Richard Attenborough’s “Gandhi”

A film for the masses; a film for the commoner; a film for everyone. Richard Attenborough’s “Gandhi” was released in 1982. The film is a real picturesque delight to the world.
Set on the life of Mohandas KaramChand Gandhi, the movie is a biographical tribute to the Mahatma.

  Gandhi is a 1982 period biographical film based on the life of Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of nonviolent non-cooperative Indian independence movement against the British Raj during the 20th century. A co-production between India and United Kingdom, it is directed and produced by Richard Attenborough from a screenplay written by John Briley. It stars Ben Kingsley in the title role. (Wikipedia)

Pictured from ashram to ashram (ashram is a Hindi term, meaning hermitage), from streets and lanes of India and Africa, the film sets a kaleidoscope of “sarvam” (Sarvam is a Sanskrit term, meaning entire).

Natural lights, outdoor scenes, natural make up and practical aesthetic acting, makes the film remarkable.
The film manifests into a record of “Gandhian Philosophy”and the classification of genuine film-making.

Ben Kingsley in and as “Gandhi” is not just a look alike resemblance to the real Mahatma (with and with natural makeup) but Kingsley takes over practical aesthetic acting style in narrating the life on screen. The immense amount of research done in building the Mahatma onscreen attributes to the work of the actor and the team. Different camera angles and shots define different emotions and movements in the event.

Every close-up shot is a depiction of the unread emotions of the Mahatma as even in a smile. The extreme long shots are unification of nationalism and the power of masses. The synchronicity of make-up with the hair greying and thinning adds familiarity and identification to the film. The background sounds and more appropriately background dialogues compliment the perfect picturesque.

Noteworthy to be talked about is the casting and dialogue delivery in the film. The cinematography is the heroic part making everything to be considered latent. Needless to say the costume design and other detailing in the looks of the characters (emphasizing Bapu and Baa) is a proclamation of real on reel.

The other heroic stand taken in the movie is the editing done. The film was edited by John Bloom. The placement of reels one after the other moving the tale forward and in harmony is the work of the editor. The film “Gandhi” with each shot placed back and forth in the reel is in consideration and accordance of the audiences’ grasping the life events of the Mahatma.

Two actors, Ben Kingsley and Rohini Hattangadi as Bapu and Baa take the life of the Mahatma very close to the heart of every commoner. The actors arouse equipoise, peace, faith and oneness in the mental hierarchy of the audience. Ben kingsley takes it over with the right body language portrayed on screen and the intricate eye movements projecting the attributes of the role.

The film “Gandhi” could be listed as the finest work of art in film-making

Work cited

Attenborough, Richard(Director). “Gandhi”(Film).1982. Goldcrest Films; International Film Investors; National Film Development Corporation of India; Indo-British Films.

Wikipedia contributors. “Gandhi (film).” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 30 Sep. 2021. Web. 30 Sep. 2021.