Well, owing to the fact that Jodhaa Akbar did NOT release in Multiplexes in my city (Kolkata) on opening day, I found myself running around the better part of the city, with my friend, who subsequently had bunked school. And, in short, Jodhaa Akbar was nothing short of beautiful. It was more than worth the risk we took to watch it.

Starting with the signature Gowariker style, with Mr. Bachchan narrating to the map of India in the time of the Mughals, the movie was unlike any Bollywood movie I've ever seen before.

Admitted, we still have a long way to go when it comes to making war scenes which will look anything nearly like a Kingdon of Heaven, or Lord of the Rings, but still, it was an attempt, and quite its worth. The battlefield looks wow! The story, a pleasant surprise. The acting, grand. Aishwarya Rai, gives us a glimpse of her acting skills. Her voice, sweet melody. Here, I must bow to one Hrithik Roshan, who gives the performance of a lifetime. He looks royal, sounds grand, and acts the part with flawlessness to glory. The only amount of helplessness we ever hear from him is when he asks his beloved to forgive him and return home with him. The expressions show how much he has matured as an actor. It is, truly, a role that is made FOR him. He shines, just like the room that did the same while sunset. Watch out for it.

The music. Not merely the songs. Khwaja mere khwaja turned out to be surprisingly lovely, with two pairs of twins behind the one lead singer, making it look sweet if not anything else. Azeem o Shaan Shahenshah looked like a song on which the director worked tirelessly to get done. It was perfect.

The way Akbar's administrative observance was shown. In a time when the common people had never seen the Emperor, he mixes with them, as a mere peasant, to crack open the flaws in his system.

At three and a half hours, the movie never gets boring, and that in itself, says a lot for a Bollywood flick.

Jodhaa Akbar is visually stunning. The battle-scenes, the Shahenshah's anger expressed to greatness, the last one-to-one fight between Akbar and his brother-in-law, the mirror in the room of jewels reflected the light of the setting sun, Khwaja.. The movie has countless sequences which makes one weak at heart.

Jodhaa Akbar is epic storytelling. One of the best ever made.