Gandhi
has always been compelling, complex and strangely contemporary. | Sir
Richard Attenborough 's Gandhi |
Sir
Richard Attenborough introduced Mahatma, the great soul, to the West through his
bio-epic Gandhi. Everyone
knows about Mahatma Gandhi's role in the Indian freedom movement and as a social
reformer. But
there are large gaps in our knowledge of Gandhi as a person and a family man,
particularly the turbulent relationship with Harilal, his eldest son. Gandhi
My Father, is the true story of one of the most important figures of the 20th
Century and the failed relationship with his son. Forced
to live in the shadows of a great father, Harilal tried to seek an identity of
his own. His
aspirations to study law in England in order to become a barrister and help his
father were discouraged by Gandhi. Instead,
Gandhi insisted that such ambitions and a normal family life should be sacrificed
for the larger good of society. | Akshaye
Khanna is Harilal in Gandhi My Father |
Unable
to accept his father's wishes, Harilal rebelled, tried to stand on his own two
feet but failed.
He roamed the streets of India like a beggar, converted to Islam and eventually
returning to Hinduism. Finally,
five months on after Gandhi's death, an alcoholic Harilal dies a destitute, in
a Bombay hospital. Set
against one of the most politically turbulent times in India, this moving drama
focuses on the intensely personal story of a father struggling to resolve the
destinies of his country and that of his son. Not
to be forgotten is the role of Gandhi's wife, Kasturba, who was caught between
the traditional, unquestioning loyalty of a Hindu wife to her husband and her
love for their son. This
thought provoking drama is based on the play Mahatma v/s Gandhi. The
film is directed by veteran theatre and cinema actor, Feroz Khan. He has combined
his talents as a writer and director with the production skills of Bollywood star
Anil Kapoor, to create the most heart rending film of modern times. Releasing
in the UK cinemas by EROS International, Kishore Lulla, its Chairman & CEO
said, "Gandhi My Father marks a milestone in the 30 year history of Eros
International." He
continued, "this colossal piece of filmmaking, incomparable by anything that
has come before, makes its debut on the global platform of cinema, and we are
exceedingly proud to take ownership of the distribution rights of a film that
will make its own mark in history." Gandhi
My Father is releasing in the UK cinemas on 3 August 2007. The film is in Hindi
language with English subtitles.
Previewed
by Manish Gajjar, 麻豆官网首页入口 Bollywood Correspondent
|