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Gandhi, My Father

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Gandhi, My Father
Official poster
Directed byFeroz Abbas Khan
Written byFeroz Abbas Khan
Based on
  • Harilal Gandhi: A Life
    by Chandulal Bhagubhai Dalal
  • Prakash no Padchhayo
    by Dinkar Joshi
Produced byAnil Kapoor
StarringDarshan Jariwala
Akshaye Khanna
Bhumika Chawla
Shefali Shah
CinematographyDavid McDonald
Edited byA. Sreekar Prasad
Music byPiyush Kanojia
Release date
  • 3 August 2007 (2007-08-03)
Running time
136 minutes
LanguageHindi
Budget₹80 million[1]
Box office₹74.9 million[1]

Gandhi, My Father is a 2007 Indian biographical drama film by Feroz Abbas Khan. It was produced by Anil Kapoor, and released on 3 August 2007.

The film stars Darshan Jariwala, Akshaye Khanna, Bhumika Chawla, and Shefali Shah.[2]

The film explores the troubled relationship between Mahatma Gandhi and his son Harilal Gandhi. The film is based upon the biography of Harilal Gandhi, titled Harilal Gandhi: A Life by Chandulal Bhagubhai Dalal.[3] Khan's play, Mahatma vs. Gandhi, while different from this film, had a similar theme which was based on a novel by Gujarati author Dinkar Joshi.[4] The film was shot in South Africa and in several Indian cities, including Mumbai and Ahmedabad.[5]

Plot

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Gandhi My Father paints the picture of Gandhi's intricate, complex, and strained relationship with his son, Harilal Gandhi. From the onset, the two had dreams in opposite directions. Harilal's ambition was to study abroad and become a barrister like his father, while Gandhi hoped that his son would join him and fight for his ideals and causes in India.

When Gandhi does not give Harilal the opportunity to study abroad, it comes as a blow to Harilal. He decides to abandon his father’s vision and leaves South Africa for India, where he joins his wife Gulab and children. He goes back to further his education to earn his diploma but continuously fails and ends in financial ruins. Various plans and schemes to make money fail, leaving the family in poverty. Sick of his failure, Gulab returns to her parents’ house with the children, where she eventually dies from the flu epidemic. Distraught, Harilal turns to alcohol for solace and converts to Islam, only to revert to a different sect of Hinduism later on. With political tension heating up, the rift between Gandhi and his eldest son grows until it is beyond repair. Harilal finds it unbearable to live in the enormous shadow of his father. Gandhi is assassinated before the two can reconcile, and Harilal attends his father's funeral virtually as a stranger, almost unrecognizable to those around him. A short while later, he passes away, alone and in poverty, having failed to find his own identity.

Cast

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Reception

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Philip French of The Guardian called it "one of the most revealing and courageous movies ever to come out of India." He further wrote that "It will be an eye-opener to those whose knowledge of the Mahatma is limited to Richard Attenborough's epic biopic."[7] Taran Adarsh of IndiaFM gave the film 4 out of 5, writing, "As a cinematic experience, GANDHI MY FATHER unfolds in the most simplistic, but compelling manner. Since the director is talking history, he ought to do the balancing act well. He reproduces facts without resorting to cinematic liberties and at the same time, simplifies everything so that the viewer can decipher it well.[8]

Conversely, Derek Elley of the Variety wrote, "There’s enough material here for a powerful story of onstage/offstage family conflict, but the movie fails to build a dramatic head of steam across its two-hour-plus span."[9]


Awards

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55th National Film Awards

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2008 Zee Cine Awards

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  • Critics Award (Best Film) - Anil Kapoor[11]
  • Critics Award (Best Actress) - Shefali Shah

2007 Asia Pacific Screen Awards

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Gandhi My Father - Movie - Box Office India". boxofficeindia.com. Archived from the original on 8 July 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  2. ^ Ganguly, Prithwish (27 June 2007). "Gandhi my father: a tale of Mahatma's son". New Delhi. Indo-Asian News Service. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023 – via Hindustan Times.
  3. ^ "Book bids to save Mahatma's son from ignominy". Archived from the original on 9 November 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  4. ^ "The Mahatma and his son". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 22 July 2007. Archived from the original on 9 November 2007.
  5. ^ "In the name of the father". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 21 July 2007.
  6. ^ "Gandhi My Father Cast & Director - Yahoo! Movies". Movies.yahoo.com. 20 April 2011. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  7. ^ French, Philip (5 August 2007). "Gandhi My Father". Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2023 – via The Guardian.
  8. ^ Adarsh, Taran (3 August 2007). "Gandhi My Father Review 4/5 | Gandhi My Father Movie Review | Gandhi My Father 2007 Public Review | Film Review". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  9. ^ Elley, Derek (15 August 2007). "Gandhi My Father". Variety. Archived from the original on 19 March 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  10. ^ "55th National Film Awards announced". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 22 June 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  11. ^ "Zee Cine Awards 2008 winners announced". Zee News. 23 April 2008. Archived from the original on 20 January 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  12. ^ "Asia Pacific Screen Awards Winners Announced - Asia Pacific Screen Awards". Asia Pacific Screen Awards. 13 November 2007. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
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