Gandhi: 25 Years On

03 December 07

Twenty five years after its release, the Academy celebrates Lord Attenborough's award-winning film depicting the extraordinary life of political and spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi.

Marc Hoberman / BAFTA

REUNIONS: GANDHI 25 YEARS ON

Gandhi was premiered in London on 3 December 1982. Twenty-five years on, BAFTA hosted a special 'Reunions' event to celebrate the film and its legacy.

Attended by the film's Director, and Academy's President, Lord Attenborough, 'Reunions: Gandhi 25 Years On' was a celebratory evening where key members of the cast and crew discussed their experiences of working on the film and how this important piece of cinematic history changed their lives.

To coincide with the event, the Academy hosted a special screening of the film in 70mm on Sunday 2 December.

On its release in 1982, Gandhi , the film, was greeted with both public and critical acclaim. Director and producer Richard Attenborough, working to John Briley's script, had succeeded in telling a story of one of the most extraordinary figures of the twentieth century.

A biographical epic, the film traces the major moments in the life of lawyer Mohandas K Gandhi (later known as "Mahatma", or "great soul"), from early protests in South Africa to leading India's movement against British colonial rule through a philosophy of non-violent resistance. The film ends with the post-war partition of India and Pakistan and, finally, Gandhi's assassination on 30 January 1948.

"No man's life can be encompassed in one telling," states the film's opening scene. "What can be done is to be faithful in spirit to the record of his journey, and to try to find one's way to the heart of the man…"

Amongst many fine performances, it is Ben Kingsley’s nuanced and emotive depiction of the Mahatma himself that stands out. Both Alec Guinness and Anthony Hopkins were originally considered for the role but Attenborough went with the relatively unknown actor of part Indian heritage (his paternal family was from Gujarat, the same state as Gandhi). Kingsley looked so much like the Mahatma that many Indians thought him to be his ghost. An estimated 400,000 extras turned out for the filming of the funeral scene that opens the film – a testament to the film’s power and Gandhi’s lasting legacy.

Gandhi remains one of the UK’s most successful films. The production won both domestic and international acclaim, picking-up five BAFTAs from nine nominations including best Film and Direction, Actress in a Supporting Role (for Rohini Hattangadi’s depiction of Gandhi’s wife) and two awards for Kingsley. It also went on to win eight Oscars (from 11 nominations). Visit Gandhi on IMDB for more details.

The film continues to have a lasting impact, bringing the teachings and wisdom of Gandhi to an audience of millions: “Whenever I despair, I remember that the way of truth and love has always won. There may be tyrants and murderers and for a time, they may seem invincible, but in the end, they always fail.”

Gandhi On-set GALLERY

View exclusive on-set photos from the filming of Gandhi as well as images from the film's triumph at the British Academy Film Awards in 1983.

Click Here for the on-set gallery

Gandhi: 25 Years On Event GALLERY

View photos from the Reunions: Gandhi 25 Years On event, including on-stage shots of Ben Kingsley, Lord Attenborough and other key cast and crew in discussion.