the costumes and casting were literally perfect, without talking bout the portrayal about both religions and the fact that this was a real story, they knew how to capture every essence of the old world without ruining it.

the costumes and casting were literally perfect, without talking bout the portrayal about both religions and the fact that this was a real story, they knew how to capture every essence of the old world without ruining it.

i cannot believe this movie existed for eighteen years and I only find out about it now. I've watched it for the first time a week ago and it has dwelled in my mind & heart so much that I just had to watch it again.

now, of course i love this as a tale, as a folklore, because the true history of the emperor akbar and jodhaa must've been very different. however, I loved how it is infused with history, true events, symbols, culture, even in the smallest details; it's not just a beautiful love story but a painting of an era through beliefs, rituals, myths and different spiritual practices.

the images are beautiful. the sounds are beautiful. the songs are beautiful. the lighting are beautiful. every frame is a canvas. my first Indian movie was swades, but its jodhaa akbar that made me not only fall in love with the story and the characters, but truly with indian cinema. the codes and norms are different and they show another way to film, to make every scene sublime. yes it's three and a half hours long, but it's perfect, because it allows space for the plot, for silence, for a precious intention into each scene, for quite literally a perfect slow burn. it's so well made it feels like reading a novel.

talking of slow burn...
I will never stop talking about jalaluddin and jodhaa. never. now I have three references in terms of perfect romances ; pride and prejudice, much ado about nothing and now jodhaa akbar (both enemies to lovers, period dramas, strong female lead, stoic yet deeply empathic love interests, lots of drama and plot events, happy ending... can you see the pattern in my tastes ?). jalaluddin is honestly the best man in the whole world. yes I cried in the nuptial scene because it shows how love can only bloom where humanity, compassion, respect and especially consent exists (supposed to be normal but hey). this scene honestly lives rent free in my head and i will never allow myself less than this. in fact, my standards were already unreachable, but now I fear they simply don't exist. you either swordfight me and say mashallah while plunging into my eyes or you don't. you either abolish a tax that concerns my community to win my heart or you don't. I can write so many thesis on this man ; the color of his eyes (yes I'm willfully ignoring they are contacts and yes idc)—how he's literally the portrait of healthy masculinity (pov he just respects and values women, sure it's a lot but the bar is so low lol) (but it's also what I love about Indian movies, is that their not afraid to show a strong man be emotional, have teary eyes, be little puppies and absolutely infatuated with their love interest, and the general important of women in their lifes, like their mothers or sisters)—the elephant riding scene, the sword scene and anywhere when he's sweaty—how their love making scene is the epidomy of erotiscim without neither of them being naked and it's actually insane (insane guys it's absolutely insane like the things it made me feel oh lord have mercy... I mean guys come on my guy was gazing at her eyes like she was goddess and sung before kissing her cheek)
and jodhaa... now, i don't like the actress at all because she's a zionist and she deserves none of my praise, but as a character, jodhaa is wonderful. yes we can tell there is a lack of true and complete engagement with her strength as a female character (she's said to be full of pride and is somewhat independent minded but she still listens to every men including her husband, she can swordfight but it is at best a hobby contained in the walls of her palace...) it's a glided cage and it would be wrong to downright ignore it because of the romance. the narrative is proto feminist at best (and that's stretching it), but I did enjoy the part when they were there. she stands her ground, she's still an active character, and I just love her honestly. do I wish to be her or do I want her ? a question old as time.

I loved the intrigue. this is how you do romance; you don't actually just do romance but you embed it in a complex and conflictual context so that it blooms. and it's not even the most complicated plot, but god it works so well. it's sheet gripping and jaw dropping in the war and political intrigue, but as well as in a small, dramatic, symbolic details as the elder mother making jodhaa say bismillah in front of the men. also, apart from the two main leads... ni'mat is definitely my favorite character. she's literally the queen and she knows it.

did I talk too much about this ? yes. will I stop ? here, yes. in my life ? never. five stars, top 4 letterboxd worthy, and countless of friends that are going to be harassed by me so they'll watch it.

i cannot believe this movie existed for eighteen years and I only find out about it now. I've watched it for the first time a week ago and it has dwelled in my mind & heart so much that I just had to watch it again.

now, of course i love this as a tale, as a folklore, because the true history of the emperor akbar and jodhaa must've been very different. however, I loved how it is infused with history, true events, symbols, culture, even in the smallest details; it's not just a beautiful love story but a painting of an era through beliefs, rituals, myths and different spiritual practices.

the images are beautiful. the sounds are beautiful. the songs are beautiful. the lighting are beautiful. every frame is a canvas. my first Indian movie was swades, but its jodhaa akbar that made me not only fall in love with the story and the characters, but truly with indian cinema. the codes and norms are different and they show another way to film, to make every scene sublime. yes it's three and a half hours long, but it's perfect, because it allows space for the plot, for silence, for a precious intention into each scene, for quite literally a perfect slow burn. it's so well made it feels like reading a novel.

talking of slow burn...
I will never stop talking about jalaluddin and jodhaa. never. now I have three references in terms of perfect romances ; pride and prejudice, much ado about nothing and now jodhaa akbar (both enemies to lovers, period dramas, strong female lead, stoic yet deeply empathic love interests, lots of drama and plot events, happy ending... can you see the pattern in my tastes ?). jalaluddin is honestly the best man in the whole world. yes I cried in the nuptial scene because it shows how love can only bloom where humanity, compassion, respect and especially consent exists (supposed to be normal but hey). this scene honestly lives rent free in my head and i will never allow myself less than this. in fact, my standards were already unreachable, but now I fear they simply don't exist. you either swordfight me and say mashallah while plunging into my eyes or you don't. you either abolish a tax that concerns my community to win my heart or you don't. I can write so many thesis on this man ; the color of his eyes (yes I'm willfully ignoring they are contacts and yes idc)—how he's literally the portrait of healthy masculinity (pov he just respects and values women, sure it's a lot but the bar is so low lol) (but it's also what I love about Indian movies, is that their not afraid to show a strong man be emotional, have teary eyes, be little puppies and absolutely infatuated with their love interest, and the general important of women in their lifes, like their mothers or sisters)—the elephant riding scene, the sword scene and anywhere when he's sweaty—how their love making scene is the epidomy of erotiscim without neither of them being naked and it's actually insane (insane guys it's absolutely insane like the things it made me feel oh lord have mercy... I mean guys come on my guy was gazing at her eyes like she was goddess and sung before kissing her cheek)
and jodhaa... now, i don't like the actress at all because she's a zionist and she deserves none of my praise, but as a character, jodhaa is wonderful. yes we can tell there is a lack of true and complete engagement with her strength as a female character (she's said to be full of pride and is somewhat independent minded but she still listens to every men including her husband, she can swordfight but it is at best a hobby contained in the walls of her palace...) it's a glided cage and it would be wrong to downright ignore it because of the romance. the narrative is proto feminist at best (and that's stretching it), but I did enjoy the part when they were there. she stands her ground, she's still an active character, and I just love her honestly. do I wish to be her or do I want her ? a question old as time.

I loved the intrigue. this is how you do romance; you don't actually just do romance but you embed it in a complex and conflictual context so that it blooms. and it's not even the most complicated plot, but god it works so well. it's sheet gripping and jaw dropping in the war and political intrigue, but as well as in a small, dramatic, symbolic details as the elder mother making jodhaa say bismillah in front of the men. also, apart from the two main leads... ni'mat is definitely my favorite character. she's literally the queen and she knows it.

did I talk too much about this ? yes. will I stop ? here, yes. in my life ? never. five stars, top 4 letterboxd worthy, and countless of friends that are going to be harassed by me so they'll watch it.

perfection. i have no words left in my body to express how much this means to me. my heart is swelling with love and my soul has been reborn.

perfection. i have no words left in my body to express how much this means to me. my heart is swelling with love and my soul has been reborn.

Even the aesthetics couldn’t make me forgive the horrible pacing

Even the aesthetics couldn’t make me forgive the horrible pacing

The sword fighting scene… subanallah

The sword fighting scene… subanallah