Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006)
Second in the Munna Bhai series, this film sees the good-hearted goon, Munna, hallucinating about Gandhi. He has long conversations with the Mahatma, who lends an ear and also suggests a solution to his problems. Munna implements these principles and teachings to overcome his predicaments - by apologising to the girl he loves about lying to her and also by using Satyagraha as a means to save her house from being snapped by Lucky Singh. The neo-satyagraha, termed as Gandhigiri in the film, spread across cities like wild fire. Rajkumar Hirani's style of preaching and handing out morals in a jovial manner is seen yet again.
Gandhi (1982)
This film walks in straight into the list as it is one of the finest biopics, not just on Gandhi's life, but in general too. A great compilation of events that shaped the life of Gandhi who shaped the nation in return, the film browses through accurate historic data. Ben Kingsley's portrayal of Gandhi and Roshan Seth as Nehru have created an image so strong that it is hard to tell them apart from their real life personas. Richard Attenborough's approach to portray the world leader's life in an objective manner lends this drama a documentary like aura. This also means that however true to Gandhi's ideology the film is, it never propagates the values outright. The subtle events, however, sculpt for the audience a true statue of the Mahatma.
The Great Dictator (1940)
The film was made while the World War II was in its nascent stages. A slapstick Chaplin comedy on the face, the film is also a deep comment on the futility and absurdity of war. It throws light on the matter of extreme nationalism that led to the war and quite visibly comments on Hitler and Mussolini and also about the effect of anti-semitism. Although the film has no direct co-relation with the Gandhian principles, Chaplin's stature as a filmmaker and his treatment of the content make this film a strong socio-political comment on the times in which it was made. What's funnier is that Hitler saw the film and liked it.
Swades (2004)
Tushar Gandhi, the great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, feels that this film epitomises Gandhi's values and priniciples. Shah Rukh Khan plays Mohan Bhargav - a scientist at NASA, who returns to India. The parallels between Mohan Bhargav and Gandhi are uncanny. Starting right up from their first names, both of them returned to India leaving lucrative prospects behind, and the rest is history. Mohan visits his village in North India for a brief time but as he sees the problems there, he decides to stay back and work at the grassroot level. Ashutosh Gowariker captures the rural mindset quite authentically and the film urges peoples to rise and help themselves.
Woodstock (1970)
This documentary directed by Michael Wadleigh chronicles the legendary Woodstock Music and Art Festival held in Bethel, New York in 1969. Held in good spirit as Three Days of Peace, Love and Music, the film gives a 360-degree look at the festival - from set-up to clean-up including stage performances by Pandit Ravi Shankar, Jimi Hendrix, The Who and others and combines it with offstage activities that the largest assembly indulged in. Woodstock is a landmark in the history of the generation that participated and the generations that followed - a generation that grew up on the principles of peace, love and music.
Published in DNA After Hrs (Pune) on September 28, 2012
No comments:
Post a Comment