Jodhaa Akbar

Elite team of Bollywood representing Ashutosh Gowrikar,A.R.Rahman,Javed Aktar and UTV production are back after a long hiatus post Swadesh. All that can be expected from this band is that "excellence".But does Jodhaa Akbar stand out like "Lagaan" and "Swadesh" is the real question ... It would be realy unfair to compare this movie with any other epic saga of the recent past . This is a bold film which is being tried out in Bollywood on a magnum opus budjet and sets.
If you get into the theatre thinking of past movies of Ashutosh then you are ought to get pretty dissappointed. Laagan and Swadesh were two master peice movies and Jodhaa Akbar is no where near to these two when you think about the plot and getting "locked to seat" theory. I am confident that most of the people will complain about the length of the movie. Its too long and really a pain to watch an epic saga for more than 3 hrs. The script is so weak that after a while you start cursing the film maker. First half of the movie is for 2 hrs and most of the part is quite boring until the pre interval scene.
The real life for the movie is HRITIK ROSHAN ,who has potrayed his role fabulously and some how makes you feel that no actor or his counter parts can come close in playing this role.He is the real captain of the movie.
Now no questions can be raised about the direction of Ashutosh. He has given his best. Direction is so good that you wish that movie should have been bit shorter with a strong script.

Story: Its a love story between Akbar[Hrithik] and Jodhaa[Aishwarya] .Jodhaa gets entangled to marry Akbar due to certain political issues regarding 16th century. Later as love and affection starts creeping in between Jodhaa and Akbar , a misunderstanding takes place in certain circumstances which is just the pre-interval scene. This is one of those few excellent scenes in the movie.
You just start feeling the movie might catch up with pace after this scene but again you become a victim of slow pace after the interval until the just before end scene. The climax scene where there is one on one fight is good something new of this sort in bollywood standards.
Hrithiks body language , urdu diction ,mannerisms is bang on target. This is Hrithiks finest performance as of now. A real treat for his fan followers . Aishwarya is coming out with good performances of late. Last year it was GURU and now we have Jodhaa Akbar. She looks great in carrying out the role of queen. Every actor has given their best in this really weak scripted movie .Not to forget Ila Arun who has done her best in playing a negative character which is finest of vamps you can think off in past year or so.
A.R.Rahman provides with good music once again its music which gels with the story.
Azeem-o-Shaan Shahenshah' and 'Jashn-e-Bahara' are the best tracks in the movie. Unlike his other epic movie Mangal Pandey ,, the background score is not upto the mark .

Saying all this I stand on my verdict that this is a well crafted good performance and excellent direction movie with shades of excellent scences in bits and parts here and there. Thats it nothing more to it,,this has not got the tendency to keep you locked for the entire 3hrs + period. Most part of the movie leaves you bored . This epic saga goes on and on and on and there s a limit to test the patience of a person. So if you have interst in history, have got lots of patience to sit for 3hrs+ in the movie theatre and if you are hard core fan Hrithik then go for it and give a chance to Jodhaa Akbar.

Overall this is a dull boring and most importantly its not a master peice as many thought of and off course does not stand up to expectations.


My Rating: **1/2

American Gangster

Ridley Scott weaves magic again and why not as we all expected this from him since he casted his favourite movie star Russel Crowe. Their combination have made wonders once again after Gladiator.What better way to enjoy a gripping gangsta movie that this one. This is one of the best movies that have emerged in recent past that i have been through. Its a shame ,shocking and mere disgrace to Hollywood community since neither of actors Denzel Washington nor Russell Crowe have been nominated in Oscars.
Movie is based on true story that took place in late 60s and 70s.Frank Lucas (Oscar winner Washington)becomes a famous drug dealer . In the streets of America he deals with purer drug and at much lesser price . Lucas becomes a dangerous corrupter and leads a royal life with immense power. He even brings in other membes of his family(cousins) into this drug business. Richie Roberts (Oscar winner Crowe) is a true cop who feels some problem hovering around the drug market. Richie Roberts makes out a commitee of his and starts digging into the market to know the man behind this corruption.
The most amazing thing in the movie is that both the lead actors do not come face to face until the climax scene where they speak to each other for just 10 minutes which really stands out. Complete credit should be given to director Ridley Scott who manages to makes the movie so enthralling and engaging from start to end. Denzel Washington is as usual at his best , he plays his role with such ease that see a real black drug dealer. But my man is Russel Crowe . Simply outstanding and superb. He once again proves himself that he is the best in playing true characters on screen . Russel gives out exactly what the role demands. I once again repeat that there should have been oscar nominees for the wonderfully potrayed roles .
Kindly do not miss this movie. This is a must watch and a treat to fans of Russel .



My rating : ****1/2