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Home > Bollywood Movie Reviews > Gandhi My Father Good Performances, Tragic Tale APK | August 03, 2007 Rating: ***.5 (***** Very Good, **** Good, *** Fair, ** Average, * Bad) Cinematography: David Macdonald. Editing: Sreekar Prasad. Make-up: Penny Smith. Music: Piyush Kanojia. Sound: Resul Pookutty. Production Design: Nitin Chandrakant Desai. Direction: Feroz Abbas Khan. Producer: Anil Kapoor. Banner: Eros International, Anil Kapoor Films Company. Release Date: 3rd August, 2007. It's raining novel scripts, the last two years in Bollywood. Gandhi My Father is one such attempt. In short, it is the heart-wrenching tale of the 'Father of the Nation'-Mahatma's son, Harilal Gandhi.  Plot Harilal Gandhi's tale begins and ends under his father's shadow. Harilal wants to study in England and become a barrister like his father, but never gets to. The Mahatma's struggle for India's freedom and highly opinionated value system comes between his relationship with his son. Harilal's tragic life from failing in his exams, opposing his father, taking debts and conversions of faith are depicted in the movie.Story, Screenplay and Direction The movie is based on a play which is based on two books on Harilal Gandhi's life. The highlight of the movie is the performances. The casting is perfect, and all the four main characters Kasturba and Bapu, Hiralal and his wife are portrayed by talented artistes who do a good job. The makeup and costumes are also done well. As a period film, the authenticity of the era is ever present without any major glitches. As the depiction of a true story, the movie tends to be extremely melancholy, although it is subtle. There is no over the top melodrama, but real relationships are far more complicated and layered than shown. Feroz Abbas Khan attempts to show as many layers as possible. The movie moves fast enough during the first half, but there is a deliberate slowing down in the second. It's a good script and has memorable performances. There are loopholes in the movie, mostly parts where the actions of the protagonists are unexplained. Attention to detail in that respect is not given, and that creates confusion for people who are unaware of the real story. Gen Y might like Gandhigiri in the 'Munnabhai' series but when it comes to this sad and dark side of Gandhi's private life, they might not have patience for it.  Performances One of the main things that make this movie worth a watch are the performances. Darshan Jariwala suits Gandhi's role to a T, and is excellent. As is Akshaye Khanna, who gives a brilliant performance. The empathy we feel for Harilal is because of Khanna's moving and highly convincing act. Shefali Shah as Kasturba Gandhi is the icing on the cake, and from Satya to Waqt to Gandhi.. she rocks. Bhoomika is very underrated, and gives a subtle and underplayed role of a helpless wife.Last Word Living under the shadow of his father and trying to make an identity of his own, we follow Harilal through all his failures. It's a tragedy, no less-one of noble birth, with a flaw in his otherwise spotless character. And no more than that. |