Mangal Pandey: The Rising

About the film

Mangal Pandey: The Rising (internationally known as The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey) is a 2005 Indian biographical historical drama film based on the life of Mangal Pandey, an Indian soldier known for helping to spark the Indian Rebellion of 1857 (also known as The First War of Indian Independence). It is directed by Ketan Mehta, produced by Bobby Bedi and written by Farrukh Dhondy. The film stars Aamir Khan in the lead role, marking his comeback after he had gone into hiatus following Dil Chahta Hai (2001). Toby Stephens, Rani Mukerji, Ameesha Patel, and Kirron Kher appear in supporting roles.

The film premiered in the Marché du Film section of the 2005 Cannes Film Festival and was released in India on 12 August 2005. It was the fourth highest-grossing Hindi film of 2005.

Plot

It is the year 1857, and a large part of the Indian subcontinent is under the control of the British East India Company. On 7 April, in Barrackpore in West Bengal, Mangal Pandey (Aamir Khan), a sepoy (soldier of Indian origin) in the 34th Bengal Native Infantry of the company's army, is being led to his execution by hanging for fomenting a mutiny against company rule. Witnessing the execution is Pandey's friend, Captain William Gordon (Toby Stephens), who is relieved when the execution is delayed due to the hangman's refusal to hang Pandey. The film then flashes back to four years earlier. While fighting in the Emirate of Afghanistan, Pandey saves Gordon's life by dragging him to safety when the two were targeted by Afghan snipers. Afterwards, Gordon seeks out Pandey at a camp and offers him his pistol as a token of gratitude. Three years later (31 December 1856), during the New Year Eve's ball at the Governor General's palace in Calcutta, Pandey angers Captain Hewson (Ben Nealon) when he attempts to stop him from severely beating an Indian servant for inadvertently touching Emily Kent, the daughter of Mr. Graham Kent, an influential British businessman. Gordon witnesses the assault but does not stop it, leading to tension with Pandey. However, he apologizes to Pandey during a wrestling match, and a friendship is formed between them transcending rank, colour and race.

The company then introduces a new weapon in January 1857 for its troops: the Enfield rifled musket. Rumours spread among the sepoys that the paper cartridges holding the powder and ball for the rifle are greased with either pig fat or beef tallow; the process of loading the rifle requires the soldier to bite down on the cartridge, and the soldiers believe that this would cause them to consume pork or beef — acts abhorrent to Muslim and Hindu soldiers, respectively, for religious reasons. A low-caste labourer named Nainsukh teases Pandey, a Brahmin, that he has lost his caste by using such a gun, but Pandey dismisses Nainsukh's taunts. The sepoys, led by Pandey, express their concerns to General Hearsey (Jeremy Clyde), but he reassures them that no such cartridge exists. The sepoys remain concerned when they are asked to test-fire the new rifle at musketry drill, but Gordon, after talking to Hearsey, reiterates that no such cartridge exists and asks a sepoy to test-fire the rifle. Pandey volunteers, and his fellow sepoys chastise him afterward. However, demonstrating his trust in Gordon, he states his belief that the rumours are untrue.

Meanwhile, Gordon stops a Sati ceremony from occurring and rescues a widow, Jwala (Ameesha Patel). He arranges for her to be treated, and the two gradually become closer, eventually having an affair. Also, Pandey further earns Captain Hewson's ire by stopping him from trying to rape a tawaif named Heera (Rani Mukerji), who was sold to a brothel run by Lal Bibi (Kirron Kher). He suffers a serious beating from Hewson and three other officers the next day, but Gordon intervenes and saves Pandey. Pandey meets Heera at the brothel afterwards, and they begin to fall in love with each other. Some time later, Nainsukh takes Pandey and some other sepoys to see the factory, owned by Mr. Kent, where the cartridge grease is made; indeed, the grease turns out to be pig fat and beef tallow. Pandey, believing Gordon lied to him, returns Gordon's pistol and ends their friendship.

Production

Aishwarya Rai was initially signed for the role of Jwala. However, she was later replaced by Ameesha Patel due to a disagreement with the producers.

In 2023, Patel revealed that Rani Mukerji initially did not have a lead role in the film and only had a guest appearance. Aamir Khan was also romantically paired opposite a British character according to the original script. But, during filming, Khan felt that audiences would be able to relate to the film in a stronger manner if he had an onscreen love angle with an Indian character. Therefore, Mukerji's role in the film was extended.

Release

Mangal Pandey: The Rising, had a great start at the box office but was declared average by Box Office India. It grossed ₹39.92 crore (US$4.2 million) at the Indian box office and ₹52.57 crore (US$5.5 million) worldwide.

The film topped the Chennai box office on its opening weekend.

Upon release, Mangal Pandey received positive reviews. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 85% of 13 critics gave the film a positive review. Taran Adarsh of IndiaFM gave four stars out of five saying it is "A genuine attempt at bringing alive a great hero on celluloid, the film will only bring pride and prestige in the domestic market as well as on the international platform."

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