?Jodha Akbar? is a classic by any standards. You may wish to cut out a few frames and alter some of the horrific battle scenes ? shorten the story of assault and intrigue and yet with all its real or imagined faults, this Indian film is a classic. I hate the word ?Bollywood?. It savours of our early historical servility and our imitative talents. It also accentuates our acceptance of the substandard celluloid flood that is churned out year after year under its non-illustrious banners.

Jodhaa Akbar has a special paigham, a message for the age. Ashutosh Gowarikar and Ronnie Screwwala have smelted the genius of India and wrought a priceless jewel ? a Kohinoor of indescribable beauty. The message or paigham is clearly born of the fusion of 2 cultures ? Islam and Hinduism leading to Din Ilahi - a world culture of 'live and let live' philosophy.

This film is a poem of praise for the tolerance and understanding of a new age thirsting to be born. The old age continues to gnaw its teeth on old dogma and fanaticism. It snarls beyond pre-empted strikes and godless terrorism of our International political arena. It flexes its muscles, on the eye for an eye, and tooth for a tooth equation. The old embers of the past are ever raked by the narrow and emasculated intelligence of the ?have-beens?, who dream of absolute power ? absolute greed ? absolute servility of the masses, uninformed, cowed, illiterate or sometimes plain dumb. Jodhaa Akbar against this sombre back drop is a classic!!

The music, script and lyrics of the tale sweep one like a dust storm ? it bathes us in the living waters of the oasis of True Faith. The momentum of the film goes beyond religious bathos and spiritual pathos. It goes beyond windows and doors of ordinary perception, rushing like the wind through tents flapping away in the deserts of time.

When does the love of Man and Woman turn divine? Jodhaa and Akbar are seen as seekers beyond the flames of physicality, floating in the Sufi surrealism and Hindu advaitic cloud. Silence, light and sound juxtaposed midst the anticipation of love, the pause of integrity and explosion of meeting. This film is a musical rhapsody, a visual treat, a classic!

How have the directors managed the excesses and lacunae of histrionics to make both Aishwarya and Hrithik become excellent instruments of this expansive vision. How easily the audiences turn liquid in that golden haze when mind and body look for soul, when Akbar meets Jodhaa in the sanctified room jealously guarded by the angels for the sacred moments.

Akbar?s intellectual stance, his mental groping, his physical strength and his ubiquitous restraint are all ably carried by a Hrithik Roshan, who grows taller and taller as a consummate actor with each successive frame. His rippling muscles capturing the light and the love ? besotted grey-green eyes seducing his beloved, are all captured by the lens leading us to ask for more.

Aishwarya melts into a Rajput princess without much ado. We have forgotten that she started her life as an over-conscious model. But now we see her, nurturing her soul sometimes with the vibrant verve of the sword and sometimes lowering her lids in a blush, before her man.

The choreography of the dances, the garments, the jewellery, the costumes and the architectural splendour are all blended to make this story of the past ages come alive. Through celluloid thunder and gallop, it makes its message literally sing and soar beyond the script.

Jodhaa Akbar is indeed a great classic and many will draw inspiration, courage and strength from this extraordinary paigham of peace, love and unity. Long live Din Ilahi!!

Shakuntala HAWOLDAR