Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara (Hindi Film / Bollywood Movie / Indian Cinema DVD) [DVD]

Professor Uttam Chaudhary is a retired Hindi teacher who
lives with his daughter and young son in the city of Mumbai. He is suffering
from what is laughingly called 'old age' - brief periods of forgetfulness,
blanks in memory. Little does anyone realize that the problems are much
deeper, and that this is just the beginning of a journey that will end in a
man becoming a prisoner of his mind.As his memories start to fade, a childhood
trauma surfaces - a memory of being accused of murdering Gandhi. The more his
life is whitewashed, the stronger this one memory remains. As his world turns
increasingly hostile, Prof. Chaudhary sees everything as an enemy - his house
is a jail, his family, all are his captors. And in the midst of all this is
the story of his daughter. A single woman, working to not only support the
family monetarily, but is also the only lifeline that can save her father from
drowning in the universe his mind is creating. It is the story of the power of
one person's strength, hope and determination in pulling their loved one away
from the abyss. It is a film that connects two disparate events together. One,
of a small middle class family in present day Mumbai struggling to come to
terms with the fact that the head of the family is now suffering from early
dementia and two, the assassination of the father of the nation, Mohandas
Karamchand Gandhi.The Professor's often repeated and exasperated denial 'Maine
Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara' is rooted back in an era when a truth seeking son of
India became the father of a newborn nation. Someone killed this man, but his
truth survives. He lives as long as his ideals breathe within us.So though the
title of the film says 'Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara', it also sends out a
message saying that Gandhi ji is still alive in me! He should be alive in
every one of us! Review Anupam Kher is simply brilliant. His portrayal
deserves applause in superlatives. There is nothing made-up about his
performance. Restrained with sensitivity and awed with a guilt-ridden past,
Kher gives complex dimensions to professor Chaudhry. Urmila Matondkar isn't
far behind. Her credibility as a versatile actress is further established in
her reserved albeit realistic delivery of emotions. Rajat Kapur and Addy lend
conviction to their parts. Even in brief roles, Samir Soni (as the doctor),
Boman Irani and Waheeda Rehman leave a graceful impression. Technically, Maine
Gandhi Ko Nahin Maara stands out for its flawless photography by Raaj A
Chakarvarthy. The imagery of his shots have their own silent tale to tell. If
you think Bappi Lahiri is all about disco, his soulful background score has
the last laugh. Dialogue and screenplay writer Sanjay Chauhan gets the heart
of Barua's script just right. His meaningful dialogues make a point without
being theatrical or overtly persuasive. --platform47.com Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin
Mara is not a movie you can miss, for rarely does it happen in Bollywood that
intelligent cinema like this makes its way to the mainstream. Even if you do
not have much of an appetite for sentimental drama, watch it as a one-off
venture. As the kind of infrequent masterpiece that will sit in a cultural
museum. Of course, you can rest assured that you will thoroughly enjoy the
process. --platform47.com Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara"" (MGKNM) is that tender
dewdrop perched on a wind-swept leaf that clings by sheer willpower. Its
strength comes from within rather than from extraneous cinematic powers,
stoking it into visible vibrancy. It is a thought provoking film that raises
questions on many issues - the forgotten Gandhian ideals, the trauma of people
in old age, the indifference of some children and the commitment of others.
The movie involves a viewer from initial reels and keeps him engaged until the
end. --platform47.com