Gandhi is a 1982 historic biopic based on the life of Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of the nonviolent non-cooperative Indian independence movement throughout the twentieth century against the British Raj. Richard Attenborough directs and produces the film, which is based on a script by John Briley and is a co-production between India and the United Kingdom. The title character is played by Ben Kingsley.
The film follows Gandhi from a pivotal point in his life in 1893 when he was forced from a South African train for being in a whites-only compartment until his death and funeral in 1948. Gandhi’s acceptance of various faiths, particularly Christianity and Islam, is highlighted, despite his being a practicing Hindu.
Gandhi was released on 30 November 1982 in India, 3 December in the United Kingdom, and 8 December in the United States. It was commended for portraying Gandhi’s life, the Indian independence movement, and the deteriorating effects of British colonialism on India in a historically realistic manner, as well as Kingsley’s acting, production quality, and costume design. It was a financial triumph, generating $127.8 million on a budget of $22 million.
Gandhi was named the 34th greatest British film of the twentieth century by the British Film Institute.
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