Based on the historical Indian figure Mangal Pandey, this movie is about India's first fight for freedom. In 1857 AD, the whole of India is ruled by a company, formally known as the British East India Company, the most successful business empire in history. The company has its own laws, its own army, and its own rules, which must be followed by every British, as well as every Indian.
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Mangal Pandey is set in the backdrop of an event which the British refer to as the Sepoy Mutiny, and the Indian's as the first war of independence. Their dominance had been plundering the country, treating the locals unfairly, and making all the men soldiers of their army, or sepoys.
During a fierce battle in Afghanistan 5 years before 1857, Mangal Pandey saves the life of a wounded British captain, William Gordon. This ignites a strong friendship between the two, for Gordon gives his pistol in return to the heroic sepoy. Despite the race difference, their friendship was never challenged, until a new rifle is introduced known as the Enfield, which comes with a new cartridge, rumoured to be coated with cow and pig grease. Before the cartridge is loaded, it must be bitten open, which ignites anger and resentment among the Indian sepoys, for the cows are sacred to the Hindus and pig forbidden to Muslims.
When the Indians refuse to use the cartridge, Captain William Gordon, convinces Mangal Pandey that the rumour is false. In the trust of his friend, Mangal Pandey accepts the cartridge. However, when the Indian sepoys discover that the rumour is true, dispute and anger rises in their hearts, and a burning desire rises in their hearts to seek independence.
The sepoys then make a plan to go to war against the British and at the same time, have the element of surprise. But when a woman accidentally leaks the information to a British, their plan is of no use. The British take their whole Regiment to war against the sepoys, thus catching them by surprise. After all the sepoys run away in fear, the brave Mangal Pandey stands his ground and fights the British himself. This results in his injury; therefore he is taken by the British and kept in one of their prisons.
Eventually the British make a decision to hang him in front of all the Indians to make an example of him. Mangal Pandey accepts his punishment, and his friend William Gordon is in shame, for he knows he has lied to his friend.
Right after the split second Mangal Pandey is hanged, the Indians launch a surprise attack. Fighting with the Indians is a British man named Captain William Gordon, who decides to fulfill his friend's dream of independence.
The review of this Movie prepared by Walid Khalid
