Unsuccessful revolutions get called "rebellions": the Indian events of 1857 have traditionally been called the Mutiny in Britain and the first war of independence in India. The title of this movie finds a middle way. At any rate, the history of 1857 is here given the full Bollywood treatment in a brash musical epic, shaped around a romanticised myth of star-crossed friends.

Aamir Khan plays sepoy soldier Mangal Pandey, who famously led a native army revolt over the humiliation of being forced to bite open rifle-cartridges rumoured to be greased with cow and pig fat: noisome to Hindu and Muslim alike. True or not, the rumours ignited long-held resentments about swallowing British military rule. Toby Stephens plays Pandey's friend Gordon, a plain-speaking British captain and fictionalised embodiment of the Raj's supposed decent-liberal minority.

All manner of entertainment is here, and for those keen on homoerotic subtexts, there's even a wrestling match between Gordon and Pandey. Not exactly sober history, and some may wonder at the taste of having a hanging scene choreographed quite so lavishly. Entertaining, though.