Mangal Pandey - the Rising (**)

Genre: History-based-Drama

Released: 12th August ’05

Director: Ketan Mehta    

Cast: Aamir Khan, Rani Mukherjee, Toby Stephens, Kirone Kher, (voice overs by Om Puri, and the rest    

(***** Exceptional, **** Brilliant, *** Good, ** Average, * Avoidable)



Diving in shallow water may lead to injuries to the head. Ketan Mehta has plunged right in to a swimming pool thinking it were an ocean that he jumped into for adventures.



Hype sells and how! This movie is sold out at most places through advance booking. It would be very unfortunate if this movie goes on to make history at the box-office which seems inevitable given the hype surrounding this movie. If you haven’t booked your tickets, wait for some time. DVDs will be out very soon.



In short: Wait for the DVDs to be released, rent it and watch at home. If one could wait for Aamir for 4 years, a couple of months won’t make much of a difference.



The highlights:

Aamir Khan. His dedication and love for his work shows. He is the only brilliant thing about this otherwise ordinary movie.


The let-downs:

Direction. Ketan needs to understand that his earlier flicks like Maya Memsaab, Aar Yaa Paar, Oh Darling Yeh hai India and the rest did not deal with history and people might have digested whatever came their way. In an attempt to make a historical, he has ended up with a history-based Masala(spicy) Drama.
Editing. Awful. Awful. Awful! Too many songs. At a few places a tad bit sharper than required. The blame may be put on screenplay too. Let’s see.
Screenplay. Farrukh Dhondy has not put enough thought into this one. Most of the scenes end abruptly. And a certain sweeper knows all dark secrets of the East India Company and is responsible for all twists and turns in the narrative.
Music. Rahman has been wasted. A composer gives a wide array of tunes to choose from and the director picks the ones he feels suits the ’’demand’’ of the scene or the movie. This movie demanded no songs except the Mangal Mangal for impact and probably Vari Vari song for Mujra.


The limiting factors:

The content. It is rather superficial. It may not limit the movie’s reach as people want a first-hand experience to believe that a hyped movie is bad.


A little more about the movie: Well, all of us have read the story in our 8th grade history books. This movie adds nothing to our knowledge nor does it give any new perspective. It is about the role played by a Sepoy in the mutiny of 1857 which we proudly term as India’s first war for independence.



During the Afghan battle that the East India Company fought with the help of its Indian Army, Mangal Pandey (a sepoy) saves the life of his British commanding officer William Gordon. This leads to Mangal’s friendship with Gordan which soon ends with the introduction of a new rifle called the Enfield. The rifle comes with a new cartridge that is rumored to be coated with the grease of cow and pig fat. The new cartridge has to be bitten before it is loaded, which sparks off the feeling of resentment among the Indian sepoys. The cow is sacred to the Hindus, the pig forbidden to the Muslims and the rebellion begins.


The questions like why the plan failed, why couldn’t the mutiny end up in total destruction of the Company Raaj, how did the Company come to know of the mutiny in advance and many more (which could be known only by going back to history books) are given no importance. Sadly, Ketan Mehta and the script writer decide to lay emphasis on Mujras (dance by Sex-workers), sexual harassment of women (in public and behind closed doors) so that there could be more cleavage show and more dirty talks - ’’kora maal hai. yakeen nahin hota to parda utha ke dikhaoon?’’ (She is a virgin. If you don’t belive me, I can lift her petticoat and show you!), ’’Ek baar jannat dekh loon’’ (Let me have a look at those forbidden parts) and many more. Unnecessary! Avoidable lines! A Sati is saved (and for Gordan’s conveninece she happens to be virgin as her husband was very old) and then made to share the bed with Gordan.



The movie is not well researched and has its focus on all wrong things. The actual ’’Rising’’ of Mangal Pandey makes for just the last 7 minutes of the movie that drags through 2hrs 26 minutes exhausting its 18 reels.

The audience seemed restless in their seats. People walked out on almost every song to get some fresh air and to re-set their expectations from the movie.. Unfortunately, an expected and seemingly strong thunder turned out to be nothing but a loud burp with pungent smell.

Thanda Matlab?

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