This album was criticized a lot probably due to the gigantic unmet expectations by many, but it certainly has some strong numbers in Mangal Mangal x 3, Rasiya, and Main Vari Vari. The Maula song in that one didn't appeal to me as much as other ARR sufi-devotional songs.
--- In arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com, Vithur <vith...@...> wrote: > > Time Out Capsule on Mangal > Pandey<http://satyamshot.wordpress.com/2009/03/23/time-out-capsule-on-mangal-pandey/> > I > > ndia, 1857. The `divide and rule' policy of the East India Company is firmly > entrenched. It is a testing time for all concerned when a new rifle, the > Enfield, is introduced for use by the sepoys, the Indian soldiers in the > British army: the cartridge is coated with a mixture of cow and pig fat. This > has to be bitten before being loaded, an abhorrent practice for both Hindus, > for whom the cow is sacred, and Muslims, who regard the pig as unclean. One > soldier, Mangal Pandey (Aamir Khan), challenges this policy, but in the > process he risks losing his life, his love Heera (Rani Mukherjee) and his > close (homoerotic?) friendship with a sympathetic British officer, William > Gordon (Toby Stephens). Mehta's account of the Sepoy Mutiny, or `India's > first war of independence', which led to the collapse of `the Company' and > the imposition of direct British rule, is an ambitious epic with its heart > in the right place, a story grounded in truth. It is engaging but sadly > fails to move the emotions. This is largely due to a script which tries to > cram in as much critique of the period as possible: the inequity of the > caste system, the horror of suttee, the iniquitous opium trade, the evils of > Empire. This leaves little room for the various characters to develop. That > said, it is rousing entertainment with strong performances from its > beautiful leads. AR Rahman's rustic compositions add to the appeal of a > technically well-crafted film which is a must-see for Indophiles. > Comparisons to Khan's earlier release, the superior Oscar-nominated `Lagaan' > (2001), are inevitable, but this is a worthy, intelligent follow-up. > > http://satyamshot.wordpress.com/2009/03/23/time-out-capsule-on-mangal-pandey/ > > -- > regards, > Vithur >
