Sepia Mutiny, the film

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MangalPandey.gifA new Bollywood film about the Sepoy Mutiny is nearing completion. The Rising, a patriotic screed that’s the love child of Lagaan and 1942: A Love Story, stars Aamir Khan, the ubiquitous Aishwarya Rai, Rani Mukherjee and Amisha Patel. It focuses on Mangal Pandey, the original militant vegetarian who sparked the rebellion. And nothing says ‘freedom fighter’ like a big, honkin’ moustache (vegetable wax only, please). Director Ketan Mehta hopes the film is subversive, not preachy:

“We have seen our history from the British perspective. Now let us see it from the Indian perspective…”

TheRising.jpgI have to admit the Brits are good sports about it, shelling out shillings for Lagaan and those adorable cricket-playing natives. But what about the odd appearance of Prince Ears at the film’s ceremonial kickoff? Chuck, just a hint: you were on the other side. Khan wiggled uncomfortably:

“This film is not against the Queen’s rule, but the East India Company, which ruled India then.”

A nuanced, sensitive position on war. Well, ok then. Mehta also did the art film Mirch Masala with Shabana Azmi and the film Sardar on the iron-willed annexer of Indian kingdoms, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. A.R. Rehman, who did the music for Lagaan, is scoring the film, to be titled Mangal Pandey for the Indian market.

Numerous villagers who all claim to be Pandey’s descendants are up in arms over a smooching scene in the film, the irony of which is left as an exercise for the reader. We at Sepia Mutiny are just chapped over being kissed off by their casting department for said scene, despite our obvious lip-locking skills.

2 thoughts on “Sepia Mutiny, the film”

  1. It’s instructive to note that the filmakers are trying to position the film as the “Indian perspective” as if there was such a monolithic thing. This is my only reservation to the name of this blog.

    The Sepoy Mutiny wasn’t an Indian vs. British thing. It was some Indians, including many who wanted to re-establish the Mughal crown at Dehli, versus Brits and other Indians, mainly those who were opposed to the old system.

    It is an event that will film well though, like the US civil war. From an anglocentric webpage about the event

    In 1857, the Indian Mutiny broke out and it rapidly became the greatest of all the imperial wars. It was followed avidly by the British public and as the myths of the Mutiny grew it came to be seen almost as a latter-day British Iliad with gentleman-warriors of homeric proportions manfully defending the position, dignity and God-given duty of their race.

    It was even called the ‘epic of the Race’ by the historian Sir Charles Crostwaithe and though this may sound ridiculous to the modern ear it was nothing more than a reflection of the confidence, indeed arrogance, with which the British of Victoria’s 20th year on the throne viewed the world in general and their empire in particular. It also reflected the shock and horror that the Mutiny had provoked in Britain and the pride that followed on the heels of Britain’s ultimate victory; one seemingly achieved against great odds. Though the Mutiny dragged on for almost two years it was effectively fought and won in a six-month whirlwind of murder, siege, atrocity, forced marches, heroism, savagery and brutality. Women and children were butchered by both sides. Great cities were sacked and the British armies which swept across the north of India to relieve their besieged comrades and avenge their murdered compatriots were perhaps the most enraged and cruellest troops ever to have been put in the field by the government and people of Britain.

  2. i just tell to every one somthing about amir khan’s ……..amir is a natural hero and also natural actor he is doing very well since qayamut se qayamut tuk ..look his face expressions in lagaan and now in mangal pandey ……. i like ustad nusrat fateh ali khan then i like aamir khan he is great actor no doubt about it ……………thanx