Weekend Analysis Thread 5:Love vs Possessiveness

Wow, Jyoti, what a fab analysis! 👏👏👏😃😃😃You've remembered and covered almost everything of importance in these last five episodes!

Jalal and his various interactions with various people has been the star of the week's show for me. I thought Rajat was at his supreme best acting. In each interaction though it was brief (except the Bharmal one that was long) there was an overt outward display of behaviour from Jalal and also a covert set of hidden feelings (revealed mostly in his eyes) that I suspected seething inside him. Here's how I saw his character in interactions:

1. Jalal and Bharmal: I need not repeat that whole scene here of how Jalal first cornered Bharmal shrewdly into accepting the rishta, and later when he saw that Bharmal had decided to give Jodha's hand in marriage to Jalal, how the same Jalal became a picture of exquisite graciousness towards his prospective father-in-law!

The overt Jalal: He came across as a supreme strategist. He took the risk of first hurting Bharmal with his barbs and may even have lost the batlle if Bharmal had chickened out. But he would have had the dubious satisfaction of getting Amer and maybe having to then run away with Jodha without a shaadi if he wanted her also.

The covert Jalal: In his heart (yes he has a big one!) it was a Jodha-fixation all the way. Not a running away with Jodha but a respectful marriage with her. He had his own pangas with her but not for a moment did he want her to lose face, dignity or status as a princess. Jalal was clear of the priorities in his heart. He did not want Amer, he wanted Jodha, and he would have her with nothing less than the highest respect.

What I loved about this scene: He was calling her Shahzade till about midway through the scene, but then after the alliance was sealed, he just started calling her "Jodha" in that sexy voice of his. The way he says her name curdles my heart!

2. Jalal and Maham: Maham tries her level best to dissuade Jalal from the marriage by offering namkeens instead of congratulatory sweets. Jalal takes more handfuls of the namkeens saying how he will relish having namkeen in his life instead of the same old mithai all the time! He also offer s to build a separate palace for the "namkeen" although she must obey all rules like other begums and even do "Shaenshah ka intezaar!"

The overt Jalal: He sounds and looks like a hard husband imposing rules on his womenfolk and showing even Maham that she cannot interfere in his extremely personal decisions.

The covert Jalal: He is like a little boy just waiting for the "chatpata Jodha" to enter his life, and he himself wants to keep her separate from the harem crowd. In his own mind, I suspect, Jodha is a rare jewel that he wants to possessively keep for himself. He does not want her to be reduced to just another harem conquest!

What I loved about this scene: The way this big idiot Maham thought "What a clever idea by Jalal to put Jodha in a golden pinjra so that he can crush her!" This is where history's idiots are born, in moments of miscalculation!

3. Jalal and Pirbaba: That was a lovely scene just after the alliance with Bharmal when Jalal visits the dargah and meets the Pirbaba. Jalal is full of his wish to conquer and rule the whole of Hindustan and he credits his success so far to his own might. The Pirbaba on the other hand talks of a tumult in his personal life and the hand of God in all his successes which he will soon find out.

The overt Jalal: On the outward side he looks as if everything he said to the Pirbaba he was very confident of ' he talked of his own self-confidence, his grand wishes which he will surely achieve etc.

The covert Jalal: If he was so sure of himself, why did he go to the dargah at all? Inside him there is clearly a lot of turmoil. He has awakened to some new realities about himself after Bairam's death, Adam's and Mahamanga's dhoka, Sharif's Amer war and even Bharmal's sudden visit and the new prospect of marrying Jodha. He needs reassurance - for his world is already halfway upside down.

What I loved about this scene: The Pirbaba message about the hand of fate seemed significant. Going forward, even if the whole household plots against Jodha and Jalal, I feel in the nick of time, each time, the hand of fate will intervene to save them and to actually turn the evil plots into self-goals by the plotters.

4. Jalal and the Banjaras: Their songs of Jodha's beauty fill Jalal's heart and ears with honey. He remembers all the scenes of Jodha's utterly captivating beauty and not once does he remember the sword she unleashed in that jail. But later he threatens to cut off the Banjaras tongues if they sing the same song again!

The overt Jalal: He sounds angry that the sweet song should actually praise here, when she is his enemy. She hates him and it feels awkward to hear her spoken of in such respectful venerative terms.

The covert Jalal: He sounds possessive like a jealous husband over Jodha and it looks like he does not want anyone else singing or hearing her praises but himself. In his mind, she is already his, and only he can enjoy her beauty hereafter.

What I loved about this scene: Jalal is still a young boy, and is in the throes of his life's first love. This love is just splattering out of his mouth as crude words such as "I will cut off your tongues". If he knew how to handle his growing love with maturity he would have used more shrewd and tactful words to silence the singers rather than to act with such open brusqueness. But anyway the vehemence with which he spoke betrays the churning in his heart. The words just popped out of him, exposing his real feelings!

5. Jalal and Ruqaiya: There was no scene with them together but that in itself was the big message! He does not believe it necessary to inform Ruqaiya about this new marriage and in fact is laughing at the thought of the surprise the whole harem will get when the Hindu begum is brought home!

The overt Jalal: He sounds like he doesn't care much of the opinions of Ruqaiya and gang and they are after all his minions, even if she is a Begum, who will have to accept his diktaats whether they like it or not.

The covert Jalal: He clearly does not want anyone putting a spoke in his marriage with Jodha - so he prefers not telling anyone who may have the power to show either underhand tactics or open dissent or tantrums regarding this shaadi. Also he has subtly replaced Ruqaiyas's position as his "best friend". He now prefers to have no "best friends" however well-meaning, who may have the power or pull on emotional blackmails to prevent the new shaadi. Jodha scores one, Ruqaiya scores zero, already!

What I loved about this scene: Jalal neatly covered up his intention to not tell Rqqaiaya as if it was a joke he was planning to surprise Ruqaiya. Maham could say nothing in opposition to that, because he gave the impression that it was all just a big joke. Under that joke was serious intention.

6. Jalal and Sharif: Clearly Sharif is now pissed off that the succcess of the Amer war has been squandered. Sharif's hard work has been neutralised. Bharmal has now been elevated to father-in-law. The captured sons are to be set free (and Jalal even insulted Sharif on this matter). Jodha, the prize catch is becoming Mallika of Hindustan. And Jalal, who came closer to Sharif as brother in law has now gone farther from him!

The overt Jalal: Angry with Sharif for disobeying orders. Clearly puts Sharif below Bharmal and Co. Asserts himself as the King, without letting his Subehdars do their own thing!

The covert Jalal: I think he suspeccts Sharif will not be a straightforward man going into the future. The way Sharif has disobeyed orders shows that when he wants he opposes even the Shahenshah without fear. Jalal has got his first taste of Sharif as potential enemy and sees the need to show him his aukaath immediately, before Sharif starts thinking he is too big since he is now the brother-in-law.

What I loved about this scene: The way Maham apppears at every delicate moment to fan the flames of whoever opposes Jalal! Hallf the enemies of Jalal would not have the full guts to go against him until Maham gives them that encouragement! Jalal has only one real enemy: Maham. Like a bhootnie she is in all dirty places!

7. Jalal and the Rajvanshi tent pitcher: Jalal is quick to spot a killer-spy in the midst of his tent, when even his own useless soldiers do not suspect the thief. He even removes that man's knife without his knowledge. He accosts the man to see that his killing intentions arise from his utter dislike of Jodha marrying Jalal. Jalal defies him to commit murder but then releases him to become a message carrier to Bharmal on the date of the wedding.

The overt Jalal: It looks on the outside like Jalal has handled a spy with both ruthlessness and a newfound mercy. This is a bit rare for Jalal.

The covert Jalal: He has sized up the situation at Amer. He senses now that Bharmal must be having lots of opposition to the Jodha-Jalal marriage alliance he has made. He therefore very quickly makes up his mind to hasten the wedding so that Bharmal has to face as least oppoisiton as possible from within his clan. He sends the same fake tent-pitcher with the paigam, sealing the marriage at the earliest date.

What I loved about this scene: In his eyes, it looked as if Jalal secretly loved the fact that there are such brave soldiers among the Rajputs willing to sacrifice their own lives to save Jodha. Jalal defied that tent-pitcher but he also liked his valour and his loyalty to the Rajput credo and to Jodha.

Accha, one last word about Jodha. This week was a strange one where despite numerous opportunities to know the truth of her marriage to Jalal, somehow the truth evaded Jodha. There can be one opinion among some forum members that if Jodha had known earlier that Jalal was the bridegroom she could have done many things: she could have refused, thrown a tantrum, drunk poison, run to Kalimata for safety, etc etc.

But it is my feeling that the fact Jodha still does not know who her bridgeroom is is immaterial. Whether she knew earlier or later (only in the muh dikhayi), her father's word to Jalal is sealed. Jodha has no real alternatives if she values Amer, her father and his word. May she would have had two more days' time to reconcile to the idea instead of running from the muh dikhayi ceremony.

One thing Jodha has shown throughout is that she has a very resilient character. She survivved Suryabhan's death and bounced back. She survived Sujamal's treachery and bounced back. She will similarly lay some sharths on Jalal and bounce back. One more thing: Jodha has always called the Shahenshah by his first name as "Jalal". She is not afraid of him. She is not intimidated by his position. She will easily recover from the situation and she may even start thriving on it!

Now hopefully we will have lots of days on first name terms. I hope to hear him say "Jodha" in that gorgeous voice, and I hope to hhear her say "Jalal" as if she wants to eat him!

Originally posted by: LuvMishalRaheja

Awesome post Jyoti di . Lovved reading it n now can't wait for the Jodha-Jalal wedding .

The CVs should better focus on their love story from now on . 😆

Originally posted by: SonyaBlade

Well we are going to have that dreaming scene, where Jalal and jodha are both on a horse together. But the question is, which one of them is going to be dreaming...it better not be jodha...

oh the wait of this weekend is driving me insane...