Yes, you read that right, it is indeed India's first epic masterpiece. Mughal-e-Azam, does'nt hold a candle to Ashutosh Gowariker's magnum opus.A brilliant film in all respects,Jodha Akbar scores not only in the story department, but also in the acting and visuals. Ashutosh Gowariker and his team brings a bygone era back to life in this larger than life extravaganza.Everything from the clothing to the jewelry to the gigantic sets put the viewer right there in the prime of the Mughal era. Visually, the movie is a sight for sore eyes.Never has any Indian film been so impressive as far as visuals go. The opulent splendour of Jodha's palace,the battlegrounds, the Rajputana kingdom are a treat to behold. Actingwise, Hritik Roshan outdoes himself. Clearly, this is his best performance to date. Seldom does a character from a movie takes on a life of its own.Hritik breathes life and energy into the role of Akbar,making it his own.His body language, his voice and his expressions are chiseled to perfection.Aishwarya Rai's performance as the Rajput princess is superb.She depicts her character's transition from a reluctant wife to the Empress of India with aplomb.Other actors fit their roles with ease. Gowariker's direction s top notch. Enough said. The background score is highly effective. The music is soul-stirring. As for Hritik, he would do better to stick to these kind of quality cinema rather than act in brainless farces like Dhoom 2 which cater to an equally brainless audience. That said, I would recommend JA to all who liked Troy,or other epics along the same lines.JA's strength lies in the simplicity of its story.