Aug 09, 2007 11:51 AM
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There are many movies made on the father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi but they have all portrayed how Gandhi helped our nation in achieving independence. Here comes a movie, Gandhi My Father, which throws light on the personal life of Gandhiji and the relationship he shared with his son, Harilal.
The story of the movie: The movie highlights how Mahatma Gandhi (Darshan Jariwala), when, was struggling for the rights of the people in South Africa and India, could not give a true father’s love to his eldest son Harilal (Akshaye Khanna) though he was immensely fond of him. The story then progresses and shows how bitter the relationship was between the father and the son.
Gandhi My Father succeeds the most because it throws light on the story many are not familiar with. But what makes it watchable and likeable is the unique and distinct direction by Feroz Abbas Khan. Though it’s his first film, he has directed the movie in such a way making it absorbing and intense. Feroz Abbas Khan has intensely worked in this film, which is evident. Each scene in the movie is unique and some are masterpieces.
There are several scenes, which deserve mention. Gandhiji giving the England scholarship to his nephew Chaganlal and later to Sorabji and not to his own son Harilal is a marvelous scene. Then the scene where the whole crowd is shouting ‘Mahatma Gandhi Zindabad’ and Harilal alone shouts ‘Ba Kasturba Zindabad’, which is the finest scene in the movie. Another scene, Gandhiji admitting that two persons whom he cannot convince is his ‘Kathiawadi Dost’ Mohammed Ali Jinnah and his own son Harilal Gandhi.
There are lots of B/W video clips of that period (Freedom Struggle) shown in the movie. The director has shot some scenes of the movie in B/W and merged them with those video clips, because of which it seems that the B/W scenes of the movie are a part of B/W video clips shot in those period. That, in my opinion, is a unique feature of this movie, which has not been experimented by any other film!
The film rests on the outstanding, incomparable and power-packed performance of Akshaye Khanna and Darshan Jariwala. Both have gone into the skin of their character and performed as per their character demanded. Akshaye Khanna has performed his part so nicely that his tragic situation in the later part of the movie makes one moist-eyed. He also changed his hairstyle and his style of beard in the movie but not once do you think that he is doing any overacting. He looked completely real. His best scene in the movie-The Hospital ward boy asking him his father’s name and he says ‘Barrister Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’. This was a stunning scene and it shows how terrific an actor Akshaye Khanna is. It’s really great that Akshaye choose such an offbeat role. Anil Kapoor said it right-“Akshaye Khanna was made for this role!”
Darshan Jariwala, on the other hand, does an equally good job. What is fantastic is that as the years in the movie progressed, his acting and also his look, hairstyle and style of speaking changed considerably. Of all the actors who have played the role of Gandhiji in films, Darshan Jariwala ranks among the finest. This is a role he should be proud of. Good work, Mr Jariwala!
The other actors in the movie have also done a good job. Shefali Shah as Kasturba Gandhi also looks real and gives a fantastic performance. Her acting got better as the movie raced forward. Bhoomika Chawla (as Gulab Gandhi, Harilal’s wife) does a good job. Others also do a very good job.
David Macdonald’s cinematography was brilliant and it made the movie look like a period film. Sreekar Prasad who has edited several period films like Guru, Mangal Pandey, Asoka etc does a good job as the editor. Nitin Desai’s art direction was perfect for such a period movie. He does a very good job in the scenes of the railway station and the scenes shot inside the train compartment. Resul Pookutty’s sound design was excellent.
Feroz Abbas Khan’s direction was first rate. Though it was his first movie (he has made a drama before on the same story), he does such a great job that it’s difficult to believe that the movie is made by a first timer. He uses a distinct and unique direction, making the movie as one of the finest qualitative film of the year! He also does a great job in writing the screenplay.
Special credit should also go the producer and the publicity designers. The producer Anil Kapoor should be applauded for choosing such a topic for his first movie as a producer. The publicity designers (Nandas and HR Enterprises) made such a good trailer for the movie that it had made most curious about the movie. Good Job!!
Some of the best scenes in the movie:
The first scene of the movie (Harilal admitted in the hospital on June 18, 1948)
Akshaye Khanna’s wedding
The scene where Harilal tells his father that he wants to go back to India
The scene where Gandhiji returns back to India
The scene where Harilal, in front of the entire ‘mohalla’, says ‘Mein Gandhiji ka nalayak beta hoon’
The death of Gulab Gandhi and Kasturba
The scene where Harilal converts into Islam and later turns back to a Hindu
The scene where India gets independence
The scene where Harilal goes to attend Gandhiji’s funeral in Delhi on Jan 31, 1948 10.The last scene of the movie (excellent!)
On the whole, Gandhi My Father is recommended to all those who want to know the real story of Gandhiji and his son Harilal. It has award-winning performances, mind blowing direction, which makes this movie one of the most qualitative films of the year. It should be watched by each and every moviegoer. Don’t Miss It!
I saw this movie yesterday, i.e. August 8, 2007. 65 years ago, on this very day, Gandhiji had passed the Quit India resolution!
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