Story/Plot – The film is a beautifully told story of the magnanimous King Akbar (Jalaluddin Mohammad) who was a great emperor and an ever greater human being. Jalaluddin Mohammad is an adolescent boy, represented by Mughal commander Bairam Khan, who makes all decisions on behalf of the kid emperor. But young Jalaluddin matures into a valiant, big hearted and compassionate ruler who slowly wins the heart of his people – one state at a time. The toughest opposition is put up by the Rajputs, who were some of the bravest warriors in Indian history. Jalaluddin slowly wins the heart of the Rajputs too through his policy of tolerance and humane behavior with his enemies. He becomes the first Mughal ruler to marry a Hindu Rajput princess, who sets conditions even before she agrees to marry him. After they tie the knot, their marriage is not consummated till King Akbar truly wins her heart. Romance, plot, action, drama and conflict - the movie delivers on all aspects. The screenplay weaves all the subplots  seamlessly against the backdrop of this beautiful love story.

Cast – Hrithik Roshan gives a brilliant performance as Emperor Akbar. His voice modulation is simply fantastic. Tight shots of his bloodshot eyes are amazing! He captures every emotion of the king – pensive, romantic, ferocious, compassion – like a consummate actor. The camera work, the lighting and all of it complements and heightens his luminous screen presence. Aishwarya exudes a lot of dignity and grace as Jodha Bai. She could have exhibited some more fire in her eyes during the sword fights, when the camera closes in on her. But overall, their on screen chemistry was magical!

Music – this is A R Rahman’s territory and yes, he captured the spirit of the era, especially in the Sufi song sung by him. The devotional song is soulful. I did miss a melodious romantic song, which would have a mass appeal – just a personal thought. The golden chance was when Jodha and Akbar finally consummate their love. But then, the Azeemo Shahenshah song more than makes up for it. Overall, the music in the film really pulls it together.

Special mention – the scene where Hrithik is practicing his sword skills – this one is for die hard Hrithik fans, the choreography in the group song, Big B’s VO and the casting of Akbar’s court members. The scene where their love consummates and sunlight fills the screen with a golden glow. The screen play – it’s smooth and devoid of the typical melodrama.

Aesthetics – the cinematography and camerawork are A class! The opening war sequence is simply mind-blowing! Look out for the shot where the camera pulls back on a dolly and the two opposing teams collide. Mughal art and architecture, the set designs and the exquisite costumes and jewelry recreate the era in all its splendor. To the western audience, this is what makes the movie worth every penny, aside from the historical significance of it. At the same time, the aesthetics never overpower the story.  

Things that could have been different – I wasn’t quite sure of the wipes used between sequences. They were more of a distraction and made the transition appear a little abrupt. Some of the editing did seem a little choppy or out of line. For instance, howcome King Akbar dismisses his court after listening to Jodha’s devotional song, all of a sudden? The devotional song kind of builds up but ends abruptly. But these are mostly minor things that can be overlooked, considering that it’s a 3 1/2 hr movie that pretty much holds the attention of the viewers till the end.

My two cents - It is a refreshingly told period movie about the love story of Jodha Bai and Akbar – a story that was almost lost in the pages of history. The movie captures all aspects of Akbar – spiritual, romantic, brave, shrewd politician without making him seem like a super human or perfect for that matter. It’s the imperfections and how he gets over them that make him seem so real. I’m almost ready for a sequel with Akbar and his nine gems. Jodha Akbar is every bit a nod to great cinema in the genre of Lord of the Kings or Braveheart and a testament to the fact that Ashutosh Gowariker is a master storyteller. Watch it with your better half or your family. Either way, it’ll be a 3 1/2 hrs well spent.

For a slightly different take, read the following review

http://www.apunkachoice.com/movies/mov650/jodhaa_akbar-review.html 

Rating: ****

Bann Roy, we never met, but I hope we can work together one day. You have straddled the two worlds of reality and documentary in a way that’s just incredible! It must be dizzy to see the world from such heights. I’ll wait for the day when I can be a part of one of your projects.

Sylvie, it was fun working with you briefly and taking the 45 minute long interview. You asked me questions that I hadn’t asked myself in a while. Your documentaries are an inspiration to me.

Fernanda Rossi, you’re the funniest person I met in all of LA and that says a lot. Really, good things come in small packages. So petite and unassuming, it’s hard to believe you pack in so much punch.

My stay in LA was short, but hopefully what I learned will stay with me a long time and take me far.  

Day before was Thanksgiving. And we were at the ER with our little one. He came down with Croup – a seal like bark that can rip out the heart of any mom. He couldn’t breathe well and we couldn’t rest in peace for a second. After 4 hours at the ER, the doc came over and said, “you’re good to go.” He’s a lot better now. The sparkle in his eye is back. So I finally took out the pie crust at the end of the day and made my Thanksgiving pie that I was supposed to make for my potluck dinner. It was my first Sweet Potato pie. Say what, it turned out rather nice. I downloaded Alton Brown’s recipe. Seemed rather quick n easy, just the way I like it. If I can make it with a toddler running around me, you can make it too. Today my little one is his usual self - being the little chef that he is and keeping me busy. Oh the sweet taste of seeing your sweetie pie healthy and happy! Now I can enjoy my pie (:  

Lesson – don’t wait for the terrible two syndrome. Get yourself a safety leash for your toddler. They’re little, therefore hard to find in a public place.

Flashback

During this entire episode I kept thinking of the day when my mom and I were traveling from
Madras to Bangalore by train. Since my mom walks slowly I walked faster so I could find space to keep our bags. I went in, looked for our seat numbers and arranged our bags underneath the seats. I sat at the window waiting for her. But couldn’t see her. Five minutes later there was still no sign of her. I started panicking. Train stations in India are crazy and even chaotic. I asked my co-passenger to watch my baggage and went out looking for her. I ran from one end of the train to the other, but simply could not find her. Where did she go?? At the time we did not have cell phones. I went back to our seats, but she hadn’t reached. I heard the first whistle. I ran out again, on the verge of tears. Suddenly I saw a short, grey haired lady in a white saree walking towards me from a distance. “Where were you? I’ve been looking for you everywhere!!” she said. All I  could do was smile. We were both looking for each other in a busy railway station in India teeming with thousands of people during a festival time. We hopped in and the guard whistled a last time. It’s a miracle that we reached Bangalore the next day as scheduled.

Yes, when parents get old, you have to take care of them like you take care of your kids.

Lesson – when traveling with your old parent, make sure you have am adult safety leash - a cell phone. And make sure it’s on. (And that’s a story for a different day.)

Produced by Bedabrata Pain

The protagonist of Amu – Kajori Roy had the choice of ignoring her past and continuing to live her cushy, comfortable life. Instead she says – “I don’t want to know but I can’t help it.” On a visit to India after 18 years she stumbles upon signs from her past which had almost completely vanished from her memory. A visit to the slums of Delhi trigger a slew of questions about her past as things seem mysteriously familiar. This isn’t a Bollywood movie. It’s made by Shonali Bose, an Indian filmmaker born and raised in India, but residing in LA. It’s bilingual – Bengali (with subtitles) and English. Amu is a film born out of deep anguish and sincere commitment to the subject of burying our past in fear of facing the truth. You can tell that it’s made by someone who has first hand experience of witnessing the riots.

Story/plot – 21 year old Amu, a UCLA graduate visits India, her birthplace to get in touch with her roots. But her quest to see the ‘real’India turns into a quest to find out who she is, who are her birth parents and answers lie in the events of the 1984 riots when people of the Sikh faith were massacred. The movie is about the long term effects of such ethnic cleansing riots and not confronting them head on. While many details are conveniently swept away, there are some things that haunt some of us for the rest of our lives till we find the truth. As you embark on this journey with Amu, you get more and more involved in the process, almost like a thriller movie. And pieces of her story fall in place like a jigsaw puzzle. Amu’s journey brings back demons from the past that still haunt people who were directly impacted by the riots.     

Cast - Konkona Sen Sharma is a winner, as Kaju. She captures emotions of anger, fear and curiosity with maturity. She is a joy to watch – exuding the wide-eyed innocence of someone who’s visiting India for the very first time in her youth. And the anger and frustration of someone who has been lied to her whole life. Konkona has what it takes. First time actress Brinda Karat has a luminous presence and radiates genuine warmth as Kaju’s mother. Kaju’s boyfriend to me was overshadowed by Konkona’s powerful presence. Although I did enjoy the slight romantic diversion. It was really nice to see Loveleen Mishra back on screen.  

Music – I thought there was excellent use of background music to heighten emotions. Check out the scene when things from the past are haunting Amu. Really effective use of tabla.

Special mention – the ending where Amu is among the slum kids, feeling at home. The riot scenes are not gory. The movie dares to do what many holding authoritative positions have failed to do. It’s a film made by a woman social activist and speaks to everyone across the world, about the effects of ‘conveniently’ forgetting the aftermath of man-made calamities like riots and moving on with our lives.  

Aesthetics – great use of lighting. Especially when Amu’s mother is telling her the story of her past, the play of light and shadows is magical. Kudos to Ayesha Punvani for really authentic sets that made the film so real.

My two Cents – yes, this is a good film for a thesis project. But it’s more than just that. It makes you feel happy for Amu. But it also makes you pause and think. And I believe that’s what Bose aimed for to begin with. This film speaks to everyone in these modern times who feels deeply against man-made riots and terrorism. It cannot be better timed. Watch it and who knows, you might find some answers of your own.   

Produced by Ronnie Screwvala 

It left me in awe. Once again, music director turned film director Vishal Bhradwaj has managed to create magic on screen. As someone who loves to watch children’s films and has always dreamed of making one, I loved every frame of The Blue Umbrella. Not too many directors in India risk making children’s movies, because they’re not necessarily profitable. But clearly,  Bharadwaj is not afraid of taking risks. This is his second film for a child audience. All his ventures so far have been pretty offbeat and they’re all critically acclaimed. The Blue Umbrella is based on Ruskin Bond’s novella. It’s a delightful film that parents can watch with their kids.

Story/Plot – In Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh Khatri lays on his charpoy (cot) listening to a robot telling him his future. Travelers, if you’re planning to visit India anytime in the future, this is a beautiful getaway. HP is a scenic place that attracts a lot of tourists from all over the world. Khatri owns a little 7/11 kind of store. He is a scruffy old guy with a childlike greed for material things. Usually these are things that a 10 year old will want too – like a binocular. And he’ll do anything to own it. One day he spots a village girl Biniya with a beautiful blue umbrella. Khatri’s heart is set on it. He tries every possible gimmick to get it from Biniya, but Biniya knows better. One day the umbrella goes missing. Obviously the first person Biniya suspects is Khatri. A humiliated Khatri decides to get a similar umbrella for himself, just to prove a point. But Biniya follows her instinct and gets to the bottom of it all. The story is not about who did it. It’s about guilt, remorse and ostracism. And the blue umbrella becomes a metaphor for all these. But the film never gets heavy, not even for a moment. Ever so lightly, the story unfolds against the backdrop of this beautiful town.

Cast – Pankaj Kapoor is one of India’s finest actors. He is versatile and sensitive. As Khatri, he breathes life into every frame that he is in. There were moments when a tight close up of him brought tears to my eyes – check out the shot when he goes to the barber. He speaks in the local accent with such ease, you might think he was born with it. Little actress Shreya is an amazing find. Her innocent, expressive eyes do a lot of the acting. She handles the role with amazing maturity.

Music – Bharadwaj’s music is haunting. The director really uses his discretion on where to put music. And where to use ambient sound. Background score really heightens the emotions of loneliness and rejection. Songs, even though in a different language are charming and have a folkish feel. 

Aesthetics – this movie wouldn’t have been the same without the cinematography of Sachin Kumar Krishnan. The blue umbrella against the lush green valleys makes a picture perfect frame. Each frame is breathtaking. Look out for the shot where Khatri is left alone in the snow and the camera pulls away.

Special mention -  the blue umbrella – it’s not an object, it’s a character in the movie. The simple humor and the little ethnic details makes the whole experience very real. Parents, kids will really enjoy the local touches that show life in a small Indian town. There are references to Ravana – the 10 headed villain in Hindu mythology whose dummy is set to fire every year in an Indian festival. Loved the free hand camerawork – when the umbrella is landing on the ground, when Khatri is scanning through his things. It is a fantastic adaptation of a book, that takes a life of its own. The use of snow is amazing.

Things that could have been different – hmmm.. really difficult to find flaws with Bharadwaj’s films. He’s a craftsman. It could have been a little tighter in the beginning, keeping in mind the short attention span of kids. Also, I would be more wary of showing kids being hit by their parents, even if it’s shown casually.  

My Two Cents – this is a film that’s rooted in Indian culture, but universally appealing. Parents, cuddle up by the fireplace and watch it with your kids on a cold wintry day, with a mug of hot chocolate. It’s almost like reading a short story to them. It’s a movie for kids and adults. And if they like this, they’ll also like Makdee by the same director.   

I tried to find a slightly different take on the movie – but couldn’t find anybody who would differ with me. This movie has been so well received. It has been named the ‘best children’s film’ at the National awards of India.