Jodhaa Akbar is a 2008 Indian Hindi-language epic historical drama film directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. The film is a fictionalised account set in the 16th century, depicting the political marriage between the Mughal emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar and the Rajput princess Jodhaa Bai, daughter of Raja Bharmal of Amer. The narrative explores the gradual transformation of an alliance of state into an enduring personal bond, against the backdrop of Mughal expansion and Rajput politics.
| Title | Jodhaa Akbar |
|---|---|
| Director | Ashutosh Gowariker |
| Producers | Ronnie Screwvala, Ashutosh Gowariker |
| Production companies | UTV Motion Pictures, Ashutosh Gowariker Productions |
| Writers | Haidar Ali, Ashutosh Gowariker (story); K. P. Saxena (dialogues) |
| Music | A. R. Rahman |
| Lyrics | Javed Akhtar |
| Cinematography | Kiran Deohans |
| Editor | Ballu Saluja |
| Lead cast | Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan |
| Language | Hindi |
| Release date | 15 February 2008 |
| Runtime | Approximately 213 minutes |
| Genre | Historical drama, romance, epic |
The film opens with the young Jalaluddin assuming the Mughal throne after the death of his father Humayun, with the regent Bairam Khan guiding the early years of his reign. Akbar consolidates his rule by extending Mughal influence over the Rajput kingdoms of present-day Rajasthan. Raja Bharmal of Amer, threatened by his rivals, offers an alliance through the marriage of his daughter Jodhaa to Akbar. Jodhaa accepts the marriage on the condition that she will not be required to convert from her Hindu faith and that she be allowed a Krishna temple within the palace. The film follows the couple as mutual mistrust evolves into respect and love, while Akbar contends with court intrigue, his foster brother Adham Khan, and his foster mother Maham Anga.
The project was developed by Ashutosh Gowariker after his previous historical work Lagaan (2001) and Swades (2004). The screenplay drew on accounts of the Mughal court while taking acknowledged creative liberties; the identification of Akbar's Rajput consort as "Jodhaa Bai" follows popular tradition rather than settled historical record. Principal photography was carried out at Karjat in Maharashtra, and at locations in Rajasthan including the Amer Fort. Elaborate sets, costumes designed by Neeta Lulla, and large-scale battle sequences with hundreds of extras, horses and elephants were used to recreate the period. The film was shot largely on 35 mm.
The soundtrack was composed by A. R. Rahman with lyrics by Javed Akhtar. Notable tracks include "Azeem-O-Shaan Shahenshah", "Jashn-e-Bahaaraa", "In Lamhon Ke Daaman Mein", "Mann Mohanaa" and the qawwali "Khwaja Mere Khwaja", which is staged as a Sufi sama'a sequence in the film. The album was released by T-Series and was widely praised, contributing significantly to the film's reception.
Jodhaa Akbar was released theatrically on 15 February 2008 in India and across overseas markets. The film generally received positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances of Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, the music, the production design, and Gowariker's craftsmanship, while some commentators noted its long running time. It was a commercial success in India and performed strongly in international markets, becoming one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of 2008.
The film faced protests from some Rajput organisations, particularly the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, which objected to the portrayal of Jodhaa Bai and disputed the historicity of her identification as the daughter of Raja Bharmal. As a result, the film's release was restricted in parts of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Gowariker defended the film as an interpretation drawn from popular tradition rather than a strict historical record.
Jodhaa Akbar is regarded as one of the prominent large-scale historical films of contemporary Hindi cinema, alongside works such as Mughal-e-Azam (1960). It revived popular interest in Mughal-Rajput political history and the figure of Akbar, and it reinforced the commercial viability of period epics with high production values. The film also strengthened the careers of its lead pair following their earlier collaboration in Dhoom 2 (2006), and added to A. R. Rahman's body of work in classical and Sufi-influenced film music.