Weekend Analysis Thread 1:Jalal & His Discovery.. - Page 11

Originally posted by: skanda12

Talking of harems, I am reminded of a sightseeing trip I took some years ago to Agra where we all visited the Fatehpur Sikri. That is the place being shown in the serial as the headquarters of Jalal and also where his harem was.

A couple of really funny things about this harem. There wre some 300 women or so there apparently, all with their entourages. There were also a couple of jails with iron bars and all that (which our tour guide said were ladies jails built adjoining the harem). These were apparently for the solitary confinement of the rather violent harem inmates who had tendencies to scratch other women's faces with fingernails etc etc.

For this whole battalion of women and their staff there were some two "baths" or "swimming pools" about quarter of the size of our modern swimming pools, so you can guess it would have only accommodated about 20 of the women ata time. Plus there were just about two or three toilets for the whole battalion.

I seriously don't know how they all had the time to fight over Jalal when they must have been standing in the toilet queue for most of the day!🤣

Originally posted by: skanda12

Shyamala: See my post at the end of Page 12 where I have answered your point about how the question of Amer-Mughal alliance may happen ... what do you think?

Originally posted by: skanda12

To everyone:

Folks, I am unable to sit or stand with the excitement I have about this serial.

I am just waiting (dying!) for the day when Jodha and Akbar will have their first real conversation with each other, facing each other, looking into each other's faces and meeting eye to eye ...

I suspect this may happen just before the marriage when Jodha asks for a private talk with Akbar to tell him her conditions for marriage.

I want to hear their voices as they talk to each other for the first time, without bravado and after listening deeply to what each has to say to the other ...

Already I find it spine-thrilling every time I hear Jodha mention the word "Jalal" - and everytime I hear Jalal mention the word "Jodha". Is it my imagination that I hear a slight softening of the way they say each other's names even in the heat of anger or in head-spinning arrogance? Does everybody on this forum sense a kind of reverence when they say each other's names ... or is it all my own fanciful imagination?

I wish so much that we get a really long conversation between them on the day she lays her conditions before him. I wouldn't mind a whole episode dedicated to just these two, really having to listen to each other, sizing up what each has to say, and then arriving at a decision that both can accept as a formula to live together!

No matter how angry she is at Jalal, I suspect she will not be able to carry that anger into the depth of her eyes, if she really has to squarely face this guy with the latent power of a tiger and speak her mind. I am sure words will falter ...

... just as he will never really be able to give free run to his arrogance as he looks into her face. His arrogance will desert him and he may even find himself tongue-tied ...

I hope (and I hope and I hope!) that Ekta handles this scene - their first conversation - with delicate finesse - and all the mental visions I have of this meeting come true.

What do you guys think?😳😳😳

About Power ,Pride, Play ,Politics, Pyaar and Prophecies

POWER

Power - The quest for Power ,the power for Kingdom ,the power for control and the power of lot many other issues seems to drive the whole Mughal clan and in fact the whole show. To analyse much into details we can further see the HUNGER for Power one by one.

The power of Jalaal ' Though commanding the title of the Badshah , the Shehenshah of Hindustan who has sovereign authority of terror and commandments. We do see that beyond the surface of this POWER driven Man ,is a young child who LISTENS .Irony it is ,but Jalaal listens,whether CATAPULTED by His Badi Ammi or Being Pulled like a PUPPET by the strings tightened by Bairam Khan.Yes He does Listen!! Though ,he never even hesitates an iota to pull the sword ,but Yet his POWER is somewhat HALF-BAKED.It is noteworthy ,REAL power only comes with the complete understanding of affairs and not using the crutches and glasses of OTHER POWER DRIVEN people who exercise CONTROL on his mind.

The Power of education ' I am going to emphasize here a VERY IMPORTANT AND RADICAL POV. Yes I do. The power of the MIND comes with the power of EDUCATION .Yes By education I actually take into account his reading and writing skills. Though he might have been subjected to practical training, BY ORAL TRADITIONS ,under the GUIDANCE of his MENTORS .But there is something which he BASICALLY lacks at this point of time.- A FINE SENSE OF JUDGEMENT which stems from his absence of FORMAL EDUCATION.I do not UNDERMINE at all the IMPORTANCE of LEARNING through others, but SELF- READING and schooling is an important basis for shunning the PREJUDICE that involves TELL TALE by others. When he listens and forms OPINIONS due to the his YEARS OF TRAINING by his mentor ,it's more like he reading a critical REVEIEW of a MOVIE even before watching it.The WHOLE idea is SUBJECTIVE and is not Spared by the PREJUDICE of the one who feeds the mind.I think when time comes ,He will REALISE the RATIONALITY that comes with education.

The Quest for Power and Sovereign authority Though this is more or less related to the era that these people belonged to, War was inevitable 'a matter of PRIDE FOR THE EXTENSION AND STRENGTHENING OF THE EMPIRE; it is not Impossible to assume that this HUNGER for POWER was more era driven than to have anything related to personal cruelty. If the Mughals wanted WAR AND WOMEN ,we do see that Rajput men too Talked about WAR AND WOMEN .Motives different yet the QUEST remains the SAME.

The Power of the Padshah Begum- Interesting is the kind of power that that the Padshah Begum Ruqaiyaa exercises not only over Jalaal's mind,but alos on the whole heirrachy of Harem begums' altogether.Its her POWER to command authority .It's her POWER to CHALLENGE the Badshah YET rule his MIND.

PRIDE

The word PRIDE is imbibed in every character of the story, be it the Mughals or the Rajputs. If for the Rajputs ,their land and woman and their bravery are a matter of pride ,then for the Mughals their COMMAND ,CRUELTY and Snatching away is a SYMBOL of their PRIDE. There is a STRANGE SIMELARITY in the PATTERNS of PRIDE .Both the Clans have it and they do not SHY away to FLAUNT IT.

While the PRIDE of most Rajput men lie in their TONGUES, MOUSTACHES AND SWORDS ,the PRIDE of Mughal men Lies in Their MIND. The contrast is WONDERFULLY DEPICTED .The IMPULSIVENESS of Rajputs contrasted with the SINSTER motives of Mughals- the VOCAL CHALLENGES of the Rajputs with DISGUISE AND SHEEPISHNESS of the Mughals.

The contrast of PRIDE is even more PROFOUNDLY depicted in the case of HIGHLIGHTING the difference in their women. If it's a matter of PRIDE for the Rajput women to talk about SACRIFICE , who would go to any lengths to maintain their pride and honour ;even READY TO DIE FOR THEIR MEN; then equally opposite is the Pride of the women in the Mughal HAREM who also would also resort to any means for their men but instead they talk about COMPETITION and are READY TO KILL to get the attention of their man.

Interesting again is the parallel and contrast between Jodha and Ruqaiya. Both these women RULE. But one RULES the heart of her man and she is PROUD not because SHE RULES but because her man places his DUTIES towards his people and kingdom above her . The other one is PROUD too , because she RULES the MIND of her man and FLAUNTS the PRIDE that the Shehenshah places her above all women in the Harem. One is GIVING, another is CLAIMING.

PLAY

The Eye play of Ruqaiya and Jalaal- Fantastically done!!Showing the kind of authority ,the comfort level and the beauty of their relationship.

THE CHESS GAME 'PLAY AND RULE- What appears to the eye ,is not what it it. The chess game PROVES it all. Though a mere challenge game ,but what is fascinating that Ruqaiya can actually not only PLAY with him gauging his MOVES seeing him through and through as if he was TRANSPARENT ,she also PLAYS upon him- CONTORTING AND PLAYING with her OWN words to get the TRUTH out of him. THE PLAY between them began from their childhood .From the fun games of CHILDHOOD to the MIND GAMES OF ADULTHOOD. These two have completely COME A LONG WAY. Kudos to the DEXTERITY with which it had been handled. It was by far the most ENCHANTING moment in JA so far. Also interesting is their CONCEPT of Winning and losing .For Ruqaiyya she lost herself to win over him giving him the pleasure of his OWN concept of being the WINNER always .The writer here again amazes me with a sharp contrast to her own CATEGORICAL STATEMENT. Though she lost herself but she WON in the end. The way she defines their relationship is wonderful.

She is the one who CLAIMS the heart of friend ,the iman of her shauhar and the Sar of her badshah.

The PLAY of words is SIGNIFICANT. It would be a REAL treat to watch the DOWNFALL yet feel TERRIBLE for the SELF PROCLAIMED UNDISPUTED QUEEN OF THE MIND OF THE BADSHAH.

Looking forward to the her PLAY once she stars realising her FALLEN status at the hands of Jodha .

The play of Mainawati- LOL to that !!I mean Seriously her forging letters nad then setting up the whole scenario for their lovey dovey DATE was Hilarious.She is the QUEEN for God's sake Ekta and not some Daily soap Mommy .LOL

PYAAR

The concepts of Pyaar and love is interesting.Though so many things are to be said and can be taken into account but for the sake of brevity I am going to RESTRICT the pyar into the following couples.

Here to explain better I am quoting some parts of a theory called Triangular theory of love.

The triangular theory of love is a theory of love developed by Psychologist, Robert Sternberg. In the context of interpersonal relationship, "the three components of love, according to the triangular theory, are an intimacy component, a passion component, and a decision/commitment component."

1. Intimacy- ' Which encompasses feelings of attachment, closeness, connectedness, and bondedness.
2. Passion ' Which encompasses drives connected to both limerence and sexual attraction.
3. Commitment ' Which encompasses, in the short term, the decision to remain with another, and in the long term, the shared achievements and plans made with that other.

Suryabhan and Jodha- Their love summarises PERFECTION , too perfect and beautiful to described. Two souls bound by same values and a love 'a bond that is fortified with mutual respect and admiration for HOLIER than thou virtues. However their bond can can summarise their love as COMPASSIONATE LOVE where they have lots of understanding and compassion but lacks passion and intimacy.

Jalal and Rquaiya-There bond is formidable .I say it is love ,yes it is because LOVE has may forms.Though their love may be non-romantic but it is very strong and it is beautiful too. Can be defined as Companionate love.

"Companionate love is an intimate, non-passionate type of love that is stronger than friendship because of the element of long-term commitment. "This type of love is observed in long-term marriages where passion is no longer present" but where a deep affection and commitment remain. The love ideally shared between family members is a form of companionate love, as is the love between close friends who have a platonic but strong friendship."

However I am waiting for Jodha Jalaal love story which will define the HIGHEST form of intimacy or CONSUMMATE LOVE.

"Consummate love is the complete form of love, representing an ideal relationship which people strive towards. Of the varieties of love, consummate love is theorized to be that love associated with the "perfect couple. According to Sternberg, these couples cannot imagine themselves happier over the long-term with anyone else, they overcome their few difficulties gracefully, and each delight in the relationship with one other. However, Sternberg cautions that maintaining a consummate love may be even harder than achieving it. He stresses the importance of translating the components of love into action. "Without expression," he warns, "even the greatest of loves can die."

The Pyaar of the MOMMIES -A word for the love of all three mothers ,yes three .While Mainawati 's love is totally relatable for her daughter ,on the other side another counterpart of Mainawati is Hamida Banu Begum ,the mother who craves for the love of her son .Her love is just like Mainawati 'pure and alloyed expecting nothing in return.Finally coming to the third MOMMY 'the ANAMOLY .Though her Love for Jalaal seeps through her eyes,her feelings seem genuine but the way the hint of CLAIMING authority comes across ,it makes Mahamanga an interesting blend.With a tongue as caustic and cautious as SLOW POISON and eyes that ooze tears and FEELINGS.She certainly comes across as a BEAUTY of CONTRASTS.

POLITICS

Politics again is a crux of the story whether it is the politics of the Harem women or the battle for power between Bairam Khan and Mahamanga. Politics is the core .

While Rajputs have their share of politics in the form of injustice to dislodge Sujamal from claiming the throne and later brewing up for the political alliance of Suryabhan and Jodha ,Mughals are not far behind,their politics is on a different level altogether.The sharpness and sheepishness and the hint of treachery is going to be a more ENGAGING feat in the Mughal clan altogether.Gearing up for that.

PROPHECIES

While the CV's seem absolutely besotted with the IDEA of Soul talks ,HIGHER COSMIC CONNECTION and PROPHECIES which they keep on repeating after every frame,it is a tad bit boring for an audience who expects a faster storyline.If they could only do away with Shaguni Bai spooking Mainawati every now and then.Does not APPEAL at all.

LOL my LOWE for <P> does not end here.How can I conclude even without talking about

PRODUCTION VALUES

YES they have IMPROVED 'A LOT specially the night scenes .But still something that is called BEAUTY is missing.The costumes are Ok ,the jewellery is fine ,the sets even look better and a bit grand now,but what is certainly lacking is a good camera work and a sheen which marks OPULENCE.Ahh is it such a herculean task to add that Antique sheen to those videos.Get a video editor ,add some SEPIA tone , work with hues ,tones and sharpness and one gets a quality SHEEN.SIMPLE it is it.*Wonders what's wrong with them *

So I have so much more to say with lots of P's but I am stopping here Right at this moment. Already late with this .Need to stop before everyone dozes by the time they reach the END.

Regards

Piu.