The finest cinematic experience.

Rating: Null/10 (28 March 2001)

I hope, I don't include this movie in my top 3s, just because I'm an Indian. Obviously, the fact makes me appreciate the film more, but I presume I'd have liked a well-made film like this on the likes of Lincoln or Mandela as well. For that matter, the fight of Rubin Carder in Denzel Washington's Hurricane, isn't that far in my list as well.
I must have seen this movie at least 8 times by now and this count would only go on, merely because every time I see this movie it reveals finer and finer points about this great human being and the craft behind the film as well. Here, I would like to refrain from talking about the greatness of this man and its historical relevance in my life, as it would only be underlining the known facts. Rather I'd like to appreciate the greatness of the director, cinematographer and the actors. Because what glues me more and more to the screen, every time I watch this movie is a stray of imaginary scenes which only highlight his being human first than a patriot, if nothing more. The scene, which probably hints towards the apparent reason of him, dressed in a dhoti for the rest of his life. In which he watches a poor lonely lady, under the railway bridge, half naked, trying her best to cover herself in front of this unknown male and he lets his pancha(an Indian cotton cloth) help her to do so, was an absolute genius. Subtle scenes like the one where he tries and helps a little lamb while in the midst of an important national meeting and many more like those, highlight the human values behind his greatness, which really is enlightening. Even the title of the film imbibes in itself the simplicity of this human soul, `Gandhi'. And makes a conscious effort of not making him a GOD, as unfortunately many of Gandhiji's Indian followers have done!
The film just goes on to show the younger generation of today that Sir Richard is much more capable than just hatching Dinosaur eggs!! Krishna Bhanji (better known as Ben Kingsley) comes up with what I can easily term as one of the finest performances I have ever seen, which is an apt tribute to such a strong character on the script and in reality as well.
After knowing the fact that this picture stands firm on the shoulder of a 23 years old study by Attenborough, on Gandhiji, which was flagged off by Javaharlal Nehru himself, this depth in the film doesn't remain a surprise anymore. Hats off!!
I don't want to end up making political remarks of any kind here, but I certainly don't find the movie as a propaganda of any nature. If you can believe this, it is not because I am an Indian, but because it is an impressive effort to witness the transformation of a sensible human being into a Mahatma' (a great soul). And along the way waking a nation to its pride with age old principles the nation had practiced that of the peace and non-violence!! The behavior of Jinah and the cruelty of the British generals of those times, just happen to be a fact of the time from Gandhi's perspective!
Lastly, it is ironical (and sad for us Indians that we couldn't) that it took a Brit to display the greatness of a true Indian! Rating for this film is no way less than 8-9 out of 10, both technically and contentwise!