Jo Tha Akbar!

After a brief tiff over whether or not HR was right in the role of the legendary Mughal emporer Akbar, the much hyped Jodha Akbar was watched on Saturday night.
I am a sucker for all things regal. My, half-baked, explanation being that their lives meant something. The palaces, the laws, the rules. Their daily existence was governed by something - good, bad, right or wrong is not for us to judge. They lives meant honor and courage. Sometimes even justice! The clothes they wore, the colours of which signified something - rank, celebration, an important occasion. They didn't just throw on the first pair of jeans and half ironed shirt that lay strewn on the chair after being discarded the previous day. They didn't eat their food on the run as they rushed to get to work on time.
Just like Ashutosh Gowarikar's other creations, Lagaan and Swades, this film too is a little gem. It has his trademark restraint as a director. It is elegant without being garish like Sanjay Leela Bhansali's dripping-in-gold type. It would leave its impact whether watched on tele or on the big screen. While watching Lagaan I could almost sense the sweat and blood. Same with Swades that had the fragrance of soil and camphor. Jodhaa Akbar has the whiff of blood coupled with a floral scent. History is open to debate and interpretation, yet the message is loud and clear for those who will hear.
Finally, Hrithik Roshan, in all his Greek God - like glory does no wrong!