Gandhi (1982)
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A sprawling epic follows the life of Mahatma Gandhi as he leads the Indian independence movement against the British Empire.
The story
The film follows the life of Mahatma Gandhi, a major leader in the Indian independence movement against the British Empire during the 20th century. The narrative begins in 1893 when a young lawyer, Mohandas Gandhi, is forcibly expelled from a whites-only train carriage in the Colony of Natal. This defining moment sparks his campaign for racial equality. The story tracks his evolution from a local activist to a global figure of nonviolence, documenting his journey through various stages of political struggle, including his return to India in 1915 and his involvement with the Indian National Congress, as he seeks to secure self-rule for his people.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The film chronicles the life of Mohandas Gandhi from 1893 to his assassination in 1948. After being expelled from a train in the Colony of Natal, Gandhi begins a campaign for racial equality. He later returns to India in 1915, joins the Indian National Congress, and becomes a central figure in the movement against British rule. The film depicts his various tactics, including non-cooperation and the Salt March, and his interactions with figures like Jawaharlal Nehru and Muhammad Ali Jinnah. It covers the complexities of the partition of India and the subsequent violence between Hindus and Muslims. The film concludes with Gandhi's assassination in New Delhi on January 30, 1948, followed by his funeral and the mourning of his legacy by the Indian people.
- First release year
- 1982
- Runtime (minutes)
- 191
- Production countries
- United Kingdom
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Richard Attenborough
- Writers
- John Briley · writer
- Cast and characters
- Ben Kingsley · Mahatma Gandhi; Candice Bergen; Edward Fox; John Gielgud; Trevor Howard; John Mills; Martin Sheen
- Genres
- biographical; drama
- Themes
- nonviolence; human dignity; independence; religious pluralism
- Tone and mood
- serious; epic
- Premise and plot tags
- biopic; historical drama
- Source material / true-story basis
- biography of Gandhi
- Reception
- The film received widespread critical acclaim for its production values, costume design, and Ben Kingsley's performance. It was praised for its portrayal of the Indian independence movement and its ability to convey Gandhi's core principles effectively. While some critics labeled it 'pure hagiography,' it was generally well-received and became a commercial success.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 8.30 · scale: 10 · review count: 111; Metacritic · score: 79 · scale: 100 · review count: 16
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Picture · win; Academy Award · Best Director · win; Academy Award · Best Actor · win; Academy Award · Best Costume Design · win; Academy Award · Best Production Design · win; Academy Award · Best Cinematography · win; Academy Award · Best Film Editing · win; Academy Award · Best Original Screenplay · win
- Production trivia
- Over 300,000 extras appeared in the film, believed to be the most in any film made.; The film was included by the Vatican in a list of important films compiled in 1995.; The film was a commercial success, grossing $127.8 million on a $22 million budget.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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