The history behind the Indian rebellion of 1857 is a long and complicated one which is too long to start off with. An officer in the East India company (Toby Stephens) is friends with an Indian soldier Mangal Pandey. The film starts off well, tackling subjects such as the dubious nature of a corporation controlling a country, and the more honourable traits of men such as Stephens' and Pandey's characters, who simply wish to do good in their service. The film is intriguing in its technique of using British characters speaking the native language, and the friendship between Pandey and the officer works well to set the film up for a story of two men caught on each side of conflict. Actually, no it does not. The film soon takes a large u-turn and goes into some very poorly done anti-imperialism moral lessons (which was far better in the film 'Ghandi'), and the dialogue between Pandey and Stephens' character (in fact, all character relationships) are all ultimately abandoned for some very badly linked events and a completely contrived ending, where Pandey as the mutiny leader flies up in the air on a noose, while the crowds charge and slaughter all the soldiers (and British civilians) in the vicinity. Disturbingly, this also includes the burning of a church, and the mutiny is presented as the beginning of the Ghandi movement at the end, when in fact India was ruled by Britain under the crown for another 90 years. This film is an utter waste, and a terrible shame.

An Aamir Khan film is special.A slice of history that explores the mutiny of 1857, Mangal Pandey balances form and content beautifully. Lavishly mounted and recreating the era with precision, Mangal Pandey suits the term 'landmark cinema' and has all it takes to help Bollywood take a giant step into world cinema with pride.Recreating history is difficult and making you glued to your seats for the next 3 hours could be taxing if the content doesn't live up to your expectations. But Mangal Pandey talks about the martyr, his heroism, his contribution to India's freedom movement so effectively and immaculately that you can't help but salute the great freedom fighter. Ketan Mehta's execution of the subject leaves you tongue-tied, the visuals appear true to life, the performances which is so essential in a film of this genre are absolutely spellbinding, the sequence of events that led to the mutiny are carefully explained. Result: The viewer cannot help but get transported to an era when British ruled India.To sum up, Mangal Pandey is a brave attempt on the part of its makers to bring to life an important chapter from history. And make you realize that the freedom we enjoy today is only because of our predecessors, who gave their blood for the nation. The film succeeds in arousing patriotic feelings without a shred of doubt!The songs seem forced in the narrative. Ideally, the film could've done with two songs, 'Mangal Mangal' and 'Teri Adaon Pe Main Vaari Vaari'. The Holi track as also the romantic song filmed on Aamir and Rani, Toby and Amisha can easily be deleted since they only act as barricades in the otherwise smooth narrative.Another drawback is that certain characters remain underdeveloped. The women don't have much to do in the film. Even the track of the maid Mona Ambegaonkar, who feeds the British woman's infant, appears incomplete.Since the film deals with history and British rulers specifically, the usage of English language is imperative, but Om Puri's voice-over in those scenes makes it easier for the average Indian moviegoer to decipher and fathom what's being spoken on screen.Toby Stephens is simply amazing. For an English actor to deliver lines in Hindi and match it with appropriate expressions is no ordinary task. The actor compliments Aamir at every step and delivers a knockout performance that would only draw applause from Indian moviegoers.Both Rani and Amisha don't get ample footage. Rani is wonderful in a small role, but Amisha is relegated to the backseat completely. Kiron Kher is effective in a neat cameo. The film has a number of actors, but those who make their presence felt are Mukesh Tiwari, Sohrab Ardeshir and Amin Hajee.Mangal Pandey would look incomplete without Aamir's awe-inspiring portrayal of the great hero. Not once do you realize that the role is being 'enacted'. It's Aamir's splendid performance that makes the film a memorable affair, besides Mehta's storytelling of course. It goes without saying that his performance in Mangal Pandey should rank prominently in his enviable repertoire.

A commendable effort when someone decides to document an important chapter in history and bring forth to patrons of 'cinema of substance' Aamir Khan in and as Mangal Pandey. But the director Ketan Mehta has only managed to scrape the dust off the episode in history, ravaged by time and failed to extract its vibrancy that would emulate the similar desire and passion in those watching it. Neither does the film keeps you on the edge of the seat where you let the warm squall of adrenalin sweep over the thousand thoughts bombarding the mind. Some of them being, why is the film following the same pace from beginning to end or why am I not getting charged? I love my country and I want to do something for my country, like for the record there was a recruit for Kargil war after the young boy fresh from college watched J.P. Dutta's Border. Why is Mangal Pandey not telling me to take some action or even do an honest introspection? Whose fault is it? Certainly, the flaw lies in the insipid direction. In the past, films like Shaheed, Kranti or even Raj Kumar Santoshi's Bhagat Singh have scored better when it comes to audience empathy. Any accosting to the director will have to be half guarded because of the vagaries that are like eye-sores including female characters, which tip from crude to unconvincing, average music and poor screenplay among other things. Films like Lagaan was not a one-man show and bigger than Aamir Khan as the actor. All characters etched out properly, like in the cricket team even when you have your favorites in Sachin Tendulkar, you would also care when Harbhajan throws a googly or when Yuvraj comes in for a fantastic cameo inning. But like Mangal Pandey in history who was passionate and overzealous and took the cause of struggle for freedom on his shoulders, in the film, Aamir Khan the actor consciously or subconsciously projects himself as the last man standing. What Shahrukh couldn't do for Swades, Aamir does for Mangal Pandey. The gamble pays off because the film despite a shaky structure and narrative will be a crowd puller thanks to the long exile of Aamir Khan and his reputation of being the perfectionist and the untouchable, but the truth…the film lacks the soul and an ability to stir any sentiments of patriotism or even connect the audience on an emotional level. The Story-Mangal Pandey (Aamir Khan) is one of the many sepoys of the 5th Company, 34th Native Infantry Regiment, Barrackpore. Loyal to his superiors in the army of British East India Company, Mangal Pandey is the man with exceptional skills and bravery; and has also befriended an officer called William Gordon (Toby Stephens). Toby Stephens performed his part of an officer pulled between his white man's burden and friendship and empathy for Mangal Pandey and his cause, delivers a powerful, credible and sensitive performance. On learning that the new cartridges are greased with animal fat, a widespread resentment breaks amongst Indian soldiers fostering Hindu-Muslim sentiments. Mangal Pandey leads the mutiny and turns it into the first war of independence, becoming the first rebel and first martyr in history. There are two love stories in the film, one between Gordon and Jwala; (Ameesha Patel) a Sati he rescues and the other between Mangal and Heera; (Rani Mukerji) a prostitute. Both Ameesha and Rani played their parts with desired vulnerability and passion. Aamir Khan did justice to his role and as reiterated, indeed is the last man standing in the film.

I was surprised, not only to watch the worst movie ever on the first Revolution of India against the East India Company, but also by the Ketan Mehta and Co. for daring to change the course of history. Well, if this is democracy and right to amend the history, what will the children of tomorrow learn from this movie?Mr. Ketan Mehta should have watched a couple of finest movies on "REVOLUTION". The list should have been THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS, GLORY, or Emir Kusturica's UNDERGROUND.It seems the director and the screenplay writer tried to build on BRAVEHEART and ROBINHOOD: Prince of Thieves, not concentrating on the portraits of the rebellion or revolution but too much on the romance!Every country boasts of their movies for the struggle of Independence, and if this the one we have to boast of, it's really a shame! Where from the character of Rani Mukherjee rise is still an enigma! Are we compelled to bring in romantic songs and dance numbers in a movie which depicts revolution? I doubt the authenticity of the movie script. And it is just that the descendants of Mangal Pandey have files a case against the production of this movie.If they can relate a prostitute with Mangal Pandey, a day will come when we have to see Mahatma Gandhi as a Calvin Klein model, Lala Lajpat Rai as a drunkard and Subhas Bose as Casanova who goes to bar to dance with bar girls!! Who knows what are other reserves!!Isn't this a mockery in the name of independence? Democracy doesn't mean you can do anything else, like changing history. This movie really sucks! Mangal Pandey, thank GOD you are not alive to see it by yourself, at least me and my friends (all Indian) could not!Please, enough is enough, at least Bollywood is good for entertainment, now don't play with the sentiments of Indian Revolution. There are still people alive who fought for the freedom, don't belittle their struggle and pain.Shame on you Mr. Mehta.