Gandhi Movie Analysis

Gandhi is a 1982 biographical film directed by Richard Attenborough. It follows the struggle for Indian Independence through the eyes - and only through the eyes - of eminent leader, Mohandas K. Gandhi. The film is prejudiced. It brings about the idea that Independence was achieved by Gandhi alone, while undermining the roles of others who, it could be argued, played far greater roles in achieving Indian autonomy. The film’s narrow-minded focus on Gandhi and his beliefs also meant that those of others, some of which were entirely different, were lost. Furthermore, Gandhi fails to recognise the extent of the conflict that erupted throughout the course of the Independence movement, as well as many of the political, social and economic upheavals that arose. Gandhi The film exaggerates Gandhi’s role in India’s Independence, and downplays the roles of others. It brings about the idea that Gandhi initiated the entire Independence movement, while failing to pay tribute to its true creators. A key example of this is the false affiliation between Gandhi and the concepts of Swaraj (home-rule), and civil non-cooperation (what Gandhi labelled Satyagraha). It suggests that Gandhi created the two concepts, however, he was merely an …show more content…
Gandhi in his film Gandhi is something short of the truth. It is horribly prejudiced. Gandhi is depicted as a flawless human; a man above all others, whose views and opinions are the only that matter. The views and contributions of those in the Independence movement – Jinnah, Nehru and Patel in particular – are ostracised and sabotaged, as are the divergent views in how Independence could be achieved. Additionally, the challenges faced both before and after Independence was granted and the sheer brutality of the conflict that occurred throughout were glossed over. Attenborough successfully created a prejudiced, historically inaccurate representation of Gandhi and the journey to India’s