Akbar's sword to tell tale of power and passion

New Delhi, Jan 22 (UNI) When Hrithik Roshan unsheathes his sword in Ashutosh Gowarikar's celluloid extravaganza ''Jodha-Akbar'', the gem encrusted gold marvel of craftsmanship will tell a tale of the power and passion of the Mughal emperor and the splendour of his times.

Embedded with 3000 stones and crafted with finesse and artistry, the three-and-a-half-feet-long sword has been designed to epitomise the beauty, grandeur and magnificence of the 16th century and capture the regal aura of the Mughal kings.

''When we decided to design jewellery for the film, the sword was not even in our brief. But we wanted to showcase the expertise of our craftsmen and the result is the sword -- a reflection of the opulence and majesty of the the Mughal era,'' Tanishq Marketing head Alpana Parida today said at a function here to display the film's jewellery.

Designer Garima Maheshwari recalled the nearly year-long journey and the arduous efforts undertaken to recreate the Emperor's Sword with great attention retaining authenticity.

''When one thinks of Akbar the Great, he is synonymous as a mighty emperor, conqueror of nations and vanquisher of foes -- the sword had to be a manifestation of his larger than life image and breathe life into the visuals.'' She said the movie's director Ashutosh Gowarikar was passionate about swords and wanted Akbar's weapon to be a resplendent piece.

''The sword had to be the piece of the movie. Exquisitely carved 3000 stones have been embedded in the sword. The centrepiece is inlaid with rubies and is surrounded by kundan.'' The first version made by the designer fell short of expectations so it was reworked and recreated, Ms Maheshwari said, adding that the designers did painstaking research and the craftspersons worked for 11 months to realise the vision of the director.

''Jodha Akbar'' touted as the tale of the Mughal King and the Rajput Princess might as well have another protagonist in the form of the Emperor's sword.

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