The most awaited film of the year, Jodha Akbar brings many surprises and brickbats, despite disclaimers clearly stated at the beginning of the film. And the endorsement on the animal rights is impressive, given the fact so many animals were used the making of the movie, the producer left no leaf unturned to ensure the best for the film.

Director Ashutosh is well known for this Oscar nominated Lagaan and critically acclaimed Swades. His latest efforts in bringing magnificence and grandeur to the mughal king's life story is impressive, shows how versatile Ashutosh is in portraying different lifestyles and emotions to the camera. The lavish costumes and sets are hardly a typical Ashutosh material, but he's pulled it off with panache.

In most areas JA is very well done, Hritik looked and acted fabulously, and most believable as a King. One can hardly imagine it is the same mentally challenged guy from Koi mil gaya... Aishwarya's naturally wooden worked to her advantage acting as princess who was forced to get married to a Muslim King.

Character actor Ila Arun shines among the rest, Sonu Sood is a close second. Music is at it's minimal, and best, although the background score was recycled from the songs very often. 'Azeem-o-Shaan Shahenshah' is the best song ever made in the praise of a King.

JA is not flawless, due to the nature of the story inherited the lengthiness and various subplots and due to that the pace was so fast in some scenes that its hard to catch up. And thanks to the English subtitles, i was able to understand the bombastic urdu and Hindi throughout the film...