The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey

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The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey

Released Aug 3, 2005

2h 30m

Biography

History

Drama

War

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85%

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13 Reviews

73%

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250+ Ratings

It is the year 1857. The British are plundering the resources of their Indian subjects, who have reached their breaking point. Soldier Mangal Pandey (Aamir Khan) leads an uprising against India's imperialist occupiers -- events the British call a mutiny and the Indians call a war for independence. Throughout the violent events, Mangal maintains a friendship with Capt. William Gordon (Toby Stephens), who sympathizes with India's subjugated citizens and obeys his conscience.

Namrata Joshi

Outlook

Mangal Pandey is too dull. You'd forget it once you walk out of the hall.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 9, 2019

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Ray Bennett

The Hollywood Reporter

Sumptuously designed and beautifully shot.

Aug 23, 2005

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Jaspreet Pandohar

BBC.com

The Rising succeeds in entertaining and educating audiences about an important turning point in Indian history. However, where it stumbles is in its inability to engage on an emotional level.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 16, 2005

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Kaleem Aftab

The List

The obligatory Bollywood songs are of poor quality... It's a shame because the central story and the dynamics of power explored by The Rising are first class and in keeping with the traditions of the 50s golden age of Indian cinema.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 25, 2019

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Mark R. Leeper

rec.arts.movies.reviews

This is a big, spectacular film that may even be an education for American audiences. We see little historical spectacle from Hollywood these days and hopefully Bollywood will help fill the gap.

Rated: 8/10

Jun 24, 2009

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Ethan Alter

Film Journal International

A rousing, well-made epic that deserves to find a wider audience in this country.

Mar 1, 2007

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Audience Member

should have been crisp without songs.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

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Audience Member

71% Clearly, this film is no epic. They have actually put up a lot of money( 40 crores) in this film. The film is not bad. The performances are great, especially from Aamir Khan and Toby Stephens. The problem here is that if you actually concentrate on history, then you would never be able to make this into an epic. It is because Mangal Pandey's life is not worth that much( of course no disrespect) because Pandey died soon after the rising had symbolically began. Also the unity b/w Indian King's shown in the movie is not exactly true because almost all of the except a few wanted the glories of a possible victory alone for themselves. There were many traitors from within as well, like the woman who lead to the downfall of the rising in first place.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An interesting movie that centralizes around the friendship between two individuals, one Indian and the other British, during British colonial India. Mangal Pandey saved William Gordon's life, and the two become good friends. Exhausted by many years of cruel tyranny, an uprising begins in search for freedom. Great cast- Aamir Khan, Rani Mukherjee, Amisha Patel, and Toby Stephens. Worthy!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Only Aamir Khan could pull it off, and no one else! A perfect potrayal of the most forgotten martyr of India!!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

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Audience Member

Aamir Khan's weakest movie in present few years, and and the film Khetan Mehta made when he is on the edge of retirement.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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Audience Member

amar dekha history based movie gular moddhe shob cheye faltu....making joghonno

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

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Ketan Mehta

Director

Aamir Khan

Mangal Pandey

Toby Stephens

Captain William Gordon

Rani Mukerji

Heera

Ameesha Patel

Jwala

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John Rabe

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Synopsis

It is the year 1857. The British are plundering the resources of their Indian subjects, who have reached their breaking point. Soldier Mangal Pandey (Aamir Khan) leads an uprising against India's imperialist occupiers -- events the British call a mutiny and the Indians call a war for independence. Throughout the violent events, Mangal maintains a friendship with Capt. William Gordon (Toby Stephens), who sympathizes with India's subjugated citizens and obeys his conscience.

Director: Ketan Mehta
Producer: Bobby Bedi, Deepa Sahi
Screenwriter: Farrukh Dhondy
Distributor: Yash Raj Films
Production Co: NH Studioz
Genre: Biography, History, Drama, War
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 3, 2005, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Aug 12, 2005
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 16, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA): $874.4K
Runtime: 2h 30m

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