Gandhi Jayanti Special 2024: Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of staying true to one’s character, choosing non-violence over fights and living a life full of compassion, has inspired countless people across the globe. And these include filmmakers from diverse cultural backgrounds, who, over the years, tried to capture his essence through their perspectives. So as we celebrate Gandhi Jayanti, let’s move beyond the Indian gems like Lage Raho Munna Bhai, I Killed Bapu, Gandhi, My Father, and instead take a look at five international filmmakers, who tried to showcase Gandhi’s life through their lens.

Gandhi (1982)

Directed by UK based filmmaker Richard Attenborough, the showcases Gandhi’s drastic transformation from a young conventional lawyer to a freedom fighter, whose only dream was to make India Independent. The movie starring Ben Kingsley in the role of Gandhi also won an Academy Award. The movie is available on Amazon Prime Video and has a rating of 8.0 on IMDB.

The Gandhi Murder (2019)

The Gandhi Murder is a political drama based on the events following the brutal assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. It takes a deeper look at the last days of him and the complex politics around the Hindu-Muslim differences in India. Directed by Alegrian-French filmmaker Karim Traidia, the movie was criticized for its casting choices, however created an impact because of its storytelling. It’s available on OTT platform Zee5.

Nine Hours to Rama (1963)

A classic crime-thriller, Nine Hours to Rama puts focus on the nine hours before Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse. British-American filmmaker Mark Robson manages to create an atmosphere of tension throughout the film, with criminals discussing their next step and keeping the audience at the edge of their seats. The film features actor J. S. Casshyap as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and Horst Buchholz as Nathuram Godse.

Lord Mountbatten: The Last Viceroy (1986)

Take a break from films and watch this TV show! Though the television series primarily highlighted Lord Mountbatten’s journey, it showed Mahatma Gandhi as a prominent figure that influenced most of his decisions, including the one to declare India independent. Aired in 1986, the TV show was directed by Tom Clegg and written by David Butler. Interestingly, the 6-episode series was shot in India and captures the reality of the country back then.   

Mahatma Gandhi: Pilgrim of Peace (2000)

Besides TV series and fictional films, several documentaries have also been made by international filmmakers, and the most popular of them all is ‘Mahatma Gandhi: Pilgrim of Peace’. One can watch it on YouTube. Directed and written by Noah Morowitz, the film highlights the use of Gandhi’s weapons – truth and non-violence- in the fight for independence. The film covers his entire journey, right from his education to practicing law in England to coming back to India to work for his countrymen.