|
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.
Indo-Asian News Service
|
