FILM
PREVIEW: THE RISING (2005)
Director:
Ketan Mehta
Producer: Bobby Bedi
Cast: Aamir Khan, Rani Mukherjee, Toby Stephens and Amisha Patel
Music: A.R. Rahman
Radio
Sargam Predicted Rating: 8/10
Fans of
Aamir Khan can celebrate! After years away from the big screen, Bollywood's
selective superstar returns with the much-awaited epic The Rising. The
movie has become one of the most awaited releases of 2005 and the hype
will continue to grow until it releases later this year. Directed by
Ketan Mehta, The Rising also features Rani Mukherjee, Toby Stephens
and Amisha Patel in important roles. Here's Radio Sargam's preview:
The Rising
is an epic tale of friendship, love, loss and betrayal set against the
backdrop of the Indian Mutiny of 1857. British colonial rulers are plundering
the country for all its worth, treating the locals unjustly and causing
widespread resentment. Worst of all they are using the Indians as sepoys,
the infantry of the army, to control and regulate the population.
After a
hundred years of subjugation, India is awakening to the revolutionary
prospect of change and self-rule.
During
a fierce battle in the Afghan wars of the mid-century, Mangal, a heroic
sepoy rescues his British commanding officer William Gordon. The event
creates a strong friendship and binding loyalty between them that transcends
consideration of rank and race.
The friendship
is soon challenged, first by arrival of a charming and beautiful young
aristocrat, Emily Kent, and then by the introduction of controversial
new gun cartridges among the troops. The relationship is complicated
further when Gordon saves a beautiful young native girl, Jwala, from
the funeral pyre of her late husband, and falls in love with her.
The new
cartridges require soldiers to bite through their greased casing, made
of animal fat, and suspicion spreads that the British are ignoring religious
beliefs in favor of cheap weapons, and polluting their Muslim and Hindu
soldiers. Gordon assures Mangal that the cartridges are free from pollution
and demonstrating his total trust in Gordon, Mangal bites the cartridge.
They soon discover that it really is animal fat and the rumor of this
imposed pollution is the spark that ignites the powder keg of resentment
in the country. Mutiny breaks out with Mangal growing in stature to
lead the Indian people to freedom.
Set in
one of the most beautiful countries on earth, told across the divides
of time, The Rising tells the tale of friends, lovers and enemies, exploiters
and exploited, and the growth and awareness of a man and a nation.
This sweeping
epic is based on real historical events, seen as a trigger for Indian
independence. It has been filmed in India over 6 months with a mix of
British and Indian cast.
Release
Date: 2005
Written
by Robeel Haq
