Kingsley's Mahatma

Rating: Null/10 (1 June 2010)

Attenborough is one of the few filmmakers who attempts to tell stories with as much historical accuracy as one can in movies. Here Attenborough tries to manipulate the story as little as possible in order to not take it far away from fact but at the same time he fails to show the flawed side of the character. Gandhi is recognized as a historical icon for his ideals. The fatal decision Gandhi made, by handing over decision to Jinnah on whether to separate the Muslims and Hindus was one of his biggest mistakes and I'm glad that Attenborough did not shy away from displaying this. But at the same time he leaves out certain important facts of Gandhis life (like his estrangement with his son, his wife's struggle with his ideals, signing the document that lead to the death sentence of revolutionary Bhagat Singh's death), It may be due to time constraint but had he chosen to include these character flaws, it would have been easier to relate to Gandhi as a human being and a more accurate portrayal.
'Gandhi' may be longer than your average Hollywood flick but the again, this isn't an average Hollywood flick. Even though it leaves out some facts (the examples of which are mentioned above), it still remains an insightful piece on history. Moreover the execution is solid, with raw authentic sets and costumes, brilliant cinematography, good editing and a restrained soundtrack.
Kingsley does a fantastic job in portraying the Mahatma. He is strongly supported by a host of well-known (and talented) actors like Martin Sheen, Amrish Puri, Om Puri, Rohini Hattangadi, Saeed Jaffrey, Roshan Seth and Geraldine James among many others. Even the extras are convincing in what they're given.
'Gandhi's biggest stength is its compelling storytelling through fine execution, writing and performances. It is worth a watch especially for its historical portrayal (though one should not assume to know everything about Gandhi based on this movie alone) and for someone who seeks more than a little entertainment from movies.