Mangal Mangal Mangal Mangal...
Okay, okay hold on… ya its not a classic, its not a Lagaan, the film-makers did not do their homework properly, Ketan Mehta is a different ship captain than Ashutosh Gowariker, A.R Rahman is a shade of himself – all these apart, it is still a must watch film especially for the younger generation. Watch it for the perfectionist – isn’t the presence of Amir Khan, a big enough reason for not to miss it. Here we have an actor who gets into the blood of the character he portrays. He is no stammering shahrukh, shaky salman, chocolaty shahid, or meaningless others. With his rustic long hairs and bushy moustache, he is Mangal Pandey, a foot soldier working under the East India Company for a meager salary of Rs84 a year. The movie starts with the clarion of an elephant which seemed like the bugle of the first war of independence. The cinematography is flawless. The fighting scenes between the company and the Afghans are shot beautifully. The narrative voice of Om Puri is very appealing. I liked the way Amir bows to a cow after bathing in the river, the way he reprimands a sweeper (an untouchable) every time he bumps into him, the way he wrestles with his firangi friend Captain Gordon in the akhada. Toby stephens (remember the villain in the bond movie Die Another Day), has done full justice to the role of Gordon – though I guess Ketan Mehta stretched a bit too far in depicting their friendship. Yes before I forget let me tell you that this film is not devoid of heroines – and in fact we have two. Rani Mukherjee as the prostitute heera is ok. An actress as fine as Kiron Kher has been wasted in the role of a brothel-keeper. I almost jumped out of my seat looking at her cleavage in the first scene – that was totally uncalled for. In fact the low-cut blouse that every female character wore is not characteristic of that era and that is something that pinched me – and probably you won’t feel very comfortable watching those scenes with your family. Mr Mehta forgets that the salivating voyeurs would never opt for Mangal Pandey – they have myriad other options. But if you remember his last film Aar ya paar (the scenes between Jackie Shroff and Kamal Siddhu), you will understand that Mehta can’t help being cheap. And yes, there is Amisha Patel too. Looking at her I was reminiscent of her expressions in Gadar ek prem katha. The relationship between her and Gordon has been portrayed passionately. Seems like Amisha is finding a hard time getting leading roles these days. Some of the newspapers have questioned whether Mangal Pandey was an accidental hero. I felt bad to read it about a martyr whom many historians credit to be the forerunner in the war against the company. The scene in which Amir was mericilessly being beaten by the goras, and forced to speak tu kutta hai, and he retorts by saying tu kutta hai to the gora, is passionate. Nikhat Kazmi (reviewer in times of India) may find this formula old and trite, but I liked when some unassuming young people clapped and whistled in the theatre. Now, don’t say that it’s cheap and apposite only for Mithun Da movies. Sometimes that’s a real fun ;)
posted by shashi at
6:13 PM
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