Modern Day Classic. Review on Mangal Pandey - The Rising

Making a film about a historical figure is always difficult....apart from remaining true to History the team also has to take into account cinematic liberties and entertain the viewer.

Ketan Mehta succeeds in bringing to life the tale of Mangal Panday. He doesn't deviate from history yet doesn't preach and bore the viewer either. He manages to transport the viewer to the 1800s from the very first scene and is completely clear on what he is making.

As a director this is the second time Mehta has made a film on a Historical hero after Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel and again he emerges a winner. The story is complex-but the manner in which the film unfolds is easy enough for the viewer to decipher which again is credit to Mehta.

One does feel that some songs are unwarranted and could've done with a chop-but then keeping in mind that this is a Bollywood film this can be overlooked. Also the strikingly beautiful picturisations of the song completely engulf the viewer. Another flaw I found was that many of the sub plots were under developed. Specially the Mona Ambegaonkar track. Even the track of Amisha Patel acts like a weak link in the movie and it fails to connect with the viewer at all.

There are many instances in the film which will have the viewer in bursts of claps and cheers and Ketan Mehta hits the viewers patriotic nerve dead on! Scenes that will be etched in the viewers minds after the film is finished include..

• Aamir Khan rescuing Rani Mukherji and the fight that ensues with him and an British Officer * The consequent fight in jail where Aamir gets beaten to a pulp and the officer asks him to say ''TU EK K*TTA HAI''. The scene had the entire cinema in bursts of claps and whistles * Toby rescuing Amisha Patel from the burning pyre * Aamir Khan biting into the pig and cow fat soaked cartridge * Aamirs confrontation with Toby at his house intermision point * The 1-10 countdown and Aamir walking upto the cannon screaming FIRE(again a thunderous response) * Aamir taking on the entire regiment alone and then trying to commit suicide and finally * The death of Mangal Panday which itself is a piece of cinematic history..word!

The scenes mentioned above alone make the movie a MUST SEE and demand repeat value. Although rumours perists that Aamir kHan has ghost-directed the movie, but rumours will be rumours...FULL CREDIT must be given to Ketan Mehta who has no doubt given Bollywood cinema a modern day classic which will be remembered fondly in the days to come! Comparisons to LAGAAN are no doubt going to happen, but I feel that LAGAAN and MANGAL PANDAY are leagues apart.

LAGAAN for the most was a musical-comedy with a strong message, yes the time eras were similar as were the themes but the manner of storytelling and the story they told are completely different. MANGAL PANDAY is a serious and hard hitting film unlike LAGAAN, and to put it frankly...both are classics in their own right!

Given the pressures of directing a Aamir Khan starrer combined with the STUPDENOUS budget Mehta has no doubt lived upto expectations as a film maker and proves his worth..HATS OFF!

The performances here are no doubt the LIFE of the film as one would expect with any Aamir Khan Starrer..and MANGAL PANDAY doesn't disappoint.

The talented actor has played a array of characters in his career and Aamir Khan again PROVES why he is one of the BIGGEST forces in Bollywood as well as one of the Best Actors that we currently have. The actor is with a doubt a perfectionist and yet again Khan delivers a FLAWLESS performances which has a lasting impact on the viewer. Khan BECOMES the character of Mangal Panday and gives it his own unique touch. His getup, delivery, mannerisms and expressions are simply excellent and Khan has again delivered a CAREER BEST performance.

Apart from being a flawless portrayl Khan also delivers a CROWD PLEASING performance which is most important. He connects with the viewer with utmost sincerity and in many instances the House Full cinema would burst into a array of claps and whistles. Such was the impact that when the film ended the entire cinema burst out into claps. Till next time Mr Khan...and please make the wait a bit shorter next time, although it was worth the wait this time..

Toby Stephens too delivers an outstanding performance. The English actor gets right into the skin of his character and completely surprises the viewer with a emmaculate portrayl of Gordon. His Hindi diction is perfect given his character and he lends a certain amount of humaneness to his character which strikes a chord with the viewer. Unlike Paul Blackthorne in LAGAAN, Stephens has been given a parallel role to Aamir Khan and he manages to hold his own and not get overshadowed for the most-an achievement on its own!

Ranu Mukherji is great in a small role. Note that unlike say HUM TUM, BLACK, PAHELI or BUNTY AUR BABLI Mukherji does not have a authorbacked role here. Her role is small-yet she manages to leave an impact with a natural and convincing performance, as well as looking gorgeous as always.

Amisha Patel is the weakest link in the film cast. The actress fails to deliver a worthy performance and one feels that the role should've been done by someone more talented. Amisha horrible asthamtic crying is at its worse here. Thankfully her role is miniscule. And yes-She does share a lip lock with Toby Stephens which has been shot aesthetically.

The supporting cast is no doubt FANTASTIC as expected.

Those that manage to leave a mark are Mukesh Tiwari, Kirron Kher and Amin Hajee.

Mona Ambegaonkar is let down by a poorly etched character as is Coral Reed.

The British actors all play their roles with conviction.

Technically the film is a LANDMARK in Hindi Cinema. Historical films which attempt to recreate a bygone area have been witnessed time and time again in Bollywood(The Superhit GADAR, the classic LAGAAN or the trashy KISNA) but MANGAL PANDAY-THE RISING is a few notches above all of these films technically and truly has the look and feel of an International Product.It is no doubt one of the most POLISHED products to come out from Bollywood in recent times..

The team is the best in the business and the results are simply jawdropping as they recreate the 1800s with utmost sincerity and conviction.

Hammin Dhamijas camerawork, Sreekar Prasads Editting, Nitin Desais Art work, and Abbas Ali Moghuls MINDBLOWING action is in two words-AWARD WINNING!

Musically A.R Rehman register as strong a impact as say THE LEGEND OF BHAGAT SINGH, LAGAAN, or BOSE-THE FORGOTTEN HERO. The two songs that leave a hammerstrong impact is the title track MANGAL MANGAL and the HOLI track which is a treat for Aamir Khan fans. The rest of the songs are brilliantly picturised but they don't add anything to the films actual story at all. Javed Akhtars lyrics are outstanding as always, specially in MANGAL MANGAL.

All up MANGAL PANDAY-THE RISING is hands down one of the BEST films to come out of Bollywood Cinema in one time and is a film that commands respect while arousing patriotic feelings in full blast without being jingoistic. While watching the movie the viewer appreciates the very fundemental thing that we have as a Indian today-FREEDOM. A standing ovation to the entire team of MANGAL PANDAY...and I would even go as far as to call it a Modern Day Classic!