The Rising is the saga of one man's rebellion against a great colonial power and an epic tale of friendship, betrayal, love and sacrifice, against the backdrop of what the British called the 'sepoy mutiny' which, for India, was the First War of Independence. During a fierce battle in one of the Afghan wars the East India Company fought, Mangal Pandey, a heroic soldier, saves the life of his British commanding officer, William Gordon. Gordon is indebted to Mangal and a strong friendship develops between them, transcending considerations of rank and race. But it is soon challenged by the introduction of a rifile called the Enfield whose cartridge is rumoured to be coated with the grease of cow and pig fat. The Indian sepoys are angered, since the cow is sacred to the Hindus and the pig forbidden to the Muslims. This epic, based on real historical events, is seen as a trigger for India's independence.