Learning from the movies....

As part of my India pre-trip 'education', I borrowed this epic 3 1/4 hour movie from my local library. Almost as dramatic as the drama of Gandhi's  liberation struggles, is the story of the movie and how it became to be successfully completed by director, Richard Attenborough. The time from original concept to completion was more than 20 years, caused by wars (India/Pakistan), assassinations (Indira Gandhi) broken promises and bankruptcies.

Gandhi is a 1982 epic biographical film that dramatises the life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the leader of India's non-violent, non-cooperative independence movement against the United Kingdom's rule of the country during the 20th century. Gandhi was a collaboration of British and Indian production companies, was written by John Briley, produced and directed by Richard Attenborough. It stars Ben Kingsley in the titular role.

The film covers Gandhi's life from a defining moment in 1893, as he is thrown off a South African train for being in a whites-only compartment, and concludes with his assassination and funeral in 1948. Although a practising Hindu, Gandhi's embracing of other faiths, particularly Christianity and Islam, is also depicted.

Gandhi was released in India on 30 November 1982, in the United Kingdom, three days later. It was nominated for Academy Awards in eleven categories, winning eight, including Best Picture. Richard Attenborough won for Best Director, and Ben Kingsley for Best Actor.    (Courtesy: Wikipedia).