Anand Math

This is a patriotic Hindi film based on the Sanyasi rebellion against the British.

The film is a multi starrer with some of the greatest stars of its time helmed by Prithviraj Kapoor. Geeta Bali gives an amazing performance in a standout role. Pradeep Kumar as the idealistic and Ajit in grey shades all perform well.

The film is a tragedy but celebrates the unity, spirit and passion displayed by Indians together to push out the British. It's notable that the Sanyasis gave the true message of Hinduism - not passive resistance but active fighting. If this spirit had survived we would have been free much earlier. Nor would our youngsters have been deployed in British armies in two World wars weakening us as a nation.

The film is a reminder of the sacrifices our ancestors put in for freedom. In order to preserve this from forces external and internal, the fire of Patriotism has to be kept alive within.

This movie is based on a novel of the same name by Bakim Chandra Chaterjee. This novel was penned a century after the events actually happened. Notwithstanding its literary significance, the novel has overtones of Hindu revivalism and attitude of co-existence with the British rule which is a major departure from the actual incidents of this movement. There are official records documented by British officers of at least three incidents where the Muslims and Hindus together fought against the East India Company. The actually rebellion, on which this movie is based, was a united Hindu-Muslim revolt against the British known as the Fakir Sanyasi Rebellion which engulfed most districts of northern and eastern undivided Bengal during the early part of the British colonial rule in India (1767-1800). This rebellion was led by a Muslim Fakir, Majnu Shah and a Hindu Sanyasi, Bhawani Pathak, a fact that is totally ignored in this movie.