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The forum started this discussion on 13^th November. It is almost a month old but I think I agree with them. Jodha Akbar is a costly movie but how many people know about this movie? Do you see any serious buzz? What is going on? Why there is no serious promotion going on in the channels? Jodha Akbar is a historical movie and this genre is not so popular among people. Ashutosh Gowariker has spent around Rs. 400 million. First, the movie was supposed to be released during the Eid week in October which was postponed. Later, news came out that music launch will happen on 27^th November but the music has not been released yet.

This is very disappointing. Now days, marketing and promotions are very important issues in film making. Just look at Aap Ka Suroor: The Real Love Story or Naqaab. Because of good promotion Aap Ka Suroor became the surprise hit of the year. Naqaab had no story; the movie was very boring. Still, the way they showed the promo made people go to the theatres. The last best example is Shah Rukh Khan starrer Om Shanti Om. The movie was not very impressive but it had great promotion. I grew sick and tired of watching the promos almost in every Indian channel. That’s how it is supposed to be. To be honest, I do not see any serious efforts in the promotion of Jodha Akbar. I think Ashutosh and Ronnie should give some serious efforts in promoting the movie.

Jodha Akbar is made for today’s generation: Another interview of Ashutosh Gowariker

Here is another interview of Ashutosh Gowariker with Hindustan Times correspondent, Subhash K Jha. According to Ashutosh Gowariker, his Oscar nominated Lagaan was a period movie but Jodha Akbar is a historical movie. Hindustan Time reports:

Have you stressed the religious difference between Jodhaa and Akbar?

It's important but not stressed in my film. Akbar's marriage to Jodhaa was no common occurrence. It had a nationwide reverberation 450 years ago when society was far more conservative. How did their marriage affect those times? That's a question relevant even today.

Film analysts feel history has no relevance for today's average youngster?

I agree. As a child historical films did not interest me. But when i saw Mughal-E-Azam on television i connected to it because it was a story of lovers separated by parental opposition. That the parents were historical figures was incidental. I feel the story has to connect with the audience. Hyder Ali who wrote Jodhaa Akbar told me that in Mughal-E-Azam the focus was so much on Salim and Anarkali that nobody asked a fundamental question: How did Akbar come to marry Jodhaa in spite of their religious and cultural divide? I saw an interesting story there that needed to be told. As for the youngsters, i had one rule of connectivity in my range of vision. Any word or dialogue that i didn't understand in Urdu, I kept out. I've no interest in impressing audiences with my knowledge of Urdu, Hindi or even literature. I feel literature is for the books, and that's where it should stay.

So is Jodhaa Akbar kitsch?

No. I've referred to literature and academia. Akbarnama was in Farsi. It doesn't mean i'd use Farsi in my film. I want Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Bengal to understand the film. I'm dubbing the film into Telugu and Tamil. Each language has its own regality and i'm going by the individual regality of the province. I had one vision before me when i started making this film. It was the world of the Amar Chitra Katha. I've grown up on that world. 

Jodha Akbar tells the love story between Mughal Emperor, Akbar and Rajput princess, Jodha bai. Though Ashutosh is saying that he has done extensive research on the story, the Rajput community of Rajasthan accused him of distorting history. The Rajput Sabha filed a case against Ashutosh Gowariker for distorting the historical facts. However, Ashutosh was adamant in his position. His claim is that he did not distort any history and he has no intention to ridicule any person or community. On 12^th October, the theatrical trailer was released and from this month, promos are being broadcast in different movie channels. Let’s see what really happened between Jodha and Akbar.

Related articles:

Times of India  

Jodha Akbar Forum