TV Times

TV Times

The Rising of Mangal Pandey
By Susitha R. Fernando
The epic story of the first Indian revolutionary, 'Mangal Pandey' (The Rising) which had its premiere at the 58th Locarno Film Festival was internationally released on August 12.

Directed by Ketan Mehta, Amir Khan playing Mangal Pandey was the opening film of International Film Festival in Switzerland, which started on August 3. Four years after Aamir's Lagaan was feted at the Locarno Festival, it is now 'The Rising' (also known as 'The ballad of Mangal Pandey) - another period film with patriotic overtones - that will feature at the fest.

Simultaneous with the international release, the film started here at the Liberty Cinema-Colombo and at New Sigiri- Katugastota. This most expensive film in the history of Bollywood revolves around Mangal Pandey, the heroic sepoy who led the mutiny against the British in 1857. It is said that Mangal Pandey provided the first spark that led to a bigger freedom movement throughout India in the late 19th century.

'The Rising' was aptly timed to release on August 12, just three days before the Indians celebrated the day of their Independence from the British rule.
Mangal Pandey is a soldier under the British. During the war, he saves the life of his British officer in Afghanistan. Thus, they come close and become friends. Later, Pandey and other Indian soldiers refuse to charge hand grenades.

They plead that these grenades are made of bones of animals that are considered sacred by their religions. Even, the British officer fails in convincing Indian soldiers, including Pandey. Consequently, the news about the use of bones of holy animals in the manufacture of hand grenades spreads all over the country. As a result, the soldiers revolt against the Britishers. The British Raj calls it a mutiny, while Indians hail it as a war of independence. An epic narrative interweaving friendship, love, betrayal and historical facts, the film is a skilful depiction of the confrontation of two cultures which, eighty-nine years later, was to lead a subject people to freedom.

According to the direction Mangal Pandey became the first freedom fighter and martyr of 1857 and his name became an emblem of revolt against British rule. The first freedom fighter and martyr Shree Mangal Pandey was born in a village in Nagwa District Ballia. He was famous for bravery amongst his colleagues. An English scholar "Fisher" has written that Shri Mangal Pandey had all the qualities so necessary for a good soldier.

However just a few days before the release director Ketan Mehta fell in trouble with the people of Ballia in Uttar Pradesh, Mangal Pandey's home district. They demonstrated accusing that the film was a "distortion of facts" and they demanded the deletion of the "offending" portions.

Burning an effigy of filmmaker Ketan Mehta, at the district headquarters they demanded that the "distorted portions" in the film about Pandey's life be immediately removed and the native village of the martyr be illustrated in the film.

Nevertheless 'Mangal Pandey' - another period film with patriotic overtones, the movie has been aimed for the Oscar unlike the other movies like Lagaan and Devdas.

Aamir Khan, Rani Mukerji, Toby Stephens, Amisha Patel, Kiron Kher
Music director by A.R. Rahman and edited by Sreekar Prasad cinematographer of Mangal Pandey is Himman Dhamija. 'Bandit Queen', 'Fire', 'Train to Pakistan' and 'Sathiya' famed Bobby Bedi produced the film.

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