Posted:
WOW! These CVs really see-saw with the quality of their episodes don't they. Are they the same people who dished out Thursday's and Friday's episodes? Today I saw an episode that made up for two dismally directed ones. Even then, one could witness many editing faults today. However, that's something I'm prepared to overlook as long as a sensible story is in place - and that is what the 100th episode gave us - a sensible storyline! It connected all the dots of a puzzle that till this evening only seemed like a mish-mash of pieces!
Today's episode gave us the entire picture and set the scene for what seems like a new chapter or phase in the life story of Balaji's Jalal and Jodha!
[Also, the JA CVs would probably be the only ones who would know how to wrap up such important tracks within the span of 2-3 episodes. Their speed is completely different to that of any other serial's😆]
Anyway, back to the episode- How many felt at absolute peace when watching the episode?
I did! I didn't find anything out of place today or anyone's stance questionable. No to mention - the number of question marks that were answered!
JALAL
Jalal, being Jalal - the Shehenshah - proved that his 'word' was even greater than his 'takht' or status and went so far as to announce that he could give up the throne for his lil Rahim if it ever came to that!
MAHAM
Maham was her usual self - wanting Jodha to convert!
RUQAIYYA
Strangely enough, I found Ruqaiyya quite justified in her stance too. Now many may have a different stance to what I have - but, I very modestly state my viewpoints on this matter. I'm a staunch & religious Hindu myself. Just supposing I had a husband of another religion whom I didn't love, but who'd done so much for my family in the recent past. Supposing, his position/power/status were in a jeopardy because of my religion! Obviously, all this would come with the additional burden of peace of the country being risked in the form of rebellion, disturbance, bloodshed etc which could indirectly cause the death of many of my own fellow people. If such had been the case, I'd have agreed to convert without much ado. [Point to note that I don't know that a saviour like Baba Chisti would come to my help]
Therefore, Ruqaiyya's stance today seem justified to me. However, I'm a moderate by nature and generally prefer paths that would bring about peace in a household/state/nation/country etc. I can totally understand if everyone else does NOT think so!😃
JODHA
I ALSO humbly do accept that I can understand when many others would understand/empathize with Jodha i.e. that religion/dharma and self-choice/respect is above all! Additionally, being a queen of the 16th century, she would not have had much exposure to another religion in the manner that media and inter-cultural interaction allows us today. The whole concept would have been alien to her. So, her dread/fear also was quite realistic. That and the fact that a fictional tale between a Hindu queen and Mughal King sounds more novel/tantalizing!😃
(Though one must also remember that many other queens of her time and even women of today do convert to their husband's religion - so, Hira Kunwari was actually quite fortunate to have had a husband like Jalal in that respect.)
Thankfully, she appeared dignified in her state of alarm i.e. without breaking out into another fuming bout of lectures - instead, she handed over all the decisions to her Ammijaan!
COURT
Just before Jodha was about to kneel down to convert, I had goosebumps on my hand - I could see how disturbed she was by Hameeda Baanu's verdict. While Hameeda Banu's latter explanations/plan didn't cut it for me, the rest of it was good enough to bury this loop-hole!Had I not known the spoilers, I would have been even more enthralled by that scene! 😳
Following the arrival of the Muslim saint, I loved everything that the genial respectable man said. Though the juxta-posed direction between Chisti and Shehenshah could have been better, his words were very touching indeed.
'Form a nation that is based on 'love' not one that is governed by political and religious sentiments!' the baba had advised Shehenshah
'When the Great Saint Himself trusts the Shehenshah, who are we to intervene? We don't know if it was Allah or your Bhagvaan who stopped us from committing this misdeed- but, compelling another one to accept another religion is a crime!' the Imams resolved
It was all beautifully executed - and for some strange reason, the court scene didn't even feel rushed!😊
BODY HEAT
Thankfully, the Shehenhah was a delightful mix of all 'positive' things Jalal today when he came forth to visit Jodha in her chamber that culminated into an explanation of what happened the other fateful night.
His explanations had hints of impishness while his manner was cordial all through. His smiles might have been gentle, but his intentions were tinted with hues of mischievous vindictiveness.
'I would have explained it the other day, but I realized that you'd assumed many many things...far beyond what'd happened...now, how could I not take an advantage of it? How could I let this opportunity go?'😆
He had to get back at her for NOT trusting him and for QUESTIONING him over and over again on this issue - and this was the manner in which he did so. This adds another point to him in this match between Miya-Biwi - remember the 'getting even' bit? Any time she troubles him, he gets back at her fair/unfair, square and even!
Thus, he let her mind be muddled with confusion for a day and a half- he let her assume things - he let her ponder on it back and forth till the whole matter was a hazy mess!😛
THEN, he tells it all - it was nothing more than the fact that he'd wrapped her up in black cloth to keep her warm! [Though I fail to understand why only the Shauhar could have done this and not her maids! Or was it something Jalal thought up to save her dignity/modesty?]
Anyway, I'm glad its done with for now.
By the way - did everyone notice? Jodha was angry - as expected - but, not as angry as her usual self when she questioned him on it. For an issue that would be of monumental significance to her, she was strangely collected and composed. Her anger was mostly evident only in those hazel eyes of hers! Why was it so? Was it because she'd seen the honourable support he'd meted her during the religious issue? Was she somehow still convinced that he'd kept his word and not touched her?
Anyway, some of our forum friends had supposed that the conclusion of the body heat issue had been kept mum so that it can be intertwined with the religious issue - the basis of both being that of trust, Zubaan and honour.
As far as the execution of body heat is concerned it did leave a lot to be desired - but I can now see the intentions behind it and it was all novel!
As for Vachan - looks like Jalal himself has accepted the fact that he gave his zabaan on the matter of 'touching' Jodha. Therefore, unless Jo Ma'am gives the nod, the wheels of their vehicle of a physical relationship between the two are not going to be set in motion any time soon [And Thank God for that...we don't want it any time soon...😛lots more nok jhok to be seen!]
Why did Jalal lie to Ruqaiyya?🤔
All right he didn't really lie...However, he wasn't entirely truthful either. Now I understand why Jalal behaved mischievously with Jodha - hiding the truth from her for some time to give her a small punitive-styled pinch! However, why did he lie to Ruqaiyya?
We know that in future Jodha and Jalal are to become one. However, can someone tell me why did he lie at this stage? Why that semi-mischeivous smile on Jalal's lips -he knew he was omitting some important details when he told Ruqaiyya that he spent the night with Jodha!
Precap
I am REALLY looking forward to this now and I don't say this for many precaps!
Seeing how all the issues have been ironed out satisfactorally - seeing how the news has turned out favourably for our royal couple (and esp Jo Begum) - seeing how the precap shows a friendly Jodha - This has to be the best Diwali gift for a true JA fan!
Udne Ki Aasha
