By Rediff, February 14, 2008 - 16:27 IST
11 of 11 people found this review helpful A career-defining role for Hrithik Roshan who shows admirably the vulnerabilities and strengths of an emerging emperor. His bare-chested sword wielding scenes could swoon many women. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has never looked this gorgeous. Some of her dramatic scenes are weakly performed but she whips up excellent chemistry with Hrithik.
By Buzz18, February 14, 2008 - 18:28 IST
1 of 4 people found this review helpful To watch Jodhaa Akbar for historical accuracy is pointless. To watch it for any brilliant display of camera work or special effects is futile. Because chances are you may be hugely disappointed. Especially if you have seen other Hollywood historicals or epics on the screen. Rather, watch it for a simple tale of love...
By MyNews, February 15, 2008 - 09:43 IST
2 of 2 people found this review helpful Ashutosh's labour of love is visible in every single frame of the movie. Having made one of the most opulent films in Indian Cinema, Gowariker deserves a bow for his vision and successful handling of the epic love story. He superbly merges two different tracks – the unusual romance between the royal couple and political intrigues...
By Entertainment/Timesonline, February 15, 2008 - 09:49 IST
1 of 1 people found this review helpful It works best when there are pauses to let the golden couple fall in love via some melodious Sufi-infused AR Rahman rhythms. Roshan and Rai (billed in the end credits as Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) portray the legendary lovers with conviction and credibility. Love makes the Emperor a more compassionate ruler. Indeed, he is remembered today in the history books as 'Akbar, the Great'.
By MumbaiMirror, February 15, 2008 - 09:54 IST
2 of 2 people found this review helpful The first 20 minutes of the film unfold slowly because the plot-line and the various characters are established slowly. But once the Jodhaa-Akbar marriage is arranged, the magic of romance takes over. Interestingly the reticent Rajput princess Jodhaa (Aishwarya) is not too eager to give herself up to the all-powerful Mughal Emperor Akbar...
By Movietalkies, February 16, 2008 - 09:06 IST
A great film that is undoubtedly Gowariker's labour of love, with every department standing by his vision and helping it come alive on celluloid. The spectacular scale coupled with the veteran director's sensitive and emotionally evolved direction, a rare combination in Indian cinema, makes this film unique. Jodhaa Akbar will rule cinemas!
By Glamsham, February 16, 2008 - 09:07 IST
1 of 1 people found this review helpful Ashustosh Gowariker has outdone himself. This movie is a masterpiece, a complete interpretation of what the director has visualized. From costumes, to body language, to background score, to the songs, sets, manpower and lighting...
By Indiaglitz, February 16, 2008 - 09:09 IST
To sum it up Ashutosh has taken great care and pain in bringing us an epic. Even the animals in the film have been dealt with great care and surprisingly you don’t have a single scene where horses are made to fall , elephants rolling etc unlike those done in epics before. Ashu simply proves that he is a master of crowd sequences right from Lagaan to Jodhaa-Akbar...
By BBC, February 16, 2008 - 09:10 IST
Extensive though it is, Jodhaa Akbar cannot be discussed using small talk. Everything in the film is big and grand: the palaces, the armies and most importantly, the love story. It hits at the heartstrings and somehow has enough energy to sustain itself through the bloated script that perhaps should've been chopped...
By Indya, February 16, 2008 - 09:12 IST
Ashutosh's labour of love is visible in every single frame of the movie. Having made one of the most opulent films in Indian cinema, Gowariker deserves a bow for his vision and successful handling of the epic love story. He superbly merges two different tracks – the unusual romance between the royal couple and political intrigues...
By Radiosargam, February 16, 2008 - 09:15 IST
3 of 3 people found this review helpful Jodhaa Akbar is strictly recommended for all cinegoers as the electrifying spell cast by Gowarikar's magnum is a soulful nutrient against the platter of junk cinema in queue every Friday. Watch it, and only in theatres!
By Ibnlive, February 16, 2008 - 09:16 IST
1 of 1 people found this review helpful The soul of Jodhaa Akbar however, lies in the superlative acting. Supporting player Nikitin Dheer makes a lasting impression as Akbar's rebellious brother-in-law, but the film of course belongs to the two leads.
By NDTVMovies, February 16, 2008 - 09:18 IST
The first half of the film is exhilarating but in the second you are likely to get impatient and restless. The last 15 minutes feel like the end of a marathon.
Despite this, I strongly recommend Jodhaa Akbar. Ashutosh, Hrithik and Aishwarya want half a day of your life.
By Music N Movies, February 16, 2008 - 09:19 IST
Jodhaa Akbar is a pretty well made movie and gives you the deja vu of epics like Mahabharat, Chanakya and more recently Prithivi Raj Chauhan. Bollywood have not attempted something like this at least on such large scale.
By Merinews, February 16, 2008 - 09:20 IST
The first Islamic invasion happened in 664 AD, when Al Muhallab ibn Abi Suffrah attacked the borders of Afghanistan and penetrated till Multan. However, it was not until 710 AD, when Muhammad bin Qasim captured Gandhar and Sindh that Islam spread in India through conversions...
By DNA India, February 16, 2008 - 09:22 IST
1 of 1 people found this review helpful Where the film misses out, is the pace. Although a love story essentially, the sub-plots mar the impact of the romance and slow down proceedings. After a point, it becomes difficult to decide whether the film was aimed to be a love saga, or a political drama...
By Rediff, February 16, 2008 - 09:25 IST
The film has a good and solid heart, and the story, of a conquering, defiant young king -- this one really was meant to be princeling for a while longer -- taking a bride for strategic reasons and then falling helplessly in love with her unbridled spirit, is a winner...
By Hindustan Times, February 16, 2008 - 09:29 IST
2 of 3 people found this review helpful As you know, the romance is between Shahenshah Akbar (from the look of things here, a bachelor at 30) and Jodhaaji (not exactly in the prime of her youth either). She is coerced into a marriage with the Mughal but won’t allow him his conjugal rights till she feels up to it from her ‘dil’. Frowns she like Kill Bill.
By MTV India, February 16, 2008 - 09:30 IST
1 of 1 people found this review helpful JODHAA AKBAR has its moments, but its wayyy too long. It's not the 3 and half hour length, it's just that it is a 3 and half minutes ka plot pulled into 3 and a half hours. A good deal of the film is spent with Akbar and Jodhaa figuring what's a good time to, umm, 'do it'...
By WithoutGivingTheMovieAway, February 16, 2008 - 09:40 IST
2 of 3 people found this review helpful Mr. Gowariker, how about leaving the melodrama, the "almighty solving all problems without any input from humans" syndrome to the Barjatyas? How about letting Ekta Kapoor reign the "salt-pepper" kitchen politics? So, we can block that out of our systems just by name...
By GoBollywood, February 16, 2008 - 10:35 IST
1 of 2 people found this review helpful If Jodhaa Akbar belongs to someone it belongs to Hrithik Roshan. Aishwarya Rai looks pretty as a doll, but it's Hrithik who delivers all the goods. Watch out for that scene where Hrithik gets an epiphany and joins the Sufi dancers in trance...
By Passion For Cinema, February 16, 2008 - 10:38 IST
Overall this is a really good movie and we seem to be having a good year if we get to see movie like Mithya & Jodha Akbar by February itself. Please see it in the theater. Do, I repeat, not see it on pirated DVD as the small chirkoot screen of the TV cannot give justice to the landscape of Jodha Akbar.
By Now Running, February 16, 2008 - 10:40 IST
5 of 5 people found this review helpful Coming to the performances, you fall short of words to describe a performance as great as this. Hrithik Roshan lives the role of Akbar, his expressions, dialogue delivery, body language and screen presence is fantastic. Yet another award-worthy performance, which deserves nothing less than the Oscar!
By Bollyspice, February 16, 2008 - 11:47 IST
1 of 2 people found this review helpful Jodhaa Akbar ends up being a superb and extraordinary film that lived up to the enormous hype. It is a film that definitely needs to be seen in theaters in order to get the maximum impact. Everyone associated with the film has given their blood, sweat, and tears into this enterprise and we, as an audience, appreciate the brave effort by these brave and talented people...
By Indicine, February 18, 2008 - 08:54 IST
Jodha Akbar is a classic masterpiece that shall be remembered for a long long time. Don't worry about the length, you hardly feel its 3 hours 20 minutes long. Remember, you got to be a bit patient while watching Jodha Akbar, relax and enjoy as the epic drama unfolds with all its glory. Don't miss it, worth the price of your ticket and more!
By Planet Bollywood, February 18, 2008 - 08:58 IST
The film has some outstanding performances by secondary characters, with the most notable being: Ila Arun as Maham Anga (motherly figure to Akbar), who is intimidating and sinister for the wrong reasons; Sonu Sood as Sujamal (Jodhaa's cousin) delivers his best performance to date; and finally Nikitin Dheer as Sharifudin (Akbar's brother-in-law) is outstanding as the main villain.
By Naach Gaana, February 18, 2008 - 09:02 IST
Ashutosh Gowarikar has made an epic love-story, a genre he has never tried before. Jodhaa-Akbar, not without imperfections, is a film that enchants its viewers, while beautifying the hidden romance that took place between these two grand figures, etched in the pages of history. It's highly worthy of all the world's attention.
By Filmikhabar, February 18, 2008 - 09:04 IST
2 of 3 people found this review helpful I will give this movie 2 stars, that too from the goodness of my heart, and the fact that me and my brother went to see a movie after a long time, and ended up laughing nonstop for 4 hours, which was clearly not what AG tried, but still thanks to him.
By DesiCritics, February 18, 2008 - 09:09 IST
The movie ends with a hand-duel between Jalal and Sharifuddin, his vile conspirator brother-in-law. Though, the villain is more muscular and well sculpted, Akbar's dialogue sets his intentions straight even before the fight begins 'Hindustan ko mein galat haathon mein nahin jaane de sakta'.
By Bollywood Mantra, February 20, 2008 - 08:37 IST
0 of 1 people found this review helpful Ashutosh Gowariker needs to be commended for his vision and clarity with which he has etched out this film in which everyone's tremendous hard work is clearly visible. The story may or may not be factual as the many controversies surrounding it suggest. However there is doubt that it remains an exceptional film that is enthralling, inspiring and captivating...
By Explicater/Blogspot., February 20, 2008 - 08:39 IST
0 of 1 people found this review helpful Epilogue - Its time for the Rajputs to realise "Hum Hindusthan ko galat haaton mein nehi jane denge!" isnt in reference to the Rajputana - but in context to the evil within the mughals themselves.
By FutureMovies, February 20, 2008 - 08:43 IST
Akbar 'the Great' as he began to be known was the most prominent of the rulers because of his successes as a monarch. Succeeding the throne at 13, he won his first battle at 14, even then showing himself to be a benevolent and wise ruler. Initially we see Akbar's army defeat the far superior forces of Hemu Vikramaditya in 1556 at the Second Battle of Panipat...
By Suhanasafar/Livejournal, February 25, 2008 - 08:43 IST
0 of 1 people found this review helpful Jodhaa Akbar is a beautifully made film that deserves all the praise it has been receiving from critics and audiences alike. Ashutosh Gowarikar has scored once again, as have both of the lead actors and their chemistry with each other...
By TheTimes, February 25, 2008 - 08:48 IST
0 of 1 people found this review helpful The relationship between Akbar and Jodhaa is used to explain what inspired him to adopt the concept of a universal religion, Deen-e-elahi, whereby one set of beliefs does not carry more weight than another.
One thing about this film that is beyond question is that its heart is in the right place. It suggests that love and worship are intricately linked and that love for the pleasure of God is in itself an act of worship.
By Tonight, February 25, 2008 - 17:42 IST
1 of 2 people found this review helpful Ashutosh Gowariker has delivered another fine masterpiece à la Lagaan: Once Upon A Time In India with Jodhaa Akbar. The 16th century romance is magnificence amplified 10 times over, with a mélange of epic battles underscored by dark ambitions and burgeoning religious intolerance.
