Jodha Akbar 30: The countdown begins - Page 2

Shyamala:

Shyamala,

Mansi my dear,

Whatever would I do without you? You are an unfailing source of delight, with your always hatke takes on the goings on in this tale, and I cannot tell you how refreshing you are! Thanks, and then thanks again!!

As for this one, I agree 111%. I too, as you would have seen from my comment in parentheses, do not really believe that it was all a carefully orchestrated plot between Jalal, Sharifuddin and Chughtai Khan, but it did occur to me as a possibility, even if a remote one, because of the following..

Jalal is not shown as giving Sharifuddin any instructions as to how to deal with the defeated Amer. This is odd, for he obviously wants something more than just domination over Amer, which is why he refers to it as a naayab tohfa, To get that special something, Jodha, careful handling was clearly necessary.

Left to himself, if Sharifuddin had gone the usual sar kalamifoying route (I am becoming addicted to that nifty term!😉) and executed Jodha's 3 brothers in a fit of anger, then anything between Jalal and Jodha would have been ruled out for good, for this would have been cold-blooded murder, not a death in battle, as she would have imagined Suryabhan's to have been. So it does seem odd that Jalal would not, whatever his other preoccupations, have sent a secret emissary to Sharifuddin asking him to tighten the screws on Bharmal financially, so as to push him relentlessly into a corner financially and politically, but not to do anything drastic that could not be rectified later. He would have had plenty of time for that, even with all those nikaahs and the hectic ride to Malwa.

So, I find it difficult to believe that Jalal left Sharifuddin to his own devices in dealing with this nayaab tohfa. It would also gell better with my conspiratorial mindset; I have after all been a disciple, however unworthy, of Chanakya all my life!😉

This said, I love your neat and warm-hearted explanation, and I will buy it. With just one caveat: the idea of a marriage might well have occurred to the secretly chortling Jalal, but not, I would imagine, to the wooden headed Bharmal. He in neither as shrewd and practical, nor as imaginative, as to have thought that up for himself. He is too much of a bull-headed, vain, strutting and posturing fool.

I rate Chugtai Khan well, well above Bharmal, and I hope he has more than this admittedly crucial cameo to play. Just as I hope we see much, much less of the acutely irritating Bharmal after The Wedding. I have had as much as I can stand of him. and of his eye-rolling wife, who is even worse that Mrs. Bennet in Pride and Prejudice.

As for "Chugtai Multi-Ethnic Matrimonial Services", my dear, that is priceless. Absolutely priceless!😉

Shyamala

Originally posted by: skanda12

Shyamala:

Lovely analysis!👏I agree with you on everything!

Here I want to also point out one thought that occurs to me. Posterity never seems to remember the "small guys who figure in its big talks" to help change the very course of history. I would put Chugtai Khan in that category of forgotten wondrous men who, with their moments of intuitive intervention, can alter the course of small events of great significance (if we are all agreed that the Jodha-Jalal story was indeed accepted history, of course!)

I don't believe there was a conspiracy between Jalal-Sharifuddin-Chugtai to ensnare Bharmal and Jodha. In fact, I thought that the chance meeting Jodha had in that surang with her father and Chugtai, when she advised her father to take the actions of a King and not just a Pita, was fortuitous. Chugtai seemed immensely impressed with Jodha's personal bravery and wisdom. He must have carried that impression in his head till he reached Jalal, and in that moment when both Jalal and Bharmal seemed to be taking intractable stances, he must have unleashed that idea of pure genius ... "Why not get Jodha married to Jalal?"

There, once it had popped out of his mouth, it was too good a suggestion that no one could ignore! No one may have been more surprised than Chugtai himself that the suggestion had somehow dropped from his own mouth!

It was a delicate moment when, even if the idea had occurred to Jalal or Bharmal they both may have hich-kichao-ed from saying it openly - and herein lies the value of the third man! Chugtai served the purpose for which he was born.

There can be a question whether Chugtai knew what he was doing - and whether the suggestion was a well-thought out one - or whether it was an idea that occurred to Chugtai on the spur of the moment. I think it was the latter. Even though Chugtai had advised Bharmal on the need for "strategy" as a solution to his prooblems, I feel sure in my mind that Chugtai himself had no idea what that strategy could be till he was at Jalal's side occupying the role of a mediator.

In those times, it must have been considered foolhardy to suggest a Hindu-Muslim marriage, however convenient, but we must remember that Chugtai himself had seen the extremely tolerant side of Bharmal when he, a Hindu King, had helped Chugtai, a wounded Muslim, without any religious reserve. In Chugtai's mind it may therefore have seemed perfectly in order that at least some people of one religion could be very tolerant and kind to the people of the other. He knew Bharmal to be that sort of tolerant man, and after the passing away of Bairam Khan, he also knew Jalal to be a very changed man too.

When we later look upon the story of Jodha and Jalal's world-inspiring love, many of us may attribute it to the exemplary roles played by Jodha's parents, Jalal's own perspicacity, Jodha's calm wisdom, even Suryabhan's unfortunate head ... but we may never really remember the role played by Chugtai Khan, unless we really try. I think, if we are to venerate the Jodha-Jalal story, we need at least one tiny monument of remembrance of "dear Chugtai, the well-meaning Khan".

At the very least, somebody opening a new marriage-broker business should name it "Chugtai Multi-Ethnic Matrimonial Services"!

Happy sigh! Now my day has begun well after reading your post. Its such a great way to prepare for the next episode since it clears any cobwebs that exist in my mind due to lack of understanding all the dialogues/ cultural/religious significances. You, dearest Aunty are the most delightful treasure trove in all of India forums!

With regard to your analysi, I too doubt whether Aadham Khan's end is anywhere near in sight. More likely, Mahaam Anga will use all of her Machiavellian guille to atleast try and get her son back in Jalal's favour. Chetan Hansraj has surely signed on for a long big badie innings:-D.

Like everyone else here, I can't wait to jump headlong into the JJ love story, will it just start already.

Jenny my dear,

That is one of the sweetest compliments that I have ever received. Thanks a million!

Yes, I too do not think that Adham Khan is going anywhere any time soon, both for the very practical casting factor you have so shrewdly spotted, and also because there have to at least 500 episodes,and one cannot have one of the two major villains (presuming that Ekta goes the same route as the film and raised the so far terminally obsequious Sharifuddin to a similar pedestal of villainy) pop off too early.

As for the Great Love Story, I think it is going to be more like a Taming of the Shrew, with apologies to Shakespeare. Only, I cannot make up my mind who will be Kate and who will be Petruchio!😉

Shyamala Aunty

Originally posted by: jennylives85

Happy sigh! Now my day has begun well after reading your post. Its such a great way to prepare for the next episode since it clears any cobwebs that exist in my mind due to lack of understanding all the dialogues/ cultural/religious significances. You, dearest Aunty are the most delightful treasure trove in all of India forums!

With regard to your analysi, I too doubt whether Aadham Khan's end is anywhere near in sight. More likely, Mahaam Anga will use all of her Machiavellian guille to atleast try and get her son back in Jalal's favour. Chetan Hansraj has surely signed on for a long big badie innings:-D.

Like everyone else here, I can't wait to jump headlong into the JJ love story, will it just start already.

I had been waiting for ur post. I just love them. All of them are always beautifully written. Yeah o also agree that the last part was amazing. Rajat acted really good at that part.

Shyamala:

My dear Poppy,

What can I say but that I am flattered and very pleased? Thanks ever so much.

No, I did not write anything about the three episodes after No. 26, those of last Wednesday to Friday. I write only I find enough material. So you did not miss anything, and in the future, as and when I do write a new one, I will PM you without fail, so that you do not have to hunt for it.

As for your very funny comments, I agree with all of them. The Rajputs are shown as consistently comical and terminally ineffective, especially in the scene where the Mughal soldiers dump Suryabhan's head and Sharifuddin's letter at the gates of Amer. As for the Amer royals, I was dismayed by them right from the time I spotted the screechy Sukanya. They are all of a piece, the feisty dadi being the lone exception.

If you want to see Rajput regality and sense of honour at its best, calm courage under fire, and impeccable dignity even when disaster stares you in the face, and this both for the king and his queens, you should go the opulently mounted Maharana Pratap. The chief Maharani, Jaiwantibai, is utterly superb, her dark, fine featured face an oasis of calm and unruffled determination to do whatever it takes to uphold the honour and the traditions of Mewar. Compared to her, Mynavati behaves like a village housewife.

There are never any raised voices, except when the Maharana gets angry at his son and heir (played very competently by the last year's DID L'il Masters winner, the 13 year old Faisal Khan, now 14) for being too adventurous, and the royals conduct themselves, in public and among themselves, with admirable self control and restraint. No nasty sneers and squabbles there.

Because of all this, one does not mind the overall lack of complexity, the traditional format in which they all operate, the uncomplicated values portrayed and the black and white characterisations, especially the sole negative point, an OTT villain, who looks like Casting Central's idea of a thuggish Afghan subedar. Do give it a try if you are not watching it already. They have done 37 episodes by now, which is not too much for catching up

To revert to Jodha, after her nightmares about the kate huye sar of her bhaisaas, I presume she will be off her earlier obsession with getting Jalal ka sar. This is probably why she is now venting her fury thru non-violent non-co-operation, a la the satyagrahis of the Indian independence movement who burnt British millmade fabrics. Of course they did not do that out of pique, but for a nobler reason, because the British were importing them and ruining the livelihood of the Indian weavers.

I do hope the Jalal-Jodha scenes that lie ahead are up to the mark. Fingers crossed!

Shyamala

Originally posted by: poppy2009

Shyamala,

Thanks for writing these wonderful posts! I missed the one on Friday's episode! In all honesty, I don't even watch JA regularly, but I do keep peeping into the forum to read your posts! They are incredibly witty and very well written! Please keep writing!😃

Coming to the episode, as you said, it was all about Jalal / Rajat! The guy can act!😲 Like really, really well! And I loved the way you described his emotions, expressions and body language. I happened to read your post and then see the show...and you have totally nailed his performance word by word today!👏

Coming to the Amer Clown Troup...I can see why the Rajputs are creating a ruckus and threatening to get the show stopped! Anyone would be annoyed at the portrayal of Rajputs by Ekta and her team🤢 Why is Bharmal being showed as such a delusioned, egoistic coward? Why couldn't they show him as a man torn between his duties as a vanquished king who still has the onus of protecting his people.

If the Rajputs were indeed as idiotic as the show would like us to believe, then their royal families wouldn't have survived till the present day!

ROFL on Jodha are her eye-rolling!😆 And Mynavati seriously needs to see a shrink! Did they have one in those days?😆 Both the mother and daughter provide a lot of unintentional comic relief to the show, one has to give them credit for that!

On another hand, I think the creatives have once again taken the creative licence route too seriously and decided to bump up Sujamal...when in fact, the war between Rajputs and Mughals never happened in the first place! Even before Akbar's forces could have attacked Amer, the wedding alliance between Jodha and Akbar took place and hence violence was averted, cause the Mughal enemy was now the Damad of the Rajputs!

Suryabhaan probably just faded into the background and married some other pretty Rajput princess, but the that would have been so unromantic to show here. They have to give ample oppoutrunity for Jodha to keep hating Jalal and demanding his unfortunate head and for that Suryabhaan had to die!

Now want to see Jodha's reaction to the proposal of marriage with the man, whose head she so desperately craves for!😆

PS: Not being critical...but honestly when you see Rajat's performance and compare it with Paridhi...there is like a oceans' distance between them! Paridhi should try and bring more gravity and dignity to her act...honestly, most of the times she comes across as a hormonal teenager than the scion of a royal family!

wow aunty wt a beautiful analysis👏 !! enjoyed it😳 !! now m just waiting for jalal n jodha face off after marriage😉 !! i hope kekta mam will handle it properly !! 😕

Mansi,

As for the first part, yes, I agree. Sharifuddin could well have thought out the squeeze technique on his own.

But as for the latter, I am of a different mind. :Let me try and explain why, and maybe you will agree with me as well.

For one thing, to be married to the Emperor's beloved sister is a rare prize for any subedar, and would have been beyond Sharifuddin's wildest dreams.When he set out to get Jalal the nayaab tohfa of Amer, all that Sharifuddin, who has earlier been at the edge of Jalal's shamsheer for what was seen as presumption on his part in trying to advise the Shahenshah, was hoping for was to get some brownie points with Agra To end up with the very great honour of becoming the Shahenshah's brother-in-law must have been manna from Heaven for him.

So, far from being resentful of Jalal vis a vis the dismantling of his own victory over Amer, Sharifuddin would be looking forward, like any rational Mughal subedar, to moving to Agra and proximity to the centre of power, or at least to a bigger subedari than that of Mewat. It is exactly like an IAS officer wanting to wind up a tenure in the districts and move to the State capital, and then to New Delhi!

Amer to him would not be an end in itself, but only a means to an end, gaining Jalal's favour. He has managed to do that and more, for he has achieved an end that he would never have even thought of. So why would he be anything but profoundly grateful to Allah for his meherbani?

Secondly, Sharifuddin is a standard issue subedar, He is not, like Adham Khan, the Emperor's foster brother. So any idea of resenting anything the Shahenshah might choose to do would never occur to him. It is the feudal mindset that you have to keep in mind, and the ever present fear of an absolute ruler.

Lastly, I have very great doubts about Jalal ever seeing the foolish and ineffective Bharmal as a father figure. Of course he will extend all due respect to him, but that will be about it. Bharmal is no Bairam Khan, and what real admiration can a ruler of Jalal's calibre have for a king like Bharmal, who is lacking in both dignity and capability? In fact, if it was not for his good fortune in having a daughter like Jodha, he would have been confined to the dustbin of history, and rightly so.

Shyamala

Originally posted by: skanda12

Shyamala:

I am of the same mind as you regarding the POSSIBILITY of a conspiracy being there between Jalal-Sharifuddin-Chugtai to "get Bharmal into a corner regarding Jodha". Those same kind of thoughts occurred to me too, whether Jalal must have been behind Sharifuddin's decisions to put the money squeeze on Bharmal and the decision not to execute the sons of Bharmal.

Eventually I decided in my own mind that Jalal may not have been in on any conspiracy, but these thoughts did perhaps most definitely strike Sharifuddin himself - who then decided to play the games that he did with Bharmal.

See, I felt that there must be some reason for that scene we had long ago when Sharifuddin asks Jalal where he went missing for three days, and Jalal admits he went to Amer to see the place and the famous Rajkumari Jodha (for whom he openly betrayed a special feeling).

Even when Sharifuddin later is approached by Sujamal to fight against Amer, Sharifuddin is seen to be clearly remembering his talks with Jalal, and he is shown as thrilled with the opportunity to "please Jalal" in order to lobby for a higher position at court for himself after Bairam's death.

Thus it could well be that Sharifuddin decided that Bharmal should be squeezed monetarily and his sons not put to the knife, so that Jalal may have the best chances of getting both Amer and its grand girl!

Okay, there is one more issue that strikes me here, and that is the possible changing dynamics between Sharifuddin and Bharmal - leading to the possibility of bad blood between Sharifuddin and Jalal as well. Sharifuddin may well have thought that Jalal will grab Amer and "decamp" with Jodha and not exactly marry her. By agreeing to marry Jodha, and to not grab Amer, Jalal has done two things Sharifuddin would hate him for:

1. He has reduced the success of the Amer war - and Sharifuddin - by disclaiming Amer and letting Bharmal continue to rule, and he has satisfied himself with just one wife in return. And all that he is giving Sharifuddin also is one wife of his own (Bakshi Bano, who hardly looks like a prize) and nothing more.

2. Jalal has now put Bharmal far above Sharifuddin - he is the Sasurji that Jalal will now likely respect as a demi-father-figure for himself, and Jalal may well give Bharmal all kinds of gloating and ordering rights over Sharifuddin.

So in a way, Sharifuddin is left looking at the debris of his Amer war and discovering that he himself has not got as much from it as he wanted, and if anything, he has even less than he started out with.