Take 5: Top 5 countdown for August 26th, 2014

Before today's take, I wanted to bring up the beginning of the chapter from the Akbarnama on Atgah Khan and Adham Khan's death (Source: Persian Packhum)

When the world-adorning Deity wills the bestowal of greatness on an unique one and exalts him to the high office of sovereignty He, in the first place, gives him far-seeing reason to be ever his unvarnished counsellor. After that He bestows on him wide forbearance so that he may bear the brunt of so many of the world's disagreeables and that he may, by the help thereof, refrain from dropping the thread of deliberation when he beholds such evils. Then he gives him the priceless jewel of justice, so that he can place the familiar friend and the stranger in the same balance and can comprehend the affairs of creation's workshop (the world) without being weighted by personal considerations, and can establish a school of instruction within his holy soul.

It describes by making a leader like Jalal / Akbar face disagreeable of the world, he emerges as a stronger leader and dispenser of justice and goes on to describe his justice in the case of Adham Khan as an example. While we all know that the loss of Maham Anga and the death of Atgah Khan will be very painful for Jalal, we also know his strength and greatness is emerging from it as the strong leader that fate had destined him to be.

So, today's take 5 as to how I saw it in my episode:

(1) The calm before the storm: Here is Jalal trying to pick up the pieces of his loss of Maham Anga ... Jodha keeps him busy more by having him try different tactics to spend time with her than actually spending time with him ...

I liked it as now you can see Jodha is intentionally playing hard to get (before I sometimes felt she didn't get how he wanted to spend time with her) and loved Jalal's line on how teasing is his job and now she is trying the same. Likely my favorite moment was when Jalal acted busy and about to leave so Jodha could call him back. And while he may claim in he didn't understand women ... he at least finally figured out how to have Jodha call him back. 😉

(2) Understaning the bond between Atgah Khan and Jalal ... so we understand what will break with his death.

After Atgah Khan's first injury, how beautiful was the interaction of Atgah Khan and Jalal. Atgah Khan was worried about only one thing his duty and the safety of his Shehenshah. Jalal on the other hand was praying he will not lose any more near ones.

And we all knew, whose prayer would ring true.

(3) Loyalty and dedication in unexpected quarters: As silly as Javeda might sound, she often is more grounded than Maham Anga, Adham Khan, and actually most folks in the Agra Paagalkhana. I remember when Maham Anga had been exposed in the Sujamal fiasco she went to console Maham Anga beautifully. Perhaps, her silliness was to block out the ugliness of those around her ... but now she knew Adham Khan was going too far ... and to save Adham Khan from committing a terrible mistake she risked her own life. Javeda you also will be missed!

(4) Maham Anga's self realization: Yes, is it too little, too late. Absolutely. But what was more poignant was more her reflection that she had been unfair to both Adham Khan and Jalal in her quest for power. But at a juncture, when she is close to losing both.

I found the symbolism poignant where she sees a blood covered little Jalal and immediately worries for Jalal's life ... little does she know that she will be seeing a blood covered Jalal in the precap for an exactly opposite reason.

CVs don't use symbolism and artistic tricks much ... but the link between this scene and the precap scene is well done as well as Maham Anga's dawning shock as she sees Jalal in this state.

Jalal nails his anger and wrath to the T in the precap.

(5) The final prayer: And what a way for Atgah Khan to exit ... with a prayer to save Jalal from danger and protect him from devils like Adham Khan. A fitting final act for a man who had dedicated his life to serve Jalal.

Atgah Khan will be greatly missed, not only by Jalal, but also by the viewer. For most of the show he did primarily say "hukum ki taamil ho" ... but he was the only one always by Jalal's side whether in executing the Ratanpur ka qila to consoling Jalal when he was separated from Jodha in the Sujamal fiasco to his amazing faith in Jalal in exposing Maham Anga's final plan.

So, thoughts on the episode and the take?

Originally posted by: lashy

Your take possibly was even more emotional than the episode Divi...

Thanks Shraddha

The thing is... Im finding your description on Javeda very touching (about how she shut herself out of the madness with her silliness) Yet, when it was time to distinguish between right and wrong, she knew what to do.

Yes, and she always knew right from wrong is the biggest thing that struck me

We expected and knew Atgah to do what he was going to - right from the beginning. We didn't expect a woman - Javeda (who though only a fictional character did bring a smile to many faces whenever she came on) to sacrifice her life for the Emperor! It was also all the more cruel to think that Adham in his quest for power and revenge got rid of Javeda like he would a large stone on the road.

The surprise angle and the callousness of Adham probably was what was most striking

So, yes... it was a rushed twist - but, I guess a moving twist!

It was rushed indeed ... and maybe the CVs just didn't know what to do with Javeda's character ... but it was moving nonetheless

Atgah is Atgah - the star as always ⭐️

Indeed! The CVs made us value and love him all the more before his journey ended

For all my fandom and dedication to TM, I still don't think TM has filled the shoes that Atgah has left empty. It will take a while and a little more closeness between Jalal-TM to nourish that bond

He will get closer ... but I think TM will be an advisor- friend but not the father-like figure Atgah Khan was

Originally posted by: munnirony

it will be a very emotional journey for JA & also for the viewers. but as adi said atgha's death was needed to pave the path of jalal's ultimate journey towards greatness. in real history as well, this was the point where finally jalal came out of his emotional strings which had always made him lenient towards others. by killing adham khan he will bury all his guilts & softness which is not required. jalal-atgha relationship is certainly different from maham or BK, bcoz these r the people who had one way or the other had broken jalal's trust on them, so jalal's break down for them is different. but atgha khan is the one who neither wanted power like maham nor wanted to rule over jalal like BK. he is the person who always supported jalal unconditionally, without trying to control him & at the same time always tried to jalal the mirror. so break down for atgha will be the ultimate blow for jalal, which will not make him weak but will make him strong & will bring the reqd. emotional balance in him.

Originally posted by: tamy267

As much as I was happy and drooling on JJ in the first half, the last half took away my smile and all the dreamy moments I was having!

And I think that was exactly the point ... so much drama, tension ke baad ... they were having a few moments of happiness ... Jalal was recovering (so were we) and then it all comes crashing down with Atgah Khan. So, less than the romantic scenes themselves I appreciated it as a foil for the tragedy to come

I cant explain Divi, how much torn I was witnessing that horrific murder of a great man called Shamsuddin Atgah Khan! I forgot what I watched in the first half...I forgot everything...the man and his blood-stained body and his prayers for Jalal clouded my mind...

I cried, cried and cried a lot...I am still very very sad...I always wanted to watch this death scene followed by Adham's as these r most crucial incidents in that era...but I never knew I will cry this much...never knew it will rip my heart apart.

Yes, the CVs built up his faith , loyalty to Jalal well in the last few days

I am speechless at this moment...u know I felt like stabbing Adham then and there! and I felt a sadistic pleasure seeing Jalal's blood-stained body in precap...he killed Adham! thank u Jalal...I will applaud him tomorrow.

You know he seems very savage in this last scene- it reminded me of Anil Kapoor's final scene in Virasat where he tells the villain, that because of him he also had to act like an animal

I cant be romantic today...sorry for that..my heart is filled with sorrow.

Arrey ... why apologize. I also was not being romantic ... it was more the calm before the rapid storm (or rather tornado) that was more striking for me

A special note for Javeda...yes, she is bewakoof, akal ki kami hai uss mein, par usse acchaiya aur buraiya mein farak karna ata hai...she knew Adham is cooking up something evil, and she knew whom to save! hope she survives.❤️

Yes, I hope she survives to feel the love and affection of the Mughal Sultanate for her bravery