#8yearsofJodhaaAkbar: 8 things we love about the film!

Today marks 8 years since the release of Ashutosh Gowariker’s film Jodhaa Akbar, and what a true epic it was! One of Gowariker’s most successful films after Lagaan, Jodhaa Akbar is filled with beautiful costumes, majestic sets and melodious music, among many other things. Check out our 8 favorite things about Jodhaa Akbar!

1. Hrithik Roshan

There could have been no better choice to play Akbar than Hrithik Roshan. From Akbar’s strength as a warrior to his political prowess as a ruler, Hrithik perfectly embodies the character, reminding us that it is possible to be a powerful leader and compassionate lover at the same time.

2. Aishwarya Rai

What would Jodhaa Akbar be without Aishwarya Rai as Queen Jodhaa! As a Rajput princess, Jodhaa is strong, beautiful, and fiercely independent. Jodhaa is also an extremely badass warrior, and Aishwarya’s duel with Hrithik is one of the best, most exhilarating scenes in the film!

3. Hrithik-Aishwarya Chemistry

What’s even better than Hrithik as Akbar and Aishwarya as Jodhaa? Their chemistry together as the eternal couple: Jodhaa and Akbar. We saw this B-town duo in a western flavor in Dhoom 2 but Jodhaa Akbar features them in Indian avatars, and how gorgeous these green-eyed beauties look together onscreen!

4. Music

Whenever A.R. Rahman and Ashutosh Gowariker come together, they create magic. Whether it was their first time working together in Lagaan or collaborating on Jodhaa Akbar seven years later, Rahman and Gowariker never fail to surprise and mesmerize the audience. Every single song in Jodhaa Akbar is mellifluous and contributes uniquely to the film and its plot. My personal favorite is the song “Jashn-E-Bahaara” sung by Javed Ali.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwurdtqL90o

5. Magnificent Sets

Being set in the Mughal era, the film showcases imperial palaces as they existed in all their grandeur in Akbar’s kingdom. Jodhaa Akbar was filmed in Rajasthan amidst the grand backdrop of Jaipur and Udaipur palaces featuring traditional Rajput architecture.

6. Choreography

Just like the music in this film, the choreography is nothing short of grand and suits the songs very well. In particular, the song “Azeem-O-Shaan Shahenshah” is a visual treat to watch, and Rekha Prakash even received the National Award for Best Choreography for this song. Check it out below!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQuHgMFCc5E

7. Spirituality and Patriotism

Even though Akbar was a leading political figure during the Mughal era, he was known to be very religious and spiritual, as evidenced by the various scenes depicting meetings with spiritual leaders and the “Khwaja Mere Khwaja” song. Akbar’s willingness to allow a Hindu shrine to be built in the palace for Jodhaa is testament to his open-mindedness as ruler of a Muslim empire. During one instance in the film, he even mentions that while he may be of Persian origin, he was born in India and he is as much Indian as Persian/Mughal.

8. Cinematography and Direction

When creating a film, cinematography and direction often go hand-in-hand. Ashutosh Gowariker has a classy style of direction, particularly when it comes to historically-based epics like Jodhaa Akbar, and he, along with cinematographer Kiran Deohans, transports us to Akbar’s empire in the Mughal era.