Original subtitles

Hearken o' people...

the drum sounds the call

Now awake and arise

From your deep slumber

Awaken, now awaken

The Earth comes alive as dawn heralds a new day

Rivers sparkle with new life and hope rises in oceans anew

Awaken, now awaken

Be blessed, be blessed, be blessed. May all be blessed

The towns are awake, the homes are abuzz, every village is astir

Valleys awaken and so do their trees, look, shadows are coming to life !

Be blessed, be blessed, be blessed. May all be blessed

When dawn comes to bathe at the banks of the Ganges,

dark night retreats before the Sun's flashing sword

Sacred fires are lit for prayers. Go now and greet your gods

He who asks, shall receive, and sins of ages will be washed away

The market shakes off its slumber and stretches to life

Landlord, trader, priest or soldier as per your worth, your value is weighed

Singing songs of love and blessing the Sufi wanders strumming his tunes...

May the doors of each man's fortune open and may all be well in this world of ours''

Be blessed, be blessed, be blessed, May all be blessed

Be blessed, be blessed, be blessed, May all be blessed

1857 A.D.

The entire lndian subcontinent is ruled by...

a company. The British East lndia Company

The most successful business enterprise in history

The Company has its own laws, its own administration

lts own army

lt controls the destiny of one fifth of humanity

Get it over with

Mangal Pandey

Sepoy, 34th Regiment, Native lnfantry at Barrackpore

You have been found guilty of mutiny and conspiracy...

to overthrow the government of the Honourable East lndia Company,

by a duly constituted court martial

You have been sentenced to death

Well come on, hurry up

Mangal Pandey, do you have a last wish ?

You cannot grant my last wish

Yet it will be fulfilled

Time's up. Hang him

Sir, the hangman...

he ran away

Yes sir, he refused to hang Mangal Pandey

We tried to persuade him, threaten him but... but he ran away, sir

Christ ! This is nonsense

You... you hang him

That's not my duty, sir

Damn your duty, it's an order ! Move !

l'm a Brahmin, sir. lt's against my faith

Send a message to Calcutta and get another hangman

Until then, take him down

Take him down

The Earth will be scorched

Rivers of blood will flow

Millions will die

And l, William Gordon...

feel responsible for the inevitable

4 Years earlier, on the mountains of Afghanistan

Fire

lnfantry... charge

ATTACK !

Quick ! Take them to base camp !

You did well, Captain

The Afghans are on the run and we hold the pass

Pandey...

Gordon sir... no

Let him be

Captain Gordon

William, are you all right ?

No don't... lie down

Here...

l want you to have my pistol

l've got nothing else to give you

Please

Take it

4 Years later,

31st December 1856, Calcutta

New Year celebrations at the Governor General's palace

Who's that ?

Lord Canning... Governor General. - Not him, you fool

l mean, the chap next to him

Mr Lockwood, the Company auditor...

sent by London to investigate all the monkey business going on in the Company

And next to him is Mr Kent

Bigtime trader

Some of the top Company officers are on his payroll

My lords, ladies, and gentlemen...

pray silence for...

His Excellency Lord Canning...

Governor General of lndia

My lords, ladies and gentlemen...

as a servant of the Honourable East lndia Company...

that has ruled the territories of Hindoostan...

for a hundred years...

l must profess pride and an equal humility

lt is my privilege to recall...

that our forebears came to these territories as traders

And we now find ourselves, by the will of God...

masters of the entire lndian subcontinent from Khyber to Comorin

What did he say ?

The Company Raj completes 100 years in lndia

From traders they became rulers

My god ! What is she wearing ?

And we bring to lndia the benefits of modern governance...

scientific progress, and, above all...

justice

Has he mentioned the Queen yet ? - No. He says they're doing us a favor

We have earned the love and gratitude of the people of lndia

And we shoulder the burden of the white man without complaint

Now...? - No

He says, we lndians are grateful to them !

Now l call upon you to join with me as l propose the loyal toast

Your mother must be turning in her grave ! Shame on you, Emily

Looking like a nautch girl! - Do l look like a real nautch girl ?

Captain Hewson, you must know

l am unfamiliar with the detail of the attire of dancing girls

Ms Kent, the costume is perfect

Any nautch girl in lndia would blush with envy

You keep the company of nautch girls, Captain Gordon ?

l pursue beauty wherever l can find it

Toast

The queen

The Queen... to the Queen

Oh ! So sorry !

You black bastard

What the hell are you upto ?

Sir, sorry sir. Please...

You, lift him

Hewson, that's enough

l'll teach you to touch a white woman you black dog !

Forgive me sir, it was an accident

Enough sahib

Enough

The black dog will die

Miss Kent... on behalf of... - lt's not to me that you owe the apology

Come inside

Pull the fan

Faster

Harder, damn you

Kamla !

Oh god, one push into her paradise...

and l'll pull your fan in hell forever

The quartermaster showed Gordon the new Enfield rifle...

that the Company was going to introduce in lndia

Absolute beauties...

And speaking of beauties...

l saw you appreciating Ms.Kent in a sari

Me... On the Company's pay?

Ah! But Kent is filthy rich

Vultures and merchants of arms. The only ones to profit from wars, yes!

Amazing ! The Company has connected the entire country through wires

ln a blink of an eyelid messages travel from Calcutta to Delhi

Nonsense ! lmpossible !

lt's got to be true ! lt's in the newspaper !

But how can messages get into wires ?

l'll tell you. Easy ! These whites have mastered black magic

Yeah ! Must've used a witch's hair

Yes and it's got an odd name too ... taelly - garaffe

What ? Wow ! That sounds scary

You bet your ass ! We're all in for a jolly ride now

Coming... coming...

l'm here now, my love

Here we are, l know you're hungry

You're dry

That white woman's baby has sucked you dry

What's left for him ?

Here, use this on your nipple, it'll make him sleep

Don't you dare give opium to my baby

Hey, hey my baby, my love, why are you crying ?

Why are you crying?

Hush now, aren't you the son of a warrior ?

Why is he always crying ?

No nothing, it's just colic

Come on Veeru, we're late for the pit

Coming, coming

Come on, get him !

Scissor-throw ! Give him the scissor-throw !

Where's Mangal ? - ln the wrestling pit, sir

Captain sahib...

want to try your strength against a black man ?

Uh-oh, he's had it now !

Bravo Captain sahib, way to go !

Come on Mangal, don't spare him !

Why didn't you come today ?

Tell me

l was angry

Angry ? Why ?

Hewson was killing that man...

and you did nothing

What was l supposed to do ? Stand between a fellow officer and a...

And a black dog !

Say it ... say it !

You don't understand

l've spent half my life here, the best part of my life !

What have l got to go back to ?

You still did nothing

You're right, l should've stopped him from whipping any black dog

l'm sorry, all right ?

All right ?

Now... are you still angry with me huh ? Huh ?

All right, no... no

l'm beaten. You're forgiven

Bhang, my friend, elixir of the gods, is Lord Shiva's favoured potion

Come on Mangal, have some bhang, liven your spirits

Want to have some bhang, sahib ? - Er... bhang ? Doesn't it, you know...

Don't worry, it doesn't bite or scold. lt's like a good mother

Strokes you, sings you lullabies tells you stories...

and kisses you to sleep. - Well, l'll have to try some of that

Because my mother certainly never did any of that

Easy sahib, easy. You don't want two stepmothers quarrelling in your head

Ration and roti, the Company's pay

Give us your life for a shilling a day

Shilling a day boys, a shilling a day

While the boom of the cannon may blow you away !

Mangal... that's Hewson's horse

Come on

Bastards ! Which bastard did this ?

My silly heart can't contain its excitement...

when everything gets going for a nobody like me

May Lord Ram bless you, Mangal

Ram - Ram

AsSalaamu Alaykum Mirza sahib. -- Ram - Ram, Mangal

All well ?

Oye ! You cockeyed fool ! Can't you see ?

A twisted rope is strongest, a twisted eyesight, deepest

Don't touch me, you scoundrel. You want to defile a Brahmin ?

Come on, we're all untouchables now. The Company reigns. All trash is equal

Mind your tongue, you dog. - Dog ? Me ?

Who barks to guard the Company's loot ? You or me ?

Oh ! You deserve a thrashing, wait

And who wags his tail for the white man ? You or me ?

And who's going to bite the new cartridge dipped in animal fat ?

Animal fat ? - Yes. Cow and pig fat

That's used to grease the new cartridge

lnto the mouth... bite... fire ... boom ! Go straight to hell

Boom goes your faith, boom goes your honour

Shut up, liar !

Silence

This is no fish market

Let one man speak

Mangal Pandey. Sepoy, 5th Company. 34th Native lnfantry Regiment

34th eh ? At ease

What is it ?

Sir, we hear that the cartridge of the new rifle is greased...

and must be bitten before loading. - And what of it ?

Sir, the grease coating is made of cow and pig fat

The cow is sacred to the Hindus, the pig forbidden to the Muslims

We can't touch such a cartridge. lt is sacrilege

Who is spreading this rot ?

The news is all over, sir

Nonsense ! No truth to it, my man

Hasn't the Company always cared for you ?

Now don't worry and go home. Some mischief-monger is misleading you

There is no such cartridge. There will be no such cartridge

Dismissed

Gather round... gather round,

gather round... gather round

The world's a marketplace, my friend

Gather round... gather round

Only shops from end to end

Gather round

You'll find it all here

lt's all on sale

You'll find it all here - For a penny

it's all on sale - For a penny

All your heart's desires... - For a penny

you're sure to find here. - For a penny

Food and drink, trinkets and baubles...

for a penny, a penny, it's all for sale

Cloth and grain, friendship and love

for a penny, a penny, it's all for sale

Hey Gordon sahib

This is Miss Emily Kent. Miss Kent, this is Mangal

Silks and muslin, satin, cotton, priest and salvation...

rice and pulses...

All for sale

For a penny, a penny

Fortune-teller, healer, poet and tailor...

All for sale

For a penny, a penny

Honour and dignity, mango and pears, crowns of royals, all mirrors and glass

All for sale... for a penny's worth

All battles and lies all music and noise...

All for sale... for a penny's worth !

Take her, take her...

at a throwaway price

Buy yourself a slave...

Look at this beauty, check out her curves

Slave or servant...

wife or whore...

she's what you want...

and then some more

Make your bid. - Eleven

Stop kidding

Fifteen

Emily was surprised that though slavery was abolished in Britain...

the Company allowed it in lndia.

Gordon explained that the Company itself bought these girls...

for the pleasure of white soldiers lt helped prevent the spread of disease in the army

l have a gem here

Let me show you

Hands off, you pimp !

Bloody bitch !

Don't mess with me

She's a spirited mare eh ?

Just waiting to be reined in

So who's going to be the lucky man ? Come on, let's hear it

Sixty Rupees

l think l've seen enough

Seventy

Eighty Rupees

That's better, eighty

Anyone else ?

Quick ! Or this meat will go to the whites and you'll be left ogling

Wow, what eyes...

the entire Company Raj could drown in them

What's your name ?

Come on stand up... up

Let's get a look at you

Turn around

Packaging seems all right

All right?! By God she's a gem, a real diamond

Okay then, let's call her that. Heera (Diamond)

But she needs polishing

Get one thing straight, girl, l am Lol Bibi

And l'm the boss here

Many trinkets like you decorate my shoes. Got that ?

And one more thing...

this is a pleasure house exclusively for the whites

You'll have to work very hard

Men aren't easy to please, no matter what their colour

That's true ! Ask me, l have suffered all the various shades !

One of the Company's biggest trades was that of opium.

lt forced lndian farmers to grow it, bought it from them at a pittance...

and sold it in China at a profit.

When the Chinese Emperor resisted...

the Company waged a war against him.

To fight and die, lndian sepoys were there after all.

And they called it the Free Market.

Captain Gordan, You were meant to be singing too...

l'm afraid l'm unfamiliar with the song.

Not know it ? What are you, some sort of a pagan ?

Didn't they thrash it into you in school ?

No sir.

They should've. Which school did you attend ?

Let me guess, it wasn't Marlborough or Rugby ?

No sir, my family are Catholics, from Glasgow. l went to parish school

A papist ! Come to think of it, l haven't seen you at church.

l must have imagined you were with your famous nautch girls.

Aren't they beautiful ? l picked them on our ride this evening

Ah, you must have ridden out in the direction of Kashigunj ?

Yes, l was astounded. Acres of bright red poppies

Are they part of some religious ritual ?

No, no. lt's Company land.

Why does the Company grow poppies ?

The poppy, Miss Kent is the sole source of opium

The Honourable East lndia Company forces lndian farmers to grow them

Opium ? - lndeed. Most of it is bought up...

by the Company at prices fixed by them. And then shipped to China...

to help turn an entire nation into opium addicts

But why ?

lt's the only thing we can sell the Chinese...

in return for the tea and silks that we Europeans are addicted to

l think Gordon, the ladies ought to be spared this lecture

But the Chinese Emperor resists, he no longer wants to trade in opium

So the company decides to wage a war against him

And in this war it wants lndian sepoys to fight and die

The circle is complete...

and we call it the free market

You abuse my hospitality

lf l have spoken out of turn sir, l apologise

After all l'm just a common soldier

lt's a subject you'd know more about than l

When Kent humiliated Gordon about his humble beginnings...

Gordon couldn't stand for it.

William... l'm so sorry - Emily, there's no need

Gordon liked Emily, but realized that he did not belong in this elite circle.

When traders become rulers then the common man pays the price

But now Nana Saheb will make the Company pay

Really ? How ?

His minister, Azimullah, has returned from England with Queen Victoria's letter...

which clearly states that Nana Saheb is right and the Company is wrong

Futile. Nana Saheb has only a letter while the Company has guns

But sir, the gun is a treacherous lover,

there's no telling whom she'll set her sights upon !

What's up ?

What the bloody hell is going on ?

Broken axle, sir. Two boxes of cartridges have fallen down

The new Enfield...

is the best rifle in the world

lt will feel no different to your musket

A bit lighter

Accurate to a thousand yards,

five times the range of your old Brown Bess

And now, the new cartridge. lt consists of gunpowder and a lead

You pick up the cartridge and bite the end off, like so

You pour the gunpowder in,

followed by the lead

And then...

you ram the Johnny down. Ram it down, tight

Then you're ready to fire

You... try

You... and you

Come on lads, look lively

Come on, it won't bark back

Corporal...

Yes sir ? - What is the matter ?

The grease, sir. We cannot put the grease in our mouth

Then where will you put it, man ? Come on, be sensible

What's the matter, Captain ?

lt's the cartridges, sir.

The sepoys say they saw dogs licking grease off them in the bazaar

They saw what ?

Dogs, licking the new cartridges

The men believe they've been greased with the fat of pigs and cows, sir

And are they ?

The Company's supplier, sir. l checked with him. And he assured me...

there was no truth to it

There you are, Captain White man's word. Knock the superstition out of them

Still sir, shouldn't we be careful ? - You heard me, Captain

The Quartermaster claimed that the cartridges were clean.

A white man's word was good enough for the general.

He ordered Gordon to set the soldiers' fears to rest.

The Company respects all religions and will never break faith

And l, as an officer of the Company give you my word...

that this cartridge is greased with neither the fat of pigs or cows

Will a loyal sepoy please step forward and volunteer to fire the gun.

What am l supposed to tell him now ? He has already done what he had to

We can't let this pass. We must confront him with this

You think he'll listen to us ? - Here he comes. Talk to him

Aye Mangal, why did you bite the bullet ?

You're an outcaste now. You'll pay for it.

Just because you speak a little English, you think you're a bloody white man ?

Now because of you, they'll force us as well

Shut your miserable mouths

Gordon sahib said they're clean. That's enough for me.

And what if Gordon sahib is lying ?

Gordon sahib will never lie to me

That's fine, but what if the cartridge-story turns out to be true ?

Then l'll burn the company down

Now scram !

There. Look at that attitude

Gordon sahib, Will you tell me something?

Yes, Why not?

What is the Company?

Why do you ask ?

l need to know

Company...?

A Company is an entity created entirely for the purpose of making a profit

And what does it do ? - What does it do !

Well it buys and sells, anything. lndigo, spices, opium

Love, honour, truth... anything

Yes but... who is the Company ?

ln your story of the Ramayan...

you have a character Ravana. The chap with ten heads, right ?

Well, the Company has thousands of heads...

all stuck together with the glue of greed. You understand ?

Hey, is that a Sati ?

Come on

Gordon sahib, l don't think we should. - Come on, it's a Sati !

Glory to woman who accompanies her husband in death

Glory be !

Stop this

l said, stop this immediately !

Come here, come along

Sahib, you better leave. These are sacred ceremonies

But Sati has been banned. Burning a widow is a crime

Captain sahib, don't interfere. You're tampering with our ancient customs

And you're tampering with my ancient custom. l don't stand by and watch murder

Return the woman. Or you'll regret it

You'll have to kill me first !

Come on !

Get him !

Lynch him

Anybody who dares touch the sahib is a dead man

Sahib, save the girl ! l'll deal with these bastards

Go sahib... go... go

Oh God ! A Sati ! But she is alive !

You're damn right she is !

But they will come for her ! lt's a question of their honour

Return her, sahib ! - No one will touch her !

That's the law

What are we going to do with her, Mangal ?

Her relatives will surely kill her. She has nowhere to go

Come out

Don't be afraid

You're safe here

No one will touch you

Come

How are you feeling ? Did you sleep ?

What's your name ?

l am going to work but don't worry...

l have posted guards. You'll be safe

They will come... for me

Who ?

Relatives

My husband was a powerful man, lord of a hundred villages

l'm sorry you lost him. Any children ?

No, he was very old. Sixty, when he married me

He had grown-up children

He was very sick

Sahib the village chieftain has come to meet you

He says it's important

Go in... and don't worry

Sahib, don't play with our honour

What do you mean ?

Return the woman to us

What ? So that you can kill her ?

That is her destiny

Not anymore

Don't involve yourself in matters you don't understand

That will not be good for you

Are you threatening an officer of the East lndia Company ?

You listen to me !

You so much as set foot into the Cantonment again,

and l will shoot you ! You understand me ?

Do you understand me ?

Now get out

ln the course of his investigations into corruption in the Company...

Lockwood raided the godown of a Parsee merchant, Sorabjee.

Search the place

There is no need for all that, Sir

Search it. - lt is all legitimate

The search uncovered stocks of opium.

Sir, look at this

Seal the stock, arrest this man. - Sergeant-major...

Mr Lockwood, you are a man of high powers

But you've been here only a few days, sir

You must try to understand - Mr Sorabji you are aware...

that The East lndia Company has a monopoly on the opium trade

lt is obvious, you have been indulging in your own private dealings

Mr Lockwood, l am acquainted with you British...

and l have had dealings for years with the Company officials

l will be very proud to make you part of our arrangements

Are you offering to bribe me, you blackguard !

Sir, l have the deepest respect for you as a gentleman

l am simply trying to explain how trade works in lndia

lt could be beneficial to you. - You mistake me sir

l'm here to bury corruption, not fan it. - Corruption is a strong word, sir

lt is our custom, as lndians, to give small gifts

l must quieten your displeasure and pay a fine. 300 pounds in gold?

Damn your eyes !

Three thousand pounds

Now ?

Three.. thousand.. pounds !

lndia is rich, sir

Lockwood did not succumb to Sorabjee's offer of a huge bribe.

lnstead he forced Sorabjee to name the villages...

from which he bought the opium.

Every man is reminded...

that growing, buying or selling opium...

without the permission of the Company...

is illegal and punishable

You have broken the law

Therefore by the order of the Collector and Magistrate...

your land and property is hereby confiscated !

But how are we to blame ?

White sahibs tell us to grow, we grow. White sahibs tell us to sell, we sell

Don't take our lands sahib ! Where will we go ?

Have mercy, sahib

For god's sake, have mercy

Get your hands off

The Company is cruel !

Get out ! Go away !

Our children will starve ! - Leave us alone

Fire !

No sir !

That's not necessary, l'll deal with this

l said fire !

No... no... don't shoot. - We're your brothers

What are you thinking ?

Does this happen back home in my village as well ?

We're soldiers. lt's our job to fight, to kill

To kill an unknown enemy is easy. But to kill people who are your own...

You were obeying orders, Mangal

That's our duty That is the price of the salt we eat

Sometimes l wonder if there are more important things in life than salt

l'm a slave to your charms

l'm a slave to your charms

l'm a slave to your charms

l'm a slave to your charms

Your love for me is like...

Your love for me is like... a honey-dipped dagger

l'm a slave to your charms

Your burning gaze pierces me like arrows

Where did you learn such deadly skill ?

My heart's wounded... but the pain is so exquisite

l'm a slave to your charms

Once l was a blossoming bud...

flowering in a garden of sunshine

No restless days,

no sleepless nights

l was innocent and carefree...

and then l met you !

oh, what a price l'm paying for having trusted you...

oh, what a price l'm paying for having trusted you !

Your love for me is like... a honey-dipped dagger

l'm a slave to your charms

She has already been promised for the first night...

to the Company's senior officer. you cannot take her sahib, l beg you

Out of my way woman, l'm taking her

No, not for double the money, please

Her first night will be with me and that's what she wants to...

don't you darling ! - Don't create trouble for me

Enough !

Did you not hear ! The woman said something. Leave the girl

One more word out of you and l'll have you horsewhipped !

You're not going anywhere !

Bastard !

l'll get you for this, you nigger !

l'll teach you a lesson, you son of a whore !

l say, leave him !

You scoundrels ! You're wrecking my shop

No ! Not upstairs !

You'll destroy my rooms ! Who'll pay for the damage ?

You still haven't told me your name

Jwala

Hey stop ! - lt's urgent

Where are you going ? - We need to meet Gordon sahib

Gordon sahib ! He's killing Mangal ! - What... who ?

Hewson sahib has gone to the jail to kill Mangal Pandey

You dog ! You dare assault an officer !

Say you are a dog

Say you are a dog !

You are a dog

Make the black bastard shit blood

Stop... stop it

Four men against one ! You cowardly bastard

You think you can kill this man and get away with it ?

The commandant won't take a black man's word for it, will he ?

Well, if he'll take a white man's he'll bloody well take mine

You sir, you're no white man

Let's get out of here

Come on

Cheers to Mangal ! Long live Mangal !

Next

Quick, lift it up. You wouldn't be here if you were the shy sort

C'mon doc, quit peeping up skirts all day. Treat a hero for once !

lsn't he the one who fought with Captain Hewson ?

No ! He's the one who taught him a lesson !

Come baby ! l could teach you a lesson or two myself

Oh dear ! What a waste of energy ! Why don't you try your strength on us ?

Yes ! l've never tasted a hero

For you it'll be free. ln fact, we'll pay

Shut up ! Go sell your bodies to the whites... go

We just sell our bodies,

you soldiers sell your souls !

ln the course of my investigations l have discovered

that you have been compromising senior officers,

falsifying accounts, in fact sir, you have been cheating the company

l have done nothing that others have not done before me

You have been smuggling opium into China on your own behalf, Mr Kent

You have evidence ?

Lockwood accused Kent of carrying on illegitimate trade in opium...

and produced Sorabjee as evidence.

You wanted me to go to prison for you. - No sir, you pay for your own sins

Mr Lockwood, you would persuade a native to point a finger at me !

l'm just a puppet in his hands, sir

lf you lay a hand on me...

the reverberations will reach the House of Lords

Kent warned Lockwood that taking him on...

Lockwood could be taking on the House of Lords.

Anyone there ?

Hukum Singh

l'm used to it, sahib

But l'm not

lt's all right, come on

What are you doing ?

Give me the gun

Give me the bloody gun !

l don't want you to go

l was just at Lol Bibi's...

your Juliet is really worried about you, mate

She sent milk for you, specially laced with turmeric

But l'm an untouchable and what l've touched you won't consume

So l saved you the dilemma and l drank it myself !

l want to meet her

Oh, so the fire rages here as well

But how ? You aren't a white man, eunuch or an untouchable.

l want to meet her

What's your name ?

Heera

What caste ?

People on sale have none. Whoever pays gets to choose my caste

Where are you from ?

Don't know

As a child l was kidnapped, then sold

Since then, it's been one sale after another

Want to escape ?

Escape ? With you ?

You're badly hurt

Did you drink the milk l sent ?

Ya

Lying to me ?

Lol Bibi is looking for you

You'll get into trouble

Like the fish thrashes helplessly in a net...

so do l in your love

At the core of my being...

l feel an insatiable thirst...

and my every nerve is aflame

Oh tell me, lass, who's that thief of your thoughts ?

That philanderer, that scoundrel,

he sins in my head

That philanderer, that scoundrel,

he sins in my head

Locking his eyes with mine...

he steals my sleep and peace of mind

That trickster... oh my rascal lover

Slowly but surely...

she falls in his trap

As the flames begin to lick her...

her veil begins to slip

That trickster

Oh my rascal lover

Oh tell me, lass, who is he ?

Who's that thief of your dreams ?

He's a soldier, a brave warrior, who by my word, has stolen my heart

l didn't think at first sight that he would possess me so

But my heart began to beat aloud...

and l knew l was lost

How l panicked...

and burned with shame...

when he took my hand and pulled me close

Then clouds of desire gathered,

and burst forth with love's rain. Oh that trickster

Oh you scoundrel

What's up Davar ?

Damn you, Nainsukh !

You cockeyed scoundrel ! Can't you find someone else to bump into ?

Who better than you, now that we're both the same... untouchables

What nonsense, you swine !

Well, you've bitten the bullet and licked the fat

You've lost your caste, you have nothing left to lose now

Shut up... that's a lie !

Your ''lie'' is being manufactured in a factory in Calcutta

Want to see for yourself ?

Do you ?

Come, my brothers, come

l won't stay silent any longer, even if it costs me my life !

lt's true about the cartridges. See for yourself, pig fat and cow fat

May the devil stay away !

ls this your factory ? - Only in name...

the real owner is an Englishman

l am a god-fearing man, brothers, l respect both Hindus and Muslims

Then why did you use cow and pig fat ?!

The Company would have used crow fat if that was cheaper

Mangal...?

You lied to me !

l trusted you and you lied me

What're you talking about ? - l saw it with my own eyes

The factory, the cartridge, the grease...

made with cow and pig fat

Oh God, no...

l'm now an outcaste

You know what it means to be an outcaste ?

My entire community will shun me

They will no longer touch me, speak to me, eat with me,

or burn my body when l die

For them l am an untouchable. l no longer exist. l am a nobody

Mangal, listen to me... - You lied to me !

Listen to me, l didn't know ! They lied to me

You plunder our land, you abuse our faith and now...

you want our Souls ? Sahib... you've enjoyed a black man's loyalty

Now taste his fury

Mark my words, Captain sahib ! This cartridge will explode

And it will bring to an end the Company Raj

Take back you pistol, Captain sahib. We're brothers no more

Don't...

lf you are an untouchable then so am l

Mangal, we're all with you

A wrong done unknowingly is not a sin

That's what the scriptures say as well

This cartridge controversy could spin out of control sir.

We have tried to introduce it twice, in different regiments without success.

l would recommend caution.

Damn it we can't succumb to such blind superstition

May seem like superstition to us sir, but to the sepoys...

it's an extremely sensitive issue. lt strikes them at their core.

Gordon urged his senior officers to respect the sepoys' feelings...

and withdraw the cartridge. He was reminded that...

the country was ruled by a Company which could not suffer losses.

Colonel Mitchell claimed that his sepoys were loyal...

and would do his bidding. So it was decided...

that a contingent from Barrackpore be sent to Behrampore...

a hundred miles away... where they would be forced to use the cartridge, by example.

Mitchell ordered the sepoys from both the Behrampore...

and Barrackpore regiments... to use the cartridge.

First company, first platoon,

step forward and pick up your rifles and the cartridges

Subedar

What's the matter ?

The new cartridge, sir. The sepoys don't want to use it, sir

Damn it Bakht Khan

Now this is the Army

A soldier uses whatever arms and ammunition he is asked to use

First company, first platoon, step forward

Enough !

lf you do not move l will blow you apart with cannon !

Move the artillery forward

You will obey orders !

l will count till ten

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Fire...

Dismiss the parade sir. This could turn serious

Do it sir

For god's sake, do it before it's too late !

Very well, dismiss the parade

Parade... dismiss !

Looting the armoury was wrong

Now we leave them no choice

What choice did we have ? Mitchell was about to blow us up.

That was just a bluff. He doesn't have the authority

But now he has an excuse

He'll attack us and claim that he's putting down a mutiny

They're coming to attack our homes with horses and cannons !

Don't panic. Get ready with your weapons

Come on

This is your commanding officer

Unless you lay down the arms which you have looted...

l promise you, l will give the orders of fire

We don't want bloodshed, Colonel sahib.

Withdraw your guns and go in peace

Surrender ! This is your last chance

We are armed Colonel sahib ! We will fight

But sir, they are our own men

Not any more, can't you see they are mutineers

Split up into four groups and let each man carry two torches

Sir but we have no such commands from the General

Don't you dare interfere with my authority

Please withdraw for now, sir. Let me talk to them

All right do it, do it !

Listen up

This is corporal Bhola Tiwari speaking

Colonel Mitchell sahib has agreed to withdraw the cannons

The English soldiers are returning to their barracks

Please let them through

Fellow soldiers of lndia...

we have shed our blood without complaint...

in the service of our foreign masters

For them, we have conquered kingdom after kingdom

But in return...

what have we got ?

Poverty, hunger and humiliation

Mangal, Gordon sahib is here

l'm not here on duty

l've come to speak with Mangal Pandey

Whatever you have to say, you can say here. We're all friends

Give me a minute

Do you fully understand the implications of what you're doing ?

The Army will never, never tolerate insubordination

You leave them no choice. They will have to use force unless...

Unless what ? Unless what sahib ?

Unless we go down on our knees and beg for mercy ?

Swallow your cartridge and our honour ?

Forget who we are and promise to remain your slaves forever ?

For too long our minds have rusted in the service of foreign masters

All it takes is a little bit of grease to make us remember who we are

l can understand how you feel. l too feel angered...

when the Company is unreasonable, when officers are unfeeling,

when rules are unfair, but these differences...

must be resolved by reasonable means

This is the difference

Now what are the reasonable means ?

News of the chaos at Behrampore had reached the senior officers.

They were unhappy with Mitchell's handling of the situation.

Mitchell is a fool

This shouldn't have been allowed to happen.

l've come to beg you to reconsider, sir. Please withdraw the cartridges.

You don't expect an army to succumb to a rumour do you, Captain ?

This is not simply a question of idle gossip, sir.

Gordon once again urged that the cartridges be discontinued.

But the officials paid no heed to him.

lnstead, they cast aspersions on his loyalty, and said...

he could share his bed with a native, but not his loyalty.

The British were worried that there were very few white soldiers in Barrackpore.

They decided to send for Queen Victoria's troops from...

Rangoon to deal with the rebelling sepoys.

And till Rangoon Regiment arrived...

they would stall for time by ordering an enquiry.

l think we should accept the Company's offer and return the guns

There will be only an inquiry, no punishments

Let them save face

But we can win ! For every British soldier, we are seven sepoys

Even if we win Behrampore, will it end the Company Raj ?

So we take defeat without a fight ?

Have we learnt nothing from the British ? Rushing into battle is futile

But if we plan well, we can win. Our country, our honour... everything

But for now we need time

O' Messiah, lead us into hope...

O' Messiah, lead us into hope

ln fervent worship, l seek you... like a moth seeks the flame

O' most merciful, benevolent God... hear my plea

Lead me to your light, show me the way

O' most merciful, benevolent God... hear my plea

O' Messiah, lead us into hope

My heart is uneasy, sleep and dreams elude me

l turn and toss as a storm grows in my breast

What is to happen next ? Where does this story go ?

The world waits with bated breath for the saga to unfold

O' Lord...

O' Messiah...

Why these hurdles, why this trial by fire ?

O' most merciful, benevolent God... hear my plea

Welcome, friends, welcome...

welcome to the noble path

We are emissaries of King Nana Saheb

l am Azimullah and this is Chief of the Maratha army, Tatya Tope

Please be seated

What brings you to us ?

You are aware how the Company has, through treachery and force...

snatched our kingdoms from us

They took Delhi, Awadh, Jhansi...

Everyone is angry

Nana Saheb has united all the kings...

to fight against the Company

We're here to invite you to join us

lnvite us ?

What is it, some feast ?

Your Rajahs and Nawabs have gambled away their kingdoms

They've sold out to the company, my friend

We have seen them grovel and lay down their arms in front of us

What are they ? Nothing

And you ?

We are Hindustan. The Company rules on our strength

The Company's native army is the only force today...

with the numbers, the weapons and the training to challenge the Company

And afterwards ? Who will rule ?

The people

Even in England, the Queen may be on the coin, but the rule is of the people

The Company has always won by dividing us...

by making us fight, king against king, Hindu against Muslim

We have a common enemy... the Company

lt's time to unite and fight against it

You want that we spill our blood to throw the Company out...

and become your slaves again ?

No ! This is a fight for freedom

Freedom from our past, freedom for our future

lt is the need of the hour that we bury our differences

We're ready to fight alongside the kings

But this revolution needs a unifying symbol

And that can only be the Red Fort in Delhi

lf we agree...

to unite under the leadership of the Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah...

then we have a deal

But Bahadur Shah is 82 years old

Yes, he is old and infirm... but fed up of the Company's excesses

He needs us and we need him

His flag will be our banner

We know the disposition, speed and strength of the entire Company army

Barrackpore, Behrampore, Raniganj

Allahabad, Kanpur, Lucknow, Meerut and Delhi

All large garrison towns

Three hundred thousand native sepoys and only forty thousand British soldiers

lf on the same day, at the same time, all of us rise...

the Company won't know where to hide

ln a single day, we disarm every British soldier

And the Company Raj comes to an end !

Praise be to Allah !

Astrology predicts that the Company Raj will end in a hundred years

And a hundred years, ends this May

Then let's fix the date

31st May

On that day, all of lndia will rise and become free

lt's Holi !

Holi is here, an explosion of colour

The bells ring out and drumbeats roll

The streets dance in drunken abandon

lt's the season of joy, my love

You wretches ! Where are you off to ?

Look, Holi is here in a riot of colours, painting one and all alike

Sorrows are lost, in new ecstasies of blues, greens and reds

Look, Holi is here in a riot of colours, painting one and all alike

Sorrows are lost, in new ecstasies of blues, greens and reds

l am going to be coloured anew...

this year the hues look richer

No one can stop us now, no one can hold us back...

No matter what... we are ready !

Look my love, l'm drenched in colours

And a little drunk, you sway so mesmerisingly

How can l not let go and enjoy this moment...

as you seduce me with your eyes ? - No one can stop us now

No one can hold us back... no matter what... we are ready !

With a fistful of colours Lord Krishna sneaks up on his lover

But Radha is quick as she is naughty and gives it back as good as she gets

With a fistful of colours Lord Krishna sneaks up on his lover

But Radha is quick as she is naughty and gives it back as good as she gets

As the lovers unite and the colours mix Radha and Krishna become one

Which is Radha, which is Krishna who can tell them apart ?

Under a blanket of colours our eyes lock, our hands touch

We come closer and something deep within me stirs

This spell of love, this joyous abandon, can you ever escape it ?

Don't ask that of me anymore

No one can stop us now, no can hold us back...

no matter what... we are ready !

The insolent behavior of the sepoys Had the British officials worried.

Just then, General Anson received the news...

that Rangoon Regiment was afloat and would reach on...

April 1st. Anson decided that when the Queen's troops arrived...

the rebel soldiers would be disarmed and their leaders hanged.

lt would be such a lesson that no one would dare rise for a hundred years.

Mangal, they're going to kill you

They've sent for the Rangoon Regiment

What... Rangoon Regiment ? When ?

1st April

How do you know ?

Last night l was with Hewson

He blurts out a lot when he is drunk.

He said, once the Regiment gets here...

they'll disarm the native sepoys and hang their leaders

l'm scared, Mangal ! Save yourself...

and save me... from this hell

Mangal, l beg you

Let's run away...

anywhere

No

Heera, l cannot run away

The situation has changed. We can't wait till May

But the kings need time to prepare. - Time is what we don't have

One wrong move can ruin everything

Once the sepoys are disarmed, who will do the fighting ?

Your Nana Saheb ? Or Bahadur Shah ?

There's one way

We've received orders to march from Behrampore on 21st March...

to reach Barrackpore on 30th March.

Rangoon Regiment arrives on 1st April

That gives us two days

The moment we reach Barrackpore, we'll take over the cantonment

Then, before the Rangoon Regiment arrives, we march to Calcutta.

There we capture Fort William and hold on to it...

until the rebellion spreads throughout the country

Done with selling your milk to that white bitch ?

Better that, than us starving

You bitch ! Talking back to me ?

Now their days are numbered ! - Yeah, in your dreams !

Wait and see, their time's up !

By the next full-moon... slaughter !

Where... ? ln Barrackpore ?

Everywhere. All across lndia !

Memsaab, danger ! Danger Memsaab !

Wait

What's going on, what danger ?

Baba is like my own son. l don't want anything to happen to him

Memsaab, you must leave ! - Why what's going on ?

The sepoys say Company Raj will end

They've been saying that for a hundred years. lt won't happen

No ! This time it's for real

Please take Baba and go back to Englistan. Please

You've taken a great risk, Kamla.

Traitor! You dare to mutineer? Now see what we do to your wife and child!

What date have you devils set for this ?

30th March

Send dispatches immediately

Stop the Behrampore Regiment from reaching here.

Contact Rangoon

The Queen's Regiment must get here before the 30th.

Remember... your wife and child!

On learning the rebels' plans, General Hearsey ordered that...

The Rangoon Regiment must reach Barrackpore before 30th March.

Meanwhile, the Behrampore Regiment must be stopped en route...

and prevented from reaching Barrackpore.

Halt !

Ah, Bakht Khan ! - Why this halt, sir ?

A storm is brewing. We stay here till it passes.

But the Sepoys are tired... eager to reach Barrackpore. They need to rest

Really ? Well l'm afraid they must rest here

l will go and explain it to them

That won't be necessary

What's up ?

What happened ?

White soldiers, a whole army !

What ? Where ?

On the riverbank, l saw it myself

Are you out of your mind ?!

Believe me, l swear by my mother !

On the banks

Come on... the Brits are here !

The Rangoon Regiment has arrived.

Everyone to the Parade Ground. Quick !

Sound the bugle ! Call everyone, quick !

This is not the time... - Blow the bugle

Mangal ! What's the matter ?

What's wrong with the Sergeant-Major ?

Don't go out. lt is bad luck to spill milk

lt's an ill omen ! Something terrible is going to happen !

Please don't go

Don't worry, l'll be fine

Come on ! The time has come ! Time to fight, time to be free !

What happened Mangal, what's wrong ? - Get your weapons. The Brits are here

The Rangoon Regiment has landed ! - But today isn't 1st April

They came early. We have to act fast. Go get your guns ! Quick !

To arms !

But Bakht Khan's men aren't here yet. - We need to wait for them

We can't wait. We must attack,

and capture the cantonment before the Rangoon Regiment moves in

Stop. Don't. You'll get us killed !

There's no time ! Come on, move ! Move !

No no, wait ! He's gone mad !

Mangal your impatience will get us killed !

And this hesitation will kill the rebellion !

But Mangal, we are not ready yet

lt's now or never !

What's wrong with you guys ?

Don't you see, the moment we have all been waiting for is here !

lt's time to honour your pledge, it's time to do or die

Pick up your guns and fight

Fight for your freedom

For once, fight for yourselves

Fight!

Come on !

What's going on here !

Who sounded the bugle ?

Mangal, stop

Mangal... no...

What the hell do you think you're doing ?

A handful of sepoys is no match for the Rangoon Regiment

That we shall see

Then you leave me no choice

Get the General

Sir, it's begun

The British Army

Rangoon Regiment

You are completely outnumbered

Drop your guns and surrender, or die

lt's too late, Mangal. lt's all over

All of lndia is looking at us lf we surrender now...

the rebellion dies before it is born. We can't let that happen

l won't let that happen

They are far too many, it's no use. Let's run

No... no...! - We can't win

We will win, even if it takes a hundred years

Let's run Mangal... please, or we'll all die !

Go

Spread the word

lt has begun

Mangal the rebellion needs you !

The rebellion needs blood

Let it be mine

ATTACK !

Stop

Don't fire

Hold your fire

l want him alive

To the hospital ! Quick ! He mustn't die

Awaken, arise and be blessed. May all be blessed

Awaken, arise and be blessed. May all be blessed

The towns are awake, the homes are abuzz, every village is astir

Valleys awaken and so do their trees, look, shadows are coming to life !

Nana Saheb, Barrackpore has risen

Soon the fire will spread all across

But Tatya...

Make up your mind Nana Saheb. Seize the moment or perish

No hand can stem the fire that rages in people's hearts

Eyes ablaze and spirits aflame, no head will ever bow again

A changed people fill the streets, marching into death's embrace

Greetings, Queen Lakshmibai. - Welcome, Tatya

The time has come, earlier than we expected

Good. Just what l've been waiting to hear

Rising like a storm unstoppable, stirring the land in it's wake

They swear to crush and finally end this dark age of tyranny

l'm an Emperor only in name. l am weak, what can l do ?

A giant wave is rising, Your Majesty

lf we don't swim with it, we'll drown

Awaken, arise and be blessed. May all be blessed

He will live

There is still hope. l have spoken to them

lf you tender a public apology, they will let you live

Just say that it was a mistake and you're sorry that's all

Or they will hang you

l am not sorry for my actions and l am not scared to die

So they cannot threaten me or forgive me

Mangal...

l don't want you to die

This is my fault, l let you do this, l passed on a lie

Gordon sahib, you did what you could and l did what l had to

My blood is not on your hands

l've come to realise that what l did and what l must do...

has nothing to do with bitting a bullet,

and nothing to do with the terror of becoming an outcaste

l... believed that Nainsukh was born an untouchable

Now... we are all untouchables in our own land

Gordon sahib, our fight is no longer against grease on a cartridge,

it is for our dignity, our freedom,

our right to hold our head as high as the next man

You, the lie, the grease...

l'd bite the bullet a hundred times if it would give my freedom

Mangal for god's sake we have to stop this thing,

or there will be terrible bloodshed

You don't understand

lndia is rising,

nothing and nobody can stop it,

not even my life

Mangal Pandey...

did you on the 29th of March incite the other sepoys...

to rebel against the Company ?

Who were the others involved in this conspiracy ?

On that morning, did you imbibe any intoxicating drinks ?

This one called bhang, for instance ?

Let the record show that the accused does not deny this

lt's obvious that the accused has no interest whatsoever...

in the proceedings of this court martial. Therefore...

we shall have to rely upon testimonies of the eye witnesses...

and the officers attacked and wounded by the accused

You have known Mangal Pandey for the past seven years ?

l have known him sir, as a brave soldier and a loyal friend

One of the finest sepoys to serve under my command

ls it true that on the 29th of March he attacked and injured you ?

l cannot deny what happened sir, but l would like you to look...

at the circumstances that led to his behaviour, - Answer in yes or no...

Yes but the cartridge controversy and the subsequent events...

Yes or no Captain

Just knowing what happened is not enough

You have to understand why it happened

Yes or no !

Yes

ls it not also true that he subsequently murdered...

two of your fellow officers and injured four others ?

Yes

That will be all, Captain

No, that will not be all !

You will hear me speak damn it !

Has this company become so blinded by arrogance and greed that...

it cannot see the danger that stares it in the face ?

We stand surrounded by our own army

300,000 armed native soldiers so disillusioned by our command,

that they are on the verge of mutiny. And what do we do to pacify them ?

We stoke the fire of their indignation...

by laughing at their concerns or suppressing them with brutality

But mark my words, if you hang this man Mangal Pandey...

there will be rebellion, bloody rebellion...

that will sweep through this land like wildfire

A rebellion that will lead to the end of this Company Raj

Captain, enough !

Gordon tried his best to save Mangal.

He warned that if Mangal Pandey was hanged there would be a bloody rebellion...

That would put to an end the Company Raj.

But even this warning fell on deaf ears.

They failed to hang him this morning

They have called for a hangman from Calcutta

They will hang him in public tomorrow,

and make a spectacle of his death

Hearken o' people...

the drum sounds the call

Now awake and arise

From your sleep of ages

Awaken, now awaken

The Earth comes alive as dawn heralds a new day

Rivers sparkle with new life and hope rises in oceans anew

Awaken, now awaken

Pay heed to this moment in Time,

though your eyes disbelieve what they see

A man is leaving this world of man,

see his head held proud and high

Oh how fortunate is the mother,

who gave birth to such a son

So fearless, he shall never die,

even if life is taken from him

With such dignity does this rebel take leave

every head bows in respect

On his lips the cry of freedom, his heart's desire for all to see

His eyes see beyond the present, the dream of his homeland free

You can kill a man but not his dream !

ATTACK !

ATTACK !

And so began the bloodiest rebellion in human history

The British called it a Sepoy Mutiny

But for the lndians it was the first war of independence

An officer by the name Captain William Gordon,

was recorded as having joined the rebel forces...

and fought against the Company Raj

The rebellion was finally put down after a year...

but it destroyed the East lndia Company

And the British Crown took over the governance of lndia

Mangal Pandey in his death became a hero, a legend...

who inspired a nation to fight for freedom

The dream of freedom ignited by Mangal finally came true 90 years later...

on 15th August 1947, when lndia became free.