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The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey

Play trailer Poster for The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey 2005 2h 30m Biography History Drama War Play Trailer Watchlist
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85% Tomatometer 13 Reviews 73% Popcornmeter 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.

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The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey

Critics Reviews

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Namrata Joshi Outlook 01/09/2019
2/4
Mangal Pandey is too dull. You'd forget it once you walk out of the hall. Go to Full Review Ray Bennett The Hollywood Reporter 08/23/2005
Sumptuously designed and beautifully shot. Go to Full Review Jaspreet Pandohar BBC.com 08/16/2005
3/5
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. Go to Full Review Kaleem Aftab The List 04/25/2019
3/5
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. Go to Full Review Mark R. Leeper rec.arts.movies.reviews 06/24/2009
8/10
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. Go to Full Review Ethan Alter Film Journal International 03/01/2007
A rousing, well-made epic that deserves to find a wider audience in this country. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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06/27/2013 should have been crisp without songs. See more 03/12/2013 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. See more 01/28/2013 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! See more 12/02/2012 Only Aamir Khan could pull it off, and no one else! A perfect potrayal of the most forgotten martyr of India!! See more 07/17/2011 Aamir Khan's weakest movie in present few years, and and the film Khetan Mehta made when he is on the edge of retirement. See more 04/12/2011 amar dekha history based movie gular moddhe shob cheye faltu....making joghonno See more Read all reviews
The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey

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Cast & Crew

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Ketan Mehta

Director

Aamir Khan

Mangal Pandey

Toby Stephens

Captain William Gordon

Rani Mukerji

Heera

Ameesha Patel

Jwala

Coral Beed

Emily Kent

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The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey

The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey (2005) The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey (2005) View more photos

Movie Info

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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