Mangal Independence Day!

"Where history meets proud folklore; there legends are born"

The Rising begins with a screaming kailash kher determined to damage your ears with his agonizing chants of "Mangala Mangala ad infinitum". The song surfaces again and again and .... again as if the audience is going for a record for staying sleepless for the longest duration! As you can see, the songs are a big let down of this "Ballad of Mangal Pandey". And this one being the best of the lot!

The Movie begins with beautiful visuals of some riverbank (i assume ganga) and the deftly recreated barrackpore (great job from nitin desai as usual). Then comes to life the story of the first martyr of India's war of independence. The one paragraph from our history textbook has been stretched to the extreme to give this 3 hr story of Mangal Pandey. Something like when you add water so that 10 people can have a meal on the pavbhaji made for 3 people :D.

Not their fault though, the makers categorically state that the events have been fictionalised blah blah. Those 4 lines in the beginning are oh-so-crucial in this movie.

Nevertheless, Ketan Mehta and Farrukh Dhondy have woven an interesting albeit farfetched story on this lesser known figure. But overall the film fails to impress the audience. And again the songs play the villain's part. Never has rahman disappointed so badly + songs popping at the drop of a hat and slowing the proceedings of an otherwise good movie.

Aamir Khan, after 4 years, 18 months of grown hair and moustache, gavthi built and reportedly 7 crores in his dhoti pocket, brings the martyr alive. Hes the only reason you should see this movie. The work shows on screen and its great to watch this method actor. Toby stephens is first rate, though the hindi dialogues in british accent is a pain to hear after a while. Amisha, Rani are there for reasons known to a select few, sadly none of us is in that elite circle. The rest of the cast is seviceable.

Often touted as india's next big hope for the oscars, the rising fails miserably. To say the least its an ordinary film. Lagaan would be notches ahead from this patriotic affair. Ketan Mehta, famous for his thought provoking movies like Aar ya paar, Oh darling! yeh hai india and Maya Memsaab, puts one more feather in his cap! Though I liked the writers view; he shows mangal pandey being inspired by a prostitute (rani) and an untouchable, who by their scathing comments make pandey to think about his role in the company raj fueling his anger against it.

Also the references of rani laxmibai, tatya tope and other freedom fighters are nicely woven. The archive footage of gandhi and nehru hoisting india's flag after independence, acknowledge mangal pandey as the first martyr of India's freedom struggle.

Freedom... thats what we have taken for granted...more on that conscience-striken blog latter ;)

Happy Independence Day to all my fellow indians and a big thank you to Mr. Mangal Pandey !!