Yesterday I watched the movie, "Mangal Pandey- The Rising". There are lot of controversies going on about this movie. The reviews have not been very good. Even then I wanted to watch this movie badly.

I liked the movie. No, it is not the best movie I have ever seen. But it is a good movie. I think patriotism + Aamir Khan makes the movie worth watchable. It definitely throws light on the life of the forgotten hero. Aamir has provided full justice to this role. He does not have too many dialogues to deliver in this movie but his eyes say them all. An excellent actor, Aamir ( will blog about him some other time). I was disappointed by the music of the film though. The title song was the only one that impressed me. Rahman was too good in "The Legend of Bhagat Singh". Didn't find the same calibre of music in this film.

About the real Mangal Pandey- he started the war of independence. He sort of awakened the people of India who were in deep slumber and who were getting used to slavery in a way.
I got the following information from various sites:
" Mangal Pandey (d. 8 April 1857) also known as Shaheed Mangal Pandey, was a soldier of the 5th Company of the 34th Bengal Native Infantry (BNI) regiment of the British East India Company. He was born in village Nagwa in district Ballia, Uttar Pradesh.
An english scholar "Fisher" has written that Shri Mangal Pandey was having all qualities of a good soldier. He was so brave and capable to embrace his death peacefully.According to the records available in Jabalpur museum( general order books). Shri Mangal Pandey was due to be executed on 18th April but he was hanged ten days before i.e. 8th April and it was kept secret. Because english rules were well aware of the fact that if Mangal Pandey remains alive it will endanger British rule.
Thus Mangal Pandey became the first freedom fighter & and martyr of 1857. The name of Mangal Pandey became an emblem of revolt against British rule. "

Amazing! In one of his interviews, Aamir Khan said that he found it difficult to act out the scene in which Mangal pandey is hung. He kept wondering about how could people accept death so gracefully, fearlessly and selflessly.

A big salute to all those people who gave up their lives for the sake of our nation. Their bravery will always be unmatched and commendable.