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Gandhi, My Father (2007)

Director: Feroz Abbas Khan

Time Out rating

Average user rating

9 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

India, 1948. When the Bombay police encounter a dying tramp, they need his father’s name to admit him to hospital. Who is he and why is he muttering ‘Mahatma Gandhi’? This admirable bio-pic of the troubled relationship between Gandhi (Darshan Jariwala) and his eldest son, Harilal (Akshaye Khanna), explores the ideological gap and emotional tensions between the two men. It maps the disintegration of their association from the early South African years to post-1915, when they moved back to India and Gandhi immersed himself in the ‘Quit India’ movement. Isolated and depressed, Harilal died an anonymous death as an alcoholic in a Bombay hospital.

Though the film is sometimes sententious, its understated performances and lucid direction are balanced and effective. It could be about any fraught father-son relationship, but this has a deep emotional resonance as it is steeped in truth and history. The film has already sparked controversy in India, where it is considered sacrilege to question Gandhi’s integrity. It addresses the question: was ‘Bapu’, the father of the Indian nation, a good father to his own son? Moving, credible and tragic.

Author: Anil Sinanan

Time Out London Issue 1928: August 1-7 2007

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User reviews of this film

Dhaval said...

Posted on Jun 30 2008 12:37 Must watch.

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SMJ said...

Posted on Aug 16 2007 20:57 I think it is a good attempt considering the viewers unconsiously compare the performance of Darshan Jariwala with Ben Kingley who immortalised Gandhi. Yet the backdrop of the freedom movement, Gandhi's role in it without mention of other important figures and focus on Harilal as his troubled, not-so-competent son is something which makes this movie far different which is basically the whole idea. Overall a good watch!

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KANDOLA said...

Posted on Aug 13 2007 12:35 good film , excellent dance scenes and costume changes all around the world

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kstar said...

Posted on Aug 08 2007 15:36 i think apollo is a rasist and i think the film was amazing, you should watch it, shows you what India is all about

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appolo said...

Posted on Aug 05 2007 22:33 i have never seen such a bad film like that!later.

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rocky said...

Posted on Aug 05 2007 22:32 its a must watch film showing a side of gandhi we have not seen before.

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mike said...

Posted on Aug 02 2007 10:05 A compelling story showing a side to Mahatma Gandhi we have never seen before. Definite one to watch

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mike said...

Posted on Aug 02 2007 10:03 Compelling story about the personal life of Gandhi, a side of Gandhi we have never seen before. Definitely one to watch

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Aalok said...

Posted on Aug 01 2007 22:26 Great Movie Making...Must Watch...Keep Your Hanki With you to Wipe Your Tears...

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