Jodha Akbar – Hindi Film Review

Starring Hritik as Akbar and Aish as Jodha, this film tries to cover too much ground and unfortunatly inspite of 3.5hours , it does not get to cover even one aspect of Akbar’s life. Supposed to be a love story between Akbar and a Rajput princess Jodha, there is very little love and more of many other things including palace intrigue involving Akbar’s brother and brother-in-law and numerous other relatives. Aish does have a big role and a meaty one too, but given her acting skills even after putting quite some efforts she does not evoke the response or emotions which one should expect from the role of Jodha.

Story starts off with how Jodha a Rajput princess is forced into marriage with Akbar and the pains of Akbar in trying to get her to accept him. This is the part which is mostly poorly scripted, Jodha peeking in when Akbar is displaying his fighting skills in a traditioal attire (which means the shirt is off) and this being a point where she seems to change her opinion about Akbar is very odd indeed.

That apart the film also tries to cover certain other aspects of Akbar’s life including some tax reforms he brings in(again presented in a shoddy way). There is also a war picturization between Akbar and his brother-in-law, this one too a silly one. The two armies come to fight each other but Akbar proposes a hand-fight and the opponent agrees and obviously Akbar wins after some ‘tense’ moments.

The nice part of the whole movie is that though the whole seems so badly made, the parts in themselves keeps you rivited and that saves the day. The huge sets and some what authentic looking jewellary and the nice songs all ensure that you are not feeling either bored or cheated into buying the tickets.

Hrikit obviously is the highlight of the movie, Aish is ok except for some frames where she looks stunning. Music by A.R.Rehman is good. On the whole a good timepass, but nothing great.

Race – Film Review

Watching the Miss Universe peagent is intersting and alluring , but I find the question answer part the most boring and I don’t think anyone in the judges ever decides on the winner based on that. Race is also on similar lines, glossy to the core, almost looks like a series of catwalks all through the movie. Race is supposedly a murder thriller, and yes there is a murder (a fake murder , though), but thriller only in some rare occurances. So is it watchable?, Ofcourse, would you want to miss Miss Universe especially if there are couple of Indian enteries and some excellent locales for a backdrop.

Race is a tale of two brothers trying to outwit each other, and also in the process also try outwitting the insurance company which would give 100 million (now we no longer talk in crores ??!!) . Only hitch is that one of the brother must die ‘accidently’ for the other to get those millions. Now starts the most complicated plan just to bump off one of the brothers. Akshay no expression khanna is the younger one and is projected as the bader of the two , the handsome,six pack Saif is the elder one . The elder one is always a step ahead and obviously wins most of the times. Most of the film, we are shown both the brothers being just brothers loving and caring, it is only at the intermission that we get to know that one of them or rather both of them are out to get each other and also the 100 million.

Bipasha plays the female lead, but one would be wondering for most part of the movie who is her male counterpart, same is the case with the other female lead Katrina beautiful kaif. Story is complicated so I woul’t try putting it in words. But can only mention that there are sufficent twists in the tale that I guess Sherlock Holmes would give up this case without even a try. But given Abbas Mastan (directors) we have Anil Kapoor with a pretty secretery S Reddy solve this murder mystery, wait did I say murder, well actually there is no murder, yes no murder but yet a murder mystery and investigation with Anil Kapoor solves. Enough of confusion , it might just be good to add at the risk of giving the story away that Anil kapoor too is involved in the whole setup.

All the actors except for Akshay do their job well, especially the female ones do their job well. Their job obviously is very easy, catwalks with every little to act, ok not to be too harshh, Bips does have a considerable role and she does her job quite well.

Music is good, btu could be lot better, 2 of the songs are hits and hummable. ON the whole a watchable movie but nothing great or so.