Did you know? Mahatma Gandhi’s first film was made when he was alive

Did you know? Mahatma Gandhi’s first film was made when he was alive

History reveals that Gandhi and cinema were poles apart, yet turned out to be a match made in heaven.

FPJ Web DeskUpdated: Friday, October 02, 2020, 08:07 AM IST
article-image
Did you know? Mahatma Gandhi’s first film was made when he was alive | Photo by AFP

The portrayal of Gandhi on screen has varied over the years. With filmmakers trying to delve into a plethora of perspectives, audience in India and worldwide has seen several shades of the Mahatma. However, a little digging into the past reveals that Gandhi and cinema were poles apart, yet turned out to be a match made in heaven.

The first motion pictures of Gandhi were but obviously obtained through newsreel that would play in theatres before a feature, similar to how National Anthem is played now. Thanks to YouTube, there’s a silent video of Gandhi from 1922, showing him addressing an assembly.

In April 1931, an American newsreel company Fox Movietone’s team travelled to Borsad village to interview Gandhi. In the interview he can be seen telling the crew, “I do not like this kind of thing, but I shall reconcile myself to it”. The video features him briefly speak on issues like ban on child marriage, India’s freedom etc.

“He speaks in a subdued voice, which is just audible when the theatre is absolutely still, as it was yesterday”, The New York Times had reported back then.

As decades have gone by, we have seen Gandhi essayed by Ben Kingsley to J.S. Casshyap, and in the recent years actors like Annu Kapoor in Sardar, Naseeruddin Shah in Hey Ram!, and Darshan Jariwala Gandhi, My Father, have done justice to depict the Father of Nation on screen.

RECENT STORIES

Hatching OTT Release Date: Know About Cast, Plot & Platform

Hatching OTT Release Date: Know About Cast, Plot & Platform

Engaged Or Married? Aditi Rao Hydari & Siddharth Flaunt New Rings, Make It Official Amid Wedding...

Engaged Or Married? Aditi Rao Hydari & Siddharth Flaunt New Rings, Make It Official Amid Wedding...

Sushant Singh Rajput's Chhichhore Co-Star Naveen Polishetty Meets With Accident In US

Sushant Singh Rajput's Chhichhore Co-Star Naveen Polishetty Meets With Accident In US

A Gentleman In Moscow OTT Release Date: Know About Plot, Platform & Cast

A Gentleman In Moscow OTT Release Date: Know About Plot, Platform & Cast

Hi Anokhi Gaath OTT Release: When & Where To Watch Shreyas Talpade's Marathi Film

Hi Anokhi Gaath OTT Release: When & Where To Watch Shreyas Talpade's Marathi Film