In an attempt to hide the identities of 11 KutchValleyers who slipped half way through this year’s Kojain Picnic and downplay their terrible selfish act we shall proceed straight to this week’s Film review.
The Film : Mangal Pandey – The Rising!
Mangal Pandey – The Rising is an epic tale of friendship, betrayal, love and sacrifice set against the backdrop of what the British called the sepoy mutiny but which for the Indians was the First War of Independence.
Amir Khan´s Ketan Mehta directed ´Mangal Pandey´ has been on the waitlist for way too long. In that regard, viewers and Amir Khan fans would have expected another “Lagaan” in the making. Unfortunately, dismay is all that follows. I blame it on the hype, the wait and over-expectations.
Onto the meat, Amir brings around the familiar “London Cricket Crew”. So if you have been waiting to catch a second glimpse of the same stiff Brit lips that may have awed you in Lagaan, heres your chance. The majestic cricket bat-ball is now replaced with the rifle-sword pair. Amir looks confident and majestic as usual, be it a Dhoti or a 1847 East India Company’s war-torn and retailiatory, sword split half vest Sepoy. The moustache fails to hide his chocklate cheeks and the long hair anachronistically makes him look like a 300 BC Mauryan soldier. One can witness the typical Amir standing on the stage delivering the “speech of the decade” scene while his fellow comrades laugh and joke around as they drop their swords and pull at each others dhotis.
Among others, Toby Stephens who plays the role of Gordon Williams, a Brit soldier and close friend of Mangal Pandey, is brilliant. Its easy to love his character more than Mangal Pandey’s. A loyal friend who knows how to balance friendship and duty and knows the difference between right and worng, eventually joins the sepoys in their mutiny against the Company Raj. And if whoever said ” Good things happen to Good people”! Give me a break. This poor “Tumhhaaarree naamm ki haiy” bloke is paired against the one and only Amisha Patel. And oh my, isn’t she a laugh. Gordon saves Jwala (Amisha) from a Sati ritual and takes her home, only to fall in love with her as gets him milk every morning and removes his footwear when he comes home. With a record-breaking 4 dialogues in this movie, Amisha has even challenged her own self. The classic dialogues being ” Holi hai” and my all-time favorite “Doodh ka girna abshukan hota hai”.
Starring opposite Amir is Rani Mukherjee. Amir looks very comfortable with Rani, to the extent he almost blurted out “Chalti kya Khandala” after the has-to-be-sung Holi song. Rani dazzles and makes Amisha look like a complete fool. I believe I saw Chandrachur Singh too. He was a regular sepoy and other than holding a rifle while Amir talks, he has no significant role.
Another star outside the movie is a our old KutchValleyer Paresh, who visited us this weekend. What struck me by surprise is his love for his 2 cousins from Bombay. Yah right! He fed them 2 samosas each at Naz while trying to be the big condescending brother as he cunningly refused to share any bite out of the well-gifted Samosas. Our condolences if you find them crouching with their hands over their stomachs.
I give this movie a 3 on 5. While I would have expected more from this movie I am tempted to give it a bonus “one” on the eve of Independence Day. A salute to this great country that produced brave sons like Mangal Pandey and Bhagant Singh. This movie instills a sense of pride. Watch this movie and lets enjoy our Independence Day. Vande Mataram !
(Gun shots and bugles)