The movie ‘Jodha Akbar’ the ambitious ‘Historical Love Story’ directed by Ashutosh Gawarikar is a good movie with a strong script. So good on eyes with beautiful people like Rithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai as its leading title roles as the names them selves suggests. People who already seen the movie agree with me, irrespective of its length of almost 3 hours and 40 minutes. A well crafted movie with good pace, good camera work and with a very good music
After watching the movie ‘Jodha-Akbar’, as a keen student of history my moment of surprise came when I turned the history pages. Most of the situations which are depicted in ‘Jodha-Akbar’ are very far from the facts.
No i am not only commenting on the dispute for the name of Akbar’s Rajput wife which is going on in our electronic media and for which it’s been banned from screening in States like Rajasthan. In addition to that there are some other details i think people should know about the history especially about famous Mugal King Akbar and his time.
The main details which are in contrast to the history are as follows:
1) The movie begin with Akbar’s battle with Hindu king ‘Himu’ or ‘Himu-Shah’ in Panipat in 1556 Ad. In the movie it is shown that there was strategy by Akbar’s uncle Bairam Khan(who was in command those days to Akbar’s army) to kill Himu by aiming at his eyes by a Mogul archer . The fact as told by history is Himu did injured by an arrow which pierced his brain through his eyes but it was a mere accident. At the time of that accident Himu was actually winning the battle. As he was fell unconscious by the arrow his army panicked, thinking he is dead. And mogul army seized the initiative and captured Himu who was in his horse and not on Elephant as shown in the movie.
2) The execution of Himu in the movie is also not correct. It is shown that Akbar refusal to kill unconscious Himu, but the fact is Himu was executed by Akbar at the request of his Uncle Bairam Khan to gain the title of ‘Ghazi’. (Hero combating the Infidels). The movie shows Akbar’s denial to kill Himu as he is unconscious state which was cooked up later just to show the kindness of Akbar and was killed by Bairam Khan with the help of His inner group covering the scene of execution from his army.
3) The removal of Bairam Khan was not a simple affair as shown in the movie. He was more influential in Akbar’s army and in administrative matters than young Akbar him self initially. He was removed with the help of Maham Anaga the lady character who is also leading another influential group at that point of time. These is a risk that Bairam would replace Akbar himself from the crown if he smelled there is a conspiracy to remove him. Bairam Khan was killed in western India on his way to Mecca in 1561 by Afghans.
4) History tells us that in 1562 Akbar executed Adham Khan who was son of Maham Anaga for the murder of Shams-ud-Din. He was executed by Akbar’s order and thrown from terrace twice and put to death. 40 days after Adham Khans execution Maham Anaga also died in grief. But movie shows she was cought conspiring against ‘Jodha’ and lost the confidence of Akbar.
5) The name ‘Jodha’ itself is contested as there is no proof regarding the same. Jahangir’s mother and Akbar’s first wife is the daughter of King of Amber Raja Biharimal. No where in the history her name was mentioned as ‘Jodha’ except in the movie ‘Mugal-e- Azam’ and in our text books. In 1579 Akbar did married to another Rajput princess of Jodhpur’s king’s sister’s daughter but her name is also no where mentioned as ‘Jodha’.
6) Akbar’s one to one battle with his brother in law is also a cooked up story of the imagination of the script writer. Contrary to many of his Mogul counterpart Kings, he did participated in many direct battles commanding his army but never in a hand to hand fight.
To sum up the movie is full with details which are not tally with historical facts. May be that’s why Rajput’s in Rajasthan are not too happy with the movie. If Mr.Gowarikar’s wanted to go ahead with his script it would have been better for him from day one to declare the movie as only fictional presentational than based on facts.
Never the less, i am not taking anything from the movie. The movie is one of the best I have seen for some times in many departments. He has done full justice to the script (even though most of it is was fictional) and even it was almost 3 hours and 40 minutes long you never get bored. Every event is nicely built. Both leads done fantastic job as others who supported them. A R Rahman’s music is very melodious to years and songs are well captured. Good experience though watching ‘Jodha Akbar’ and I hope my little historical facts will not discourage you from watching the movie if you not done it already.
Do watch it.
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