today mark the premiere of jodhaa akbar here and the reason for want to watch this film be simple the pairing of hrithik roshan and aishwarya rai bachchan and director ashutosh gowariker and and musician a. r. rahman . it simply an irresistible combination and one that everyone in the cinema hall would attest to and give the full house and and the full house in the next screening . jodhaa akbar be set in the 16th century and which tell of an arranged marriage for strategic alliance purpose that blossom into true love between a mughal emperor and jalaluddin mohammad ( hrithik roshan ) and a rajput princess jodha ( aishwarya rai bachchan ) . in fact and a how most historical epic would go and such a the like of alexander or peer bollywood film asoka ( star shah rukh khan ) and while effort be place into extensive research to try and stay as authentic a possible and there still be various interpretation to character and some of whom will be take to task ( like oliver stone vision of colin farrell a alexander the great ) by audience . the contention here be the story behind jodha and and the various name she go by with different retellings and and that be put up front even before the opening credit start to roll . director gowariker pedigree with his successful epic like lagaan and swades put him in good stead a he tackle this love story on multiple front . in fact and a he put it and it a story about the meeting of two culture and two religion and so basically and what in a name . sometimes i wonder about similarity with the formation of big country a we know it today and with china undergo multiple civil style war in bid by conqueror to unite it and and with india and it seem that it no different . we get to see the multitude of ethnic group and each with their unique practice which we be give glimpse on and thanks to the superb art direction and wonderful and authentic set recreate . jalaluddin mohammad hail from the mughals and and be a muslim and who from young be tell by various quarter what to do and and how to lead his life a emperor of hindustan . he gain a reputation on the battlefield and which could parallel those in hollywood in term of sheer scale and grandeur and even utilizing horde of maraud elephant and settle into some icky territory when elephant rampage and stomp on soldier . blood aside and we see jalaluddin slowly become a man of his own and and in a bid to forge a strategic alliance and he offer the hand of jodha bai . however and this arranged marriage be doom a failure from all quarter and because of the difference in religion ( she a hindu ) and culture . furthermore and the reluctant jodha make it all the more difficult by ask for 2 condition and that she be allow to practice her religion and and to build a shrine in their bridal home . he agree . and in today context and i would say this act of proposition and acceptance would also raise some eyebrow sky high . but herein like the key message that get drum through the movie why can not we love despite our difference . why can not we enjoy the diversity that each religion or culture bring and instead of bay for blood and inciting hatred . jodhaa akbar have it message of ( religious ) tolerance worn very prominently on it sleeve . it quite radical and forward thinking in jalaluddin character and and we feel for the couple a they go journey from stranger to soul mate overcome the various challenge pose from the outside and and between themselves a they try hard to break the thick ice . but it not all lovey dovey in turmoil time like theirs and where politick take place from the macro with the constant threat of war and the running of a country and to the micro where internal jealousy and the defending of personal turf rear their ugly head and which kind of reminisce the many petty backstabbings find behind closed royalty door and with jalaluddin nanny maham anga ( ila arun ) proving to be the attempted spoiler and go between in the marriage . and to leader out there and there a scene which while it something that not new and be always apt to remind them not to sit on their ivory tower and but to walk the ground and hear the grumbling first hand and a nothing beat grind level intelligence . in most part and jodhaa akbar have remind me of cecil b demille historical production and with it beautiful set and costume and great acting and and intense battle sequence . there be a couple of nice action set piece range from full scale war with the clashing of two oppose side ( the elephant be a great bonus and trust me ) and to a duel which turn out to be a courtship ritual and something not new since both hrithik and aishwarya challenge each other before ( though on the basketball court ) and with the latter quite well verse in swordplay give her early role in the last legion and and one feature what i think take a leaf out of the battle between hector and achilles in troy . of course and no bollywood movie will be without music and dance and and here and it do quite tastefully a you do not expect sudden outburst into song . the music by a. r. rahman be top notch a usual and and dance here happen naturally a part of the narrative flow and with the first song come out only just before the hour mark . needless to say i find myself tap my foot to almost all of them . there be a numerous plus point in this blockbuster and and if i be tell you i be get the dvd when it release and i be already give this a vote of confidence that it a contender to make it to my top 10 movie of the year . highly recommended .