Mangal Pandey – Fact and Fiction


Ketan Mehta’s Mangal Pandey is just one more to the bollywood list of movies, Ashoka, Devdas and Agni Varsha. All with gorgeous costumes and sets and leading actor and actresses, but failing to make an impact. Mangal Pandey is just another fictional narrative, based on Sepoy Mutiny, called as First War of Indian Independence by Veer Savarkar. Savarkar’s statement itself was too premature- India was never country then and Sepoy Mutiny did not seek independence.


Now the Movie:

              Aamir Khan playing Mangal Pandey looks handsome, he growls, drinks bhang and orders even the reverend leaders like Bhakt khan and Tatya Tope. His friendship with Gordon, the Scottish general (role played by Toby Stephens) seems legendary and his relationship with Heera (Rani Mukherji), the prostitute is undefined. What is Aamir Khan doing here? It is hard to believe that he portrays Mangal Pandey.

              Who was Mangal Pandey?

                                                         According to History it began at Barrackpore at the end of March 1857. Mangal Pandey, a young sepoy of the 34th Native Infantry, shot at his sergeant-major on the parade ground. When the British adjutant rode over, Pandey shot the horse out from under him and as the officer tried to extricate himself Pandey severely wounded him with a sword. Drawn by the commotion the commanding officer of the station, General Hearshey, galloped to the scene accompanied by his two sons. The sepoy panicked and instead of shooting at the general, turned his rifle on himself and pulled the trigger. He survived this suicide attempt and was later court-martialled and hanged. As a collective punishment the 34th Native Infantry was disbanded; its shameful fate being publicly proclaimed at every military station in British India. Panday achieved a certain kind of immortality in that his name entered British military slang as the general nickname for a mutineer and eventually a derogatory term for any Indian. Unfortunately for the British, the 34th Native Infantry were considered by the majority of sepoys to have been unjustly treated and soon came to be regarded as quasi-martyrs.
                    
[(http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/Alley/5443/indmut.htm)- the excerpt is taken from    this website)]

               Rani Mukherji, playing Heera is not a historical character, but an insipid creation of Ketan Mehta. Why is this character included in this film? At one place she is auctioned in the market place and at the next moment she performs a courtesan dance in the brothel and the next time we see her she plays our hero’s, mistress. This whole thing is unnecessary.

              Amisha patel, playing Jwala is always crying (nice work). She is rescued from becoming a victim of suttee by Gordon and then shockingly enough for all of us she becomes his mistress- everything is possible in films. In addition to that there are scores of English woman to show what sensuality is.

             Of all the performances Toby Stephens, playing Gordon is remarkable. He is the Scott general, with conflicting ideas and also realizes that this vast country with varied culture cannot be ruled. Toby Stephens deserves our applause.

             Mangal Pandey in the film says “I am Hindustan” but there is no justice in it. Aamir Khan rather plays a superhero and Ketan Mehta’s Mangal Pandey is another historic buff.      
                                        

Plot Revealed In The Review:	Somewhat revealed
Best to watch with:	Friends
Movie Genre:	No Comment
Best part in the movie:	No Comment