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I was not planning to do an analysis today - but, the episode was such that I couldn't hold back- and its turned out longer than usual! So that says it for the episode!👏 What was there NOT to like today? Mashallah!😃
COURT
Badshah Jalal-ud-din Mohammed announcement with the Mughal music in the background always makes me sit up in awe - only this time the man that walked in was not a majestic king - pagdi on head - shamsheer on side. It was a man weighed down by grief, by betrayal AND by the harsh reminder that he was NO closer to becoming a father!
The brief glare between Jalal and BB as he stepped towards his throne was a beautifully executed silent version of 'You too Brutus'
He couldn't get himself to punish her and within the rights of his law, he granted Jodha the right to do so.
Jodha's initial points at court made absolute reason 'She has committed a crime and she should definitely be punished for it...BB's crimes were graver since she was one of our own...'
However, her following statement that 'Your punishment is that I forgave you...' does not hold good as far as I'm concerned.😊
True, she did state that the worst punishment for a family member is 'living-with-the-guilt' bit. However, if Shareef were to return and BB reunited with him in future - all this guilt shall vanish in no time and they'd get back to perpetrating grave mistakes. Besides, letting a criminal go scot-free sets a needless precedent for other closer members to continue committing crimes. What if the person who did the crimes had no sense of guilt at all?
Anyway, I'm glad Jodha was at least stern when referring to BB.
The most beautiful aspects of Jodha's speech were not the punishment bit itself, but hearing words of praise that held mighty hints of 'apnaapan' in them. She referred to Jalal's position/place in his family twice - when she spoke about the wrath he endured from HB and when he referred to him as 'pitaa-samaan' i.e. 'father-like brother'! This is a major step in her (not just understanding) but acknowledging Jalal's relationships with his family and the amount of emotions he invests in them! [Aka - a form of track progression *ting ting*😃]
Jalal, though shocked - accepts the punishment in court to keep up his word
'Even though Jodha Begum has forgiven her, I cannot do so...I absolve all ties with Bakshi Bano' he announces thereafter 'She is my sister no longer!'
JODHA-MOTHI
A happy Mothi and a happy Jodha makes for a happy viewer!😃
JALAL-JODHA
'Often, you approach me with questions...today I come here with a question' he asked her grimly - looking down. The very fact that now the balances had been titled the other way up!
'What makes you happier...forgiving her or punishing her?' she asks
'A question doesn't answer another question' he retaliates angrily
Thereafter, Jodha goes on to explain - like an adorable student all about the various nuances of love - a lesson, she'd barely learnt yesterday and in which she's quite a novice herself!😆
Anyway, the light-hearted music and the semi-convinced expressions on Jalal's face as his Begum went on about the 'purity' of love between two lovers was noteworthy! Not because, it made sense in lieu of BB's case -in fact, it made NO sense whatsoever justifying BB's stance by giving it the explanation of 'love' - but, that Jodha had acknowledged such love existed and it was something she was alien to!😊
'When I met her I pitied her and was jealous too!' Jodha mutters. An already-confused Jalal looks up in alarm!
Jodha, even speeches on love you give with such needlepoint accuracy...when are you going to drop off your nerdy glasses and let yourself be swept away by the passions and emotions it brings along!
When Jalal tries refuting Jodha's love-waala claims with the fact that relationships play no part in meting justice - he couldn't meet eyes with her even for a second. The extent of hurt all this betrayal had given him was paramount and yet, we could see he couldn't get himself to speak or wish ill of his own sister.
'She hurt me, but I've forgiven her ...why can't you do so?' Jodha questions him.
However, she wouldn't realize that the agony is far far more when YOUR VERY OWN brings it upon you. Sweetheart, do you remember how far you'd been hurt when your own mother refused to take you back to Amer - that, she'd done for your own good. Here, BB's deeds were unadulterated betrayal and nothing less!
Again, the most beautiful lines out of all this had to be -
'I've already punished her...I've broken all ties with her'
'If words were enough to break ties, we both would be having NO relationship now WHATSOEVER!' [Awww 😳 So our very much not-in-love couple do acknowledge they have a relationship as of now - even if its of hatred?]
The observation of 'tears' sitting at the brink of his eyes brought about another revelation from her end -
'You're such a liar Shehenshah...if you had no heart, then why would you have tears in your eyes'
And that line was ended with the slightest hint of a blush. This scene has given me the confidence that when Jalal is in for his next major heartbreak, Jodha will be there by his side to comfort him - none else!
JALAL'S SPEECH
'Why will my head hang in shame? I've done no wrong...I've only saved an innocent from a criminal...people may empathize or taunt me...but, I wouldn't let Jodha Begum be made a mockery of!' he explains to MA before announcing his decision to make the speech
Had I been able to do it, I'd have given these lines and his execution a standing ovation!👏
For starters, this was a different scene to any I've seen so far- so, the novelty factor itself gave it brownie points!
Watching an Emperor make a public announcement to clarify the issues going on in the palace - to quell gossip and thus stop defamation of his family - was awe-inspiring!
After all, the subjects would have been eager to hear news of waaris too - in a convoluted way, their lives depended on it! Therefore, Jalal coming forth to tell them the truth - though difficult - made absolute sense!
The words in the speech and the convincing expressions with which he stated them actually made me forget that all this was actually about body-heat and blue-vomit in the first place! It was so realistic and touching!
Two other highlights of this scene had to be
1) MA's self-talk in sympathy of Jalal
2) Jodha's evident pride - her tears of happiness at the fact that her husband had come out of the grief to spread his arms out to his subjects and accept them as his children!
PRECAP
OMG I'm dying to hear Ruqaiyya's answers to Jodha's questions here!
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