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Ok like every one else I too obsess about JA and my favorite time pass is to watch some of my favorite scene and dissect them layer by layer and then evaluate the emotions and expressions and feelings and then smile like a fool aimlessly for hours. 😳
So I will write about a scene and you all can please put in your inputs and can also write about your favorite scene and why you like it and what exactly touches you in that scene.
I will write about, yes no guesses, the 'aarti' scene! This always tops my list for various reasons, acting, well editing, camera work, background music, expressions, emotions, gestures, deep meaning and also for its conception and direction.
What I love is Jodha is doing her puja nad Jalal exercising far from her but yet his eyes are on her. In that episode just before that they had a showdown because Jodha refused to lie to his mom about fake pregnancy and because of that the discontent was still showing on Jalal's expression while exercising and yet his eyes didn't leave her for a moment. 😃
Jodha finishes her puja and then hesitatingly thought of giving the 'aarti' to him. For me this was a huge step from Jodha's side because being the straight forward righteous person she is I didn't think after that showdown earlier she would bother to do anything for him but she does and there we get one of the best scenes ever.
She goes to give the 'aarti' to him. Initially he was surprised to see her there and then the puzzle started for him. What was interesting was he didn't reject her nor did he walk away but left his exercising stuff for her and attended to her.
Loved the eye conversations there, she gestures with her eyes about the 'aarti' and he too understands that and looks down and realizes what she is saying only to think she wants him to take the 'tilak'. I will applaud the CV's here because they showed Jalal's ignorance about hindu rituals and how Jodha acquaints him with these norms and customs. And as a true sign of Akbar they also portray his acceptance of all other religions, his tolerance for other beliefs and traditions which later we also saw in his stand about going to the temple with Jodha followed by Jodha's religion change fiasco track. That temperament was first based on that 'aarti' scene. I know he agreed to Jodha's conditions before marriage but here in the show I could make out he was in a state of compulsion to win Jodha over by hook or crook, he just had to get her to himself and that obsession played a role in his acceptance of her conditions. But the 'aarti' scene was completely voluntary and as I said he could have walked away but he didn't.
I am happy for the voice over because we know exactly what they were thinking. The initial confusion was endearing to watch because that was genuine, Jalal really didn't know how to take 'aarti' blessings and Jodha realized that and volunteered to model it for him. From now the fun begins.
Jalal's flirting and teasing nature took over from here. He understood exactly what Jodha said and how to take the 'aarti' but he chose to find something out for himself as far as Jodha was concerned. He deliberately tries to incorrectly take the 'aarti' and puts his hand over the fire directly all the time observing Jodha acutely seeing whether this affect her in any way or not. Whether she reacts for his getting burnt from the fire, it was a test for Jodha's compassion for him, whether she feels bad or not and the moment she realized he is getting hurt she immediately removed the 'thaal' from his palm. And notice the smirk that forms Jalal's face seeing her concern. Superb!! 😃 He understood deep down somewhere Jodha cares for him and his well being, she was not nonchalant and indifferent for his safe existence.
He wanted to see exactly that but Jodha doesn't realize his intention. She thinks he is unable to do anything properly other than fight and pass judgments and punishments. Girl you are so wrong, you have no idea what this guy is made of! 😆
She then says she will do it for him and does the proper gesture and goes to give it to him and there lo and behold, he stops her hand and holds it and again deliberately holds it trying to see whether his touch affects her or not and yes it does affect her! She gets uncomfortable trying to get her hand out of his grip and he loved to see her discomfort. Yes the hoty toity, high nosed, stiff necked righteous Princess does get affected by him and his touch and his proximity! 😃 Bravo CV's it was brilliant!
Once she gets her hand out of his grip, immediately both of them tries to save the lamp from going out, a divine gesture getting both to save it symbolizing both will be together step by step trying to save their lives, togetherness, relationship, marriage, future...in short the whole eternity! They are meant to be together. And they did it two times, their hands playing the tango and then he deliberately shows her how he understood the first time she showed him to take the 'aarti', he was not dumb and he was just playing with her. All along he never for once stopped wavering his glance from her face and all along she keeps her eyes down unable to look at him out of discomfort. But when he takes the 'aarti' properly a slight hint of smile appears on her face and he notices hat too and gingerly she tries to look up at him and his smirk was there all along pasted on his face with an unwavering glance directed towards her.
The moment she lifts her eyes to look at him there comes this maid and every time my finger itches to throttle her neck because I so wanted to see what would have followed if they were not disturbed!
Jodha quietly leaves from there but Jalal's whole being at that moment was only and only with his new 'nakhchadi' begum and his lingering glance at her retreating back conveys it clearly. When she was out of sight, her lingering touch was still felt in his palm and he forms a fist to save the feeling and then put it on his forehead noticing the soot marks on is palm. All along every time, except for once in the recent fake pregnancy track, Jalal always grasps Jodha's hand and strongly holds it in his grip without letting her go and here too that gesture is done to save the feel of her touch and not to let her go from his mind and temperament!
Touching one's head we all know the significance, we do it in respect and here Jalal did exactly that conveyed respect for Jodha and her belief, her God, her religion, her personality, her character, her honor, HER in general.
What a fabulous scene this was CV's! Whoever thought of it deserves an Oscar! And most importantly after all the emotions and feelings and flirtations and teasings I could also see passion, desire and want in Jalal's eyes for Jodha! This scene has so many layers and so many messages that it still gives me goose bumps whenever I watch it and I do it several times every day! 😉😃 Fabulous acting by both Rajat and Paridhi! 👏
Ok done! I would love to read what other implications you all have for this scene and if you saw anything different or more to it. You can write about this scene or any other favorite of yours and I will try give my input on that as well.
Just thought of immersing myself in JA a little more than normal! 😆 Thanks for reading.
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