Take 5: Top 5 countdown for August 28th, 2014

First, time for celebration: The episode sure was not cheerful but first let's pause for the celebration of Jodha Akbar reaching No. 1 in the TRPs spot. I always expected the climax of the Atifa track and unraveling of Maham Anga's truth to increase the TRPs and I had a feeling the CVs were waiting for Mahabarath to end and a specific high-point in Diya aur Baati that is now complete.

The dip before the climax was similar to the Ben track, when people didn't want to see the details between Jalal-Ben / Jalal-Atifa and wanted to get to the climax. The rise of TRPs is also testament to folks being equally eager to see Jalal win battles and save the day ... and the rise of new show Jamai Raja to the top 5 also suggests growing interest in male-centric tracks.

So, I hope CVs continue to balance between Jalal and Jodha centric tracks ...we need both and balance will be optimal.

A side note:

Today was a perfect example of how ... the moment the CVs deviate from history, the quality drops big time. They deviated from history in three places ... sourced from Akbarnama (Translated by Persian Packum)

- Maham Anga was resigned in her fate AND

- Maham Anga was not allowed to see Adham Khan's body (for a very important reason):

When Mham Anaga knew for certain that her son had been put to death, she by virtue of her wisdom preserved her respect for His Majesty and did not complain or lament, but she became inwardly wounded by a thousand fatal blows. The colour left her face, and she wanted to visit the body. His Majesty the Shhinshh in regard to her long service spoke comforting words to her and consoled her somewhat, but did not allow her to go there in order that she might not behold her son in such a condition. In accordance with orders the two bodies were sent to Delhi that day. He addressed lofty monitions and heart-affecting exhortations to that wise old woman and permitted her to go to her son's house next day. That wise mourner went and expressed her resignation, and submitted to the Divine decree.

- And the twins death, Jalal just took with his stride as his fate / destiny and not a curse

These two unique pearls of the ocean of holiness, returned to the ample domain of the other world after one month. They flung down the coin of their lives for their father. H.M. felt grieved at the departure of those two early fruits, but trod the pleasant path of acquiescence and resignation, for to the farseeing there is no remedy save submission and resignation against the inevitable Divine decrees.

And you know, all these natkiya rupantars were done to increase the drama quotient! And that is what is more disappointing.

The one piece of history they did stay true to was Atgah Khan's son coming for revenge ... and that definitely was the better parts of today's episode.

Onto today's take:

Today's take is dedicated to the sadness of today ... and today's proceedings made me feel in the mood of the late Jagjit Singh's beautiful ghazals ... so it is themed across his ghazals.

(1) Shaam se aankh mein nami see hein ... aap ki kami see hai ... (There was in a sadness in my eyes ... and I missed you)

Completely , emotionally and physically exhausted he was ... he turned to the one person he knew could provide him solace: Jodha Begum. He calls out to her.

He is surprised to see her back off ... and the person looking for emotional support, Jalal, is in turn was asking if she was okay.

He was so exhausted he did not even realize what a horrendous sight he was ... as he did in the mirror and wondering who had he become in front of everyone. And he was shocked and departed angrily ...

I know Jodha was surprised to see Jalal this way ... and I liked how she finally realized that Jalal did need support ... but what did she do about it? She went after him to make sure he was not doing anything worse. My take: Jodha, you have a ways to go, but you will get there.

And I am not sure, what stopped Jodha from running to Jalal in this time of pain ... or perhaps, she knew he needed to take it all out himself

(2)... Dafn kardo ham eke saas bhi na le (Bury me so that I cannot take a breath)

Such was the pain ... suffocating pain and he tried to cleanse his blood soaked body of the blood and every meaningful moment and memory of the day

He was trying to bury his pain away ... the death of Atgah Saab and the consequent killing of Adham Khan. The blood reminded him of why he had to kill Adham. But, killing Adham, did nothing to reduce the pain of losing Atgah Khan.

And the screams were heart-wrenching ... how else could the pain that was suffocating him be released.

(2) Chitti na koi sandeesh , jaane woh kaun sa desh jaha tum chalegaye (Not a message, nothing ... wonder where you have left me and gone)

A tearful farewell to Atgah Khan ... the flashbacks and emerging tears as he remembered the guidance and loyalty of Atgah Khan ... a prayer to him that his soul be in peace. As he got closer to Atgah's body, the tears could no longer control themselves. Who would be in his life now to guide him was his question?

Rajat's Jalal as always nailed the scene ... what more can I say.

(3) Koi faryaad tere dil mein dabi ho jaisi

Tune Ankhon Se Koi Bhaa Kahi Ho Jaise

Jaagte Jaagte Ek Umar Kati Ho Jaise

Jaan Baaki Hai Magar Saans Ruki Ho Jaise

(As if some request is hidden in your heart

As if you have said something through your eyes

As if a lifetime has passed while we stayed awake

As if there is still life but the breath has stopped) ...

As a human, you could relate to Maham Anga's denial on her son , begging to see her son, and subsequent pain on finally realizing that she had truly lost her son.

The irony is that Maham Anga always flew high in her "dhood ka karz" but today she could not get back the most precious thing for her: her son Adham Khan. In her flight, she lost the thing that was most precious to her.

Jalal's reactions were mention-worthy in this scene ... as he felt Maham Anga's pain as well. It is amazing how Jalal always gives support to everyone in their times of sadness ... no matter what they have given back to him.

And Ashwini's Maham Anga was apt in her sadness today ... until she became OTT again in the precap.

(5) Yeh daulat bhi lelo and yeh shaurat bhi lelo ... magar much ko lauta de who bachpan ki saathi (Take away my wealth and power, but return those moments of my childhood)

As I stare at the precap, I just shuddered at the cost of being a Shehenshah. How much you had to lose to be fair and rule ... you would always be staring at the face of enemies and ill-curses.

How shocking it must be to see the Badi Amma who you loved since childhood ... cursing you to lose your own children.

But, Jalal/Akbar's destiny and kismet rose above all those who wished ill for him and that is all that matters! No matter what dramatic natkiya rupantars the CVs show.

So, thoughts on the episode and my take?

UnRes

Divya the episode was OK.. Jalaal came for solace, but Jo herself is in shock and fear seeing Jalaal in blood , at least Jo realized she needs to give Jalaal support and run behind him..I think from hamam scene Jo is keeping an eye on Jallu, she should have give support to Jalaal when he cried out in hamaam... But I liked the way HB & Jalaal gave support crying for Atgah.. MA is the most venomous, so much cruel that she gave cruse to Jalaal...

I think from no onwards JO in will in the fear of MA curse, when it did turn out true she will be devastated the more.. I think for Jalaal the ounce of sympathy and pain he has for MA will wipe off..

I am waiting to if CVS will keep MA alive after twins birth or she will die in the middle itself ?

I liked ur take today dunno y today's episode didn't work for u I did for me though 😆

Hi divya

Looking at himself in the mirror he realised what Adham Khan had done unto him. Rajat was too good in the hamam today, ...err..., I mean acting wise.😉 The wish to cleanse himself of his doodh-bro's blood and his own errors in letting him err and the consequences it wrought made him scream out desperately to what he lost - his father figure and most loyal aide.

I found Ashwini extremely good yesterday. We could actually feel for her yesterday though we always knew that she was evil. No wonder she manipulated Jalal all this while. But today it was an overdose and the impact was lost.

Jodha had declared in the early days of her marriage that she has and will have no fear of Jalal at all, but she admitted to her fear today and was peeping into the hamam like a mouse, after all her declarations of no fear ever against anyone.😆 But I was so pleased with Jodha today that she didn't give any paap-punya lectures. Good girl. Also, she awoke to facts sooner and sensed that she needed to support him.

divi, lovely as usual! aziz koka the actor needs to work on his acting skills after watching brilliance of rajat and chetan he was not even 10% of it..at least MS can act even though he is so young!..jijianga's cry was not at all convincing..in fact it made me laugh!..the opening with bad actors is not a good idea..overdose of maham was too much to digest! how i wish we could have seen more of jodha consoling jalal at some point..! rajat was excellent in every frame and not to forget how hott he looked☺️..although ashwini was good but i did not enjoy watching her..for me the only scenes that were worth watching were that of rajat and only rajat!

Originally posted by: sun29

divi..awesome analysis and apt songs...will come with my response later ..but right now just wanted to say something .. and am sure i must be in minority but i liked that jodha did not make her presence felt to jalal..she did not hold out her support in hamaam. but stood silently watching ..it was not lack of compassion but a more understanding when a person needs to be alone ...jalal had to come out of that trance on his own..he had to come back to the reality on his own...tomorrow she may console him but today he needed to treat his aching ,breaking soul...

Thanks Sunny ... I am mixed on Jodha ... I did not like her aversion to Jalal and that is where I feel she has a ways to go to embrace Jalal wholeheartedly ... she remembered Jalal's cruelty but seems to have forgotten his pain at the moment

but on the hamaan scene ... I think I reached where you were on this one as I said "And I am not sure, what stopped Jodha from running to Jalal in this time of pain ... or perhaps, she knew he needed to take it all out himself"

Look forward to your thoughts on the take.

Originally posted by: sun29

divi..awesome analysis and apt songs...will come with my response later ..but right now just wanted to say something .. and am sure i must be in minority but i liked that jodha did not make her presence felt to jalal..she did not hold out her support in hamaam. but stood silently watching ..it was not lack of compassion but a more understanding when a person needs to be alone ...jalal had to come out of that trance on his own..he had to come back to the reality on his own...tomorrow she may console him but today he needed to treat his aching ,breaking soul...