Bollywood repackaging Gandhi for crossover success

New Delhi, July 29 (IANS) Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was a passionate opponent of cinema but what he termed "sinful" is growing increasingly fascinated with the man who wore only wire-rimmed glasses and a loincloth.

Bollywood may have repackaged Gandhianism and made his teachings relevant to today's generation through "Lage Raho Munnabhai", but Mahatma Gandhi himself equated cinema with 'evils' like gambling and horse racing.

In his journal Harijan, he wrote: "If I began to organise picketing in respect of them (the evil of cinema), I should lose my caste, my Mahatmaship."

In response to the Indian Cinematograph Committee's questionnaire requesting his views on the state of Indian cinema he stated: "Cinema is a sinful technology."

But that has not stopped filmmakers from portraying him on celluloid. Even before independence, Indian filmmakers would hoodwink the British-controlled censor boards to give subtle references to the Mahatma in their films.

Though it is often wondered why no Indian ever thought of making a film on Gandhi and why an Englishman, Richard Attenborough, had to take up this colossal venture, filmmakers today have smartened up.

After decades of sugary clones of maudlin romances, insipid comedies and bloated family dramas that predominantly pass for entertainment in this part of the world, an industry in the lookout for uniqueness and international appeal is finding the perfect fit in the Mahatma.

After a string of films consecrating and deconsecrating him and some films recreating his gruesome end, the latest offering "Gandhi My Father" dwells into the relationship he shared with his eldest son Harilal.

The film has been made in English and Hindi and actor-turned-producer Anil Kapoor has joined hands with the London-listed, leading integrated media and entertainment company Eros International to take the story to an international audience.

Based on "Mahatma Vs. Gandhi", a play by theatre personality Feroz Abbas Khan that was reviewed by the New York Times as the best English play to come out of India, the global appeal of the film will be exploited to the hilt.

But Gandhi turning into a bestseller is in itself a great irony. The Mahatma preached and practised the idea that by leaving yourself behind you find yourself, that by renunciation you conquer. So it seems bizarre to use him to sell products.

When he died, all his belongings - a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, loincloth, toothbrush - fitted inside a couple of shoeboxes. The times sure are changing.

Set for an Aug 3 release worldwide, "Gandhi My Father" will spark a debate by bringing to light an unknown facet of the personal history of a man who transformed the soul of a nation, but who could not save the soul of one of his sons. At the same time, the film will also raise the standards of Hindi cinema.

This is Anil Kapoor's first independent film production. Directed by Feroz Abbas Khan, "Gandhi My Father" explores the humane aspect of the revered leader.

The film casts theatre actor Darshan Jariwala as the Mahatma and popular actor Akshaye Khanna as Harilal. Shefali Shah essays the role of Kasturba Gandhi, a woman torn between her love for her husband and her son. Upcoming actress Bhumika Chawla will be seen in the role of Harial's wife Gulab who adores her husband but also believes in the principles of her father-in-law.

"Gandhi My Father" is a powerful study of the nature and sufferings of the doomed relationship between a father, respected by an entire nation, and a son whom he disowned and whose bitter end was the result of years of alcoholism.

As the frequency of experiments within the mainstream format increases, it appears that a hitherto insular movie industry has slowly but steadily begun to see and understand the virtues of eschewing formula narrative constructs.

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Gandhi My Father