- Shatranj Ke Khiladi -Year: 1977
Based on: Munshi Premchand’s novel by the same name
Screenplay & Direction: Satyajit Ray
Cast: Sanjeev Kumar, Saeed Jaffrey, Shabana Azmi & Amjad Khan
This is almost a docu-drama on Pre-1857 India; it shows how the docility of India’s affluent upper middle class contributed to the establishment of the British Raj. Lucknow and its Nawab Wajid Ali Shah (an exemplary performance from Amjad Khan) provide the backdrop for the story of two chess-obsessed noblemen.
The film documents the sluggishness of Post-Mughal India, where Kings preferred poetry to diplomacy and the durbars witnessed more mushairas and mehfils than ministerial meetings.
Though a landmark in India’s period film genre, ’Shatranj Ke Khiladi’ is considered by most critics to be one of Ray’s unimpressive works. It is remembered more for the voiceover done by Amitabh Bachchan than for the political insights it gave.
- Jhansi Ki Rani -Year: 1953
Producer/Director: Sohrab Modi
India’s first technicolour film, ’Jhansi Ki Rani’ was Sohrab Modi’s dream-come-true project. He brought technicians from Hollywood to work on the SFX and battle sequences.
Mehtab, the star of the year, was cast in the title role. Modi essayed the role of the Raj Guru.
The film was received well by contemporary critics and it was applauded for "its authenticity in creating the right period and delineating historical events, its spectacular battle scenes and Mehtab’s stirring performance though she is far too old for the role." In spite of the critical acclaim, the film fell flat at the Box-Office.
- Junoon -Year: 1978
Based on: Ruskin Bond’s ’A flight of Pigeons’
Screenplay: Shyam Benegal Directed by: Shyam Benegal Produced by: Shashi Kapoor
Set in 1857 India, ’Junoon’ explores the romantic within the rebel and the rebel within the romantic. It is set in 1857, with the First War of Independence as its backdrop.
The perspective is that of Javed Khan, one of the leaders of the Mutiny (played by Shashi Kapoor).
’Junoon’ was India’s toast at most international film festivals (1978-1980), and it brought home a bagful of awards.
- Shaheed -Year: 1965
Directed by S. Ram Sharma .Produced by: Kewal Kashyap.Cast: Manoj Kumar, Prem Chopra
Bhagat Singh’s life has been subject to various Bolly takes, but none has been more impressive than this 1965 film. Manoj Kumar plays Bhagat with elan.
This is the first of Manoj Kumar’s ’patriotic series’. Kamini Kaushal, Pran, Iftekhar, Nirupa Roy, Prem Chopra, Madan Puri, Asit Sen, Indrani Mukherjee and Anwar Hussain form the supporting cast. The films music is by Prem Dhawan, and all the songs became super hits.
Ranjod Rathore’s cinematography wins both the battle and the war, for this one.
- Mangal Pandey: The rising .Year: 2005
Written by: Farrukh Dhondy.Directed by: Ketan Mehta.Produced by: Bobby Bedi
Cast: Aamir Khan, Toby Stevens, Rani Mukherji
Mangal Pandey: The Rising (Indian title) is the typical example of a speculative period film. It is supposed to be the biopic of a sepoy called Mangal Pandey, who had "spent the first bullet of the 1857 mutiny". Half of what we see on screen, here, is an assortment of historical fiction rather than fact.
Made on the lines of a ballad, the Ketan Mehta film failed to connect with the 21st Century Indian. This was primarily because of the fact that the premise for the film was an assumption rather than a truth.
- Saza-e-Kalapaani.Year: 1995
Produced by Mohanlal.Directed by Priyadarshan.Written by T Damodaran
Cast: Mohanlal, Tabu, Prabhu
A take on the infamous Andaman prison of the British (referred to as ’Kalapaani’), the prime purpose of this film was to imitate Hollywood movies of the ’Schindler’s List’ hue than to depict the prison realities of 1919.
Spectacularly mounted and dubbed in six Indian languages, ’Saza-e-Kalapaani’ was a moderate hit both at the marquee and with the critics.
- 1947-Earth.Year: 1998
Based on Bapsi Sidhwa’s novel ’Cracking India’.Written & Directed by Deepa Mehta
Produced by Anne Mason
Cast: Aamir Khan, Rahul Khanna, Nandita Das
This is about the pent-up energies of "non-violent" India that found a vent on the eve of Independence. Deepa Mehta deftly portrays ’Gadar’ (Partition) and the first wounds of Freedom!
The film was received well both at home and across the world.
- Saat Hindustani.Year: 1969
Produced, Directed & Written by KA Abbas
Cast: Utpal Dutt, Amitabh Bachchan, Jalal Agha, Madhu
’Saat Hindustani’ is known today as the debut vehicle of Amitabh Bachchan. But there is more to it than meets the eye. KA Abbas, inspired by Kurosawa’s ’Seven Samurai’, tells the heroic story of seven Indians who attempt to liberate Goa from the Portuguese colonial rule. Amitabh Bachchan played one of the seven Indians (a Muslim poet) captured by "the enemy nation" as POW.
- 1942: A love story
Written by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Kamna Chandra.Produced and Directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Cast: Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Manisha Koirala
The title for this movie could have been ’Love in the time of Quit India Movement’.
Written by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the screenplay oozes Mush!
1942 is considered to be the bloodiest year in India’s non-violent movement against the British. But for Naren Singh (played by Anil Kapoor) and Rajeshwari Pathak (Manisha Koirala), it is the time to sing "Kuch na Kaho!" The villain of this tale is a Psychotic British general who lives in a castle and loves to behead Indians by the dozen.
- Comic relief: Mard.Year: 1985
Written by: Inder Raj Anand/Pushpa Raj Anand.Produced and Directed by: Manmohan Desai
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Amrita Singh
’Mard’ is the story of Raju Tangewala (Amitabh Bachchan. Who else!), who is a contemporary of Mahatma Gandhi. He gets India her freedom in the space of three hours. This he achieves after facing innumerable perils at the hands of "khoon-choosing angrez". He falls into quicksand, but is rescued by a talking dog and a thinking horse. The "Angrez Hukumat" puts him in the fray with his imprisoned King-Dad, and is asked to commence a gladiatorial duel. The son recognizes the father (and vice-versa) and together they bring ’tabahi’ upon the British Raj.