Jodha Akbar, Ashutosh Gowariker’s latest directorial venture, released on 15th February 2008. Since the past couple of months, we have been hearing a controversy that the historical facts depicted in the movie are not correct. The film, starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, is said to be full of historical inaccuracies. Noted historians have claimed that the whole base of the movie, of the relationship between Jodha and Akbar, is completely faulty and incorrect. The Rajput groups of India are arguing that the name Jodha has been the name of wife of Jehangir who was son of Akbar (Jehangir was also called Salim).The Rajput Sabha chief has filed a case against the director of movie Jodha Akbar, Ashutosh Gowarikar, over presenting historical events in a twisted way.
They have cited books to point out that Jodha Bai was not the wife of Akbar, rather she was his daughter-in-law. In other words, Jodha Bai was the wife of Jehangir, aka Salim. Incensed by the distortion of the facts, the Rajput community of Rajasthan has threatened to not only boycott Jodha Akbar, but also stall its release in the state. As per the historical evidences, it was Jehangir who was married to the House of Jodhpur. The princess he thus married later came to be known as Jodhabai.
The Real Story
Historians claim that Akbar did forge an alliance with the Rajput family, when he married the daughter of Raja Bharmal of Amber. However, there is no evidence to suggest that she was called Jodhabai. Rather, she was later titled ‘Maryam Rahmani’ or ‘Mother of Rulers of the Universe’. Infact, Gowariker has himself claimed that there is some confusion regarding the name of the Rajput wife of Akbar. Nonetheless, he claims to have taken permission from the Royal Family of Jaipur to use the name Jodha Bai.
Historians claim that Akbar did forge an alliance with the Rajput family, when he married the daughter of Raja Bharmal of Amber. However, there is no evidence to suggest that she was called Jodhabai. Rather, she was later titled ‘Maryam Rahmani’ or ‘Mother of Rulers of the Universe’. Infact, Gowariker has himself claimed that there is some confusion regarding the name of the Rajput wife of Akbar. Nonetheless, he claims to have taken permission from the Royal Family of Jaipur to use the name Jodha Bai.
The Bottom Line (coz the Great One said so)
In the end, there is still no respite from the controversy into which Jodha Akbar has been drawn. If one goes strictly by the history books and evidences, the Rajput community seems to right in creating a fuss. The problem is that the issue has been raised too late. Had it been raised while the film was still being made, it would have made much more sense. Whether Jodha Akbar makes it to the box office or not and if it does, whether people accept it or not, is a question that only time can answer.
In the end, there is still no respite from the controversy into which Jodha Akbar has been drawn. If one goes strictly by the history books and evidences, the Rajput community seems to right in creating a fuss. The problem is that the issue has been raised too late. Had it been raised while the film was still being made, it would have made much more sense. Whether Jodha Akbar makes it to the box office or not and if it does, whether people accept it or not, is a question that only time can answer.
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