Gandhi (1982)

Gandhi (1982) is a sweeping biographical drama that traces the life, convictions and final days of Mohandas K. Gandhi — the lawyer-turned-leader who forged India’s independence through a philosophy of nonviolent resistance. The film follows Gandhi’s transformation beginning with the 1893 South African train incident that radicalizes him to challenge racist laws, through his return to India where he sheds western garb for simple cloth and organizes massive campaigns of noncooperation, to landmark actions such as the Salt March, repeated imprisonments, hunger strikes, and the mounting tensions that culminate in independence, Partition and his assassination. Along the way the story charts his relationships with figures like Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel and Muhammad Ali Jinnah and shows how lofty ideals collided with the messy realities of politics, communal violence and compromise. Seeing the movie is an immersive emotional and historical experience: quiet, meditative close-ups of Gandhi’s restraint and moral courage alternate with vast, dramatic crowd scenes and intensely charged moments of confrontation. The pace moves from intimate character study to epic national drama, offering both philosophical reflection and visceral scenes of protest, arrest and communal unrest. Expect powerful performances (Ben Kingsley’s portrayal is particularly memorable), carefully staged period detail, and a tone that balances reverence with a clear-eyed look at the contradictions and costs of a moral crusade. The film leaves viewers with a vivid sense of the man’s influence and limits, and prompts reflection on the meaning and power of nonviolent resistance in the face of injustice. It's essential viewing for anyone interested in history, civil rights, leadership, or morally driven drama.

Actors: Ben Kingsley, John Gielgud, Rohini Hattangadi

Director: Richard Attenborough

Runtime: 191 min

Genres: Biography, Drama

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