:
"Jalaluddin Mohammed Akbar" (for good old times' sake) :D :D :D
I totally agree that the movie has to be watched with the 'right' company for complete "paisa vasool".......
Will try it out provided I find the right company to savour the agony of laughter with ! Keenly looking fwd to the disgusted elephant bit. Has the 'jodha - akbar - making of the movie' been released yet? Nice cursory review.
Post a Comment