Mangal Pandey, arguabley year’s most awaited, hyped-like-never-before, one of the costliest movie.
Aamir Khan returned after 4+ years.
It has Rani Mukharjee, Toby Stephens (Die Another Day fame).
Ketan Mehta (Mirch Masala, Sardar fame) is the caption of the ship.

And most important part is it tells you the story of first ever battle for independence happened in 1857 and first ever Shaheed of our independence fight.   

So, all these facts make the movie must-see itself. But after the release of movie, print media, electronic media all thrashed it, and people started thinking twice before visiting the theater (so did I). But after three weeks of its release, I made my mind to watch it and because I went with not much expectations (thanks to media), I find the movie quite good. Let me tell you in detail:

So much has written about story for all the right reasons and wrong reasons as well. It tells you about Mangal Pandey, his friendship with William Gorden (a british officer), his love interest Heera (a mujarawali) and how he sacrificed his life for the nation.

As we all know, new bullet greased with fat of cow and pig was in the root of the battle of 1857. One has to put it in mouth before use it, for Hindus cow is a holy animal and for Muslims pig is unholy. So they resisted the use of this bullet, britishers lied but somehow indian soldiers came to know reality and be rebels.

This is the main plot, along with this director has weaven some sub-plots like trade of narcotics with china, Social issues in then India etc.

Since this is a film based on reality, one should not take much liberty with events recorded in history.

Plus Points

Ketan Mehta is fully successful in showing chemistry between Mangal Pandey and William Gordan. Nothing looks artificial in their friendship.

Ketan Mehta also able to create India of 1857. The story flows ALMOST smoothly except romentic part. You would be mesmarized in some scenes like wrestling scene or when Mangal stood in front of tank or when villegers discussed about new invention called Telegraph... but my fav scene is when Gorden tried his best to save Mangal’s life in the court by arguing with his seniors. Also when he revealed how Company works in India or asked his seniors to take back bullets, Toby stephens is too good.

Also some social issues like untouchables (even Mangal was reluctant to touch harijan of the society), Sati Pratha (in which widow would be burnt alive with dead body of her husband, what a shame! )

Minuses

As I said above that since this is a historical film, one should not take much liberty with events recorded in history and Ketan Mehta made mistake here...

Some scenes could have been much much better (like when villegers took Amisha for being Sati)or why to show other great leaders like Rani Laxmibai, Tatya Tope or Bajirao Peshwa in just one scene. Either he can give these characters more footage or use them as a reference material (no need to show them on-screen).

No need to show character like Heera (is that character real or fictional ?), why to force in unnecessary songs (except Mangal Mangal, all songs interrupts the flow), why to have some double meaning dialogues even in lighter mood (the scene in the hospital) or why to show some easily avoidable scenes (like bed scene between british mistress and officer when indian lady servant informed her about big battle). And why on earth Kiron Kher agreed to do that low-cut blouse scene, absolutely horrible.

This is not a regular masala movie in which you have to show glamour or dance songs. This is an historical film should be made with utmost sincerity and respect.(No wonder people are criticizing to show mangal’s relationship with the prostitute).


Performance wise Aamir is okey. You can’t find any errors in his performance but still I don’t feel him as good as he was in Lagaan. It may be because of script or director’s Incapability.

Toby Stephens is simply superb. His Hindi was quite good. In scenes I mentioned above he steals the show all the way. Best part of the movie !!

Rani and Amisha did their part okey. Other character artists were okey.

The big difference between Lagaan and Mangal Pandey is MUSIC. Except Mangal Mangal, not a single song has any effect either on you or in the movie.

Dialogues are above average but same can not be said for script department. Even editing could have been tighter. Direction could have been much much better (Ketan, please remember your glorious days of Bhavni Bhavai, Mirch Masala).

All said and done, this is the movie one should not miss.   If movie has not been hyped so much, it would have definatly performed much better.

Unfortunately , in our schools we do not get thaught history very well. There are so many aspects of Indian History or (freedom fighting), dozen more movies can be made on the same.

After watching this one, you feel proud for being Indian, curse yourself not to be part of freedom-fighting and hate generation then to serve East India Company and then Britishors (for every single british soldier there were 7 Indian soldiers in the army then).

Highly Recommended !!!

God Bless you all.

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