Gandhi Jayanti Special: 5 Bollywood Movies that reignite our faith in Mahatma Gandhi’s Ideologies

Bollywood has always managed to keep the Gandhian spirit alive, either by portraying it in films or adopting it in their real lives. Mahatma Gandhi’s ideologies have always found space in B-town and shown to the audience with a spirit of patriotism as well as to send out a lesson towards a better future. Gandhi’s ideas of non-violence and religious peace has inspired many filmmakers over time. From giving it a comical touch in Lage Raho Munna Bhai to a father in Gandhi My Father, the legendary man has been depicted in totally different ways in Bollywood movies.

On the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s 149th Birth Anniversary, or should we say Gandhi Jayanti, have a look at some of the films that reignite our faith on his ideologies and awaken the sense of patriotism.

Lage Raho Munnabhai

This film needs no introduction. The Rajkumar Hirani’s directorial venture featured actor Sanjay Dutt in the lead. In the film the actor suffers from an illness and start seeing Gandhiji. The latter helped him to solve problems with Gandhigiri. The movie was a big box office success.

Gandhi My Father

The 2007 film deals with relationship between father and son. It showed the freedom fighter as a father and a family man. The film was based on Gandhiji’s son Harilal Gandhi's biography, Harilal Gandhi: A Life.

Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara

The film is about an Alzheimers-stricken person played by veteran actor Anupam Kher, who thinks that he has killed the Father of Nation. Actress Urmila Matondkar played the role of Anupam’s daughter in the film.

The Making of the Mahatma

Another masterpiece on Mahatma Gandhi was made in 1996 called The Making of the Mahatma. Directed by ace filmmaker Shyam Benegal, this film is based on Mahatma Gandhi’s time in South Africa where he had a practice as a barrister. Rajit Kapur starred as Gandhi and got a National Award for the film.

Hey Ram

Starring big names of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji and Kamal Haasan, the movie was a semi-fictional tale that was directed by Kamal Haasan himself. The movie was centered on India's Partition and the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi by Nathuram Godse.