First things first - I read all about the hype that was created for this movie.
Aamir’s first movie after Lagaan, another historical with a great budget , great actors from hollywood - all whetting up people’s appetite ! and to top it - a news item in the paper on thursday said - The rising sold out till monday !
so I decided to go for another movie on friday - made my way to the theatre where the premerie of the Rising took place - Inox. walked up to the counter and on the prompting of my gf simply asked - 2 tickets for Mangal Pandey expecting the reply Sorry sir sold out. but I was shocked when the counter guy asked me - which show ?? so finally got 2 tickets and walked in for the 2’o clock show and another shock - the theatre was 40% full.
anyways thats another story - down to the movie -
The rising tells the tale of Mangal Pandey - the sepoy who is the face of the first mutiny against the british in 1857. it follows his life as a soldier in the british army who becomes a freedom fighter when the new catridges for the new guns introduced are coated with cows and pigs fat.
Aamir Khan is good in the movie - he is what we expect ! Rani (as the prostitute) and Amisha (as the reluctant Sati) have 3-4 scenes each with Rani having a song (Mujra). The surprise packet of the movie is Toby Stephens as Aamir’s friend and Capt. Gordon. he emotes well though his hindi is not good exactly - we understand what he is trying to say.
The music is so-so and the songs intrude into the narrative. The cinematography is good capturing the villages in color - looks beautiful specially the sati scene !
Ketan Mehta as the director dissapoints - As far as I’m concerned these kind of movies , the historicals I mean, need to have passion oozing out of each frame and its here that the director falls short , though is brilliantly supported by his cast. If u have watched Lagaan , Gadar , Bhagat singh , Swades - those are the kind of movies that inspire passion but its just not there in the Rising.
So would I recommend you to watch it ? I would say Yes- for the brilliant performances and the cinematography.
After coming out of the theatre , you will feel that u have just watched a commercial masala movie , atleast I did.