The Making of the Mahatma

Many of us don't know the early life of Mahatma Gandhi before his comeback to India. Before 1915, he spent 21 long years in South Africa, where he developed his political views, ethics and politics. There, he did protests and fought for Civil rights.

I think there is no film that showed the early works of Gandhi with so much detailing except this. The 1982 film showed a very little part of that, it mainly focused on Gandhi's movements in India. So, recommending everyone to watch this. This won National Film Award for Best Feature Film in English and also Best Actor for Rajit Kapur.

A Must Watch.

Available on MUBI, Airtel Xtream & Epic On.

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This is the story of how Gandhi became the "Mahatma" ("Great Soul") --- a very realistic portrayal of the incidents that led to a determined effort for the betterment of people of non-European origin in South Africa. The make-up and acting of Rajit Kapoor as Gandhi is commendable. Pallavi Joshi plays her part, as Kasturba Gandhi, almost to perfection. The other actors and actresses in the movie are good, too. A very good cinematography and excellent back-ground score make the movie a superior one. Plus, of course, Shyam Benegal proves once more that he is one of the greatest directors in Indian cinema. It is a shame that his movies do not get the attention they should in the world film scenario.

I saw this movie at a special screening in Bombay a few years ago and recently remembered it when the director has made another movie on a great Indian freedom fighter - Subhash Chandra Bose. This movie tried to capture a younger Gandhi without the halo around his head. I thought the scene where he is thrown out of the train for traveling in a first-class compartment in South Africa and his indignation at this slight is captured more beautifully than the more popular movie by Attenborough. This is more of a story of the Mahatma's journey toward greatness rather than about him. It's well worth a watch...and it's a shame I can't find it on DVD anywhere.

Legendary filmmaker Shyam Benegal's 'The Making of the Mahatma' portrays the younger years of Gandhi (as the title suggests). Through a compelling narrative, Benegal tells the story of Gandhi's attempts in bringing justice to Indians in South Africa. The film has a certain rawness that makes the situation, setting and people look more real. Gandhi and his wife are portrayed as a humans (rather than a saints) which is especially evident in the scenes that display the marital conflict. Unlike in Feroze Khan's 2007 film 'Gandhi My Father' where Gandhi's wife is portrayed as the ideal wife, here she is portrayed as someone who has very much struggled with her husband's devotion to the people. Rajit Kapoor gives a very sincere performance in the title role and his nuances seem to be spot on. Overall, He does a commendable job. Pallavi Joshi too makes a strong presence and delivers an admirable performance. The supporting cast is adequate but the extras are merely mechanical. Benegal makes a decent effort to avoid Indian stereotypes where the 'whites' are often seen as the bad guys. He makes a good balance in distinguishing the good from the bad without giving in to stereotype. Yet, some of the 'villain' do come across as caricatures. At some point, the pace also drags. There are a few scenes that were extremely disturbing e.g. when the warden pours the toilet water over the wounded businessman. In a nutshell, 'The Making of the Mahatma' tells the compelling story of Gandhi's journey from a young lawyer to the symbol of a nation...a journey that had its costs and demanded sacrifice.

What worked: I think this movie is one of Benegal's finest works, not just for the execution but also for the mission that he took. Rajit Kapoor, a fine actor, brought a different shade of Gandhi's life through this movie , making us explore more about the legacy that he left behind. It's a very beautifully shot, written and directed piece of art, and the movie ended with a very powerful message that was carried throughout the movie. We have watched many interpretations of Gandhi through many art forms, this one stays as one of the important one. What did not work: The movie is acted, shot and edited as a movie as it should have been but at very few times, it felt a bit dramatic, considering the mood and climate of the movie; a bit glamorized. Final verdict: recommended