Do you remember when you started watching movies?
I vividly remember watching a dubbed Telugu movie with my parents in Thiruvananthapuram. It was in 1980 when we traveled to the capital city for a family trip. The movie was called Sankarabharanam, a Pan-India film long before the days of KGF, Pushpa, or Baahubali.
The first movie that made me sad was a 3D film — but not because of the plot. The theatrical experience was exciting, the story was good, and the actors were great. But I was disappointed when I had to return the thick black 3D glasses — I thought I could take them home!
Watching a movie in a theater wasn’t as easy as it is today. Even though it was one of the most budget-friendly family outings in those days, my parents took us to the theater only occasionally. In my generation, until the 1990s, the only entertainment options were movies in theaters and the weekly films on Doordarshan.
Have you ever watched movies at school? I’m sure the younger generation has never had this experience. We had children’s films screened in schools, for which we had to pay a small fee.
I started with Malayalam films, but as I grew older, I began watching movies in different languages — besides Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, and, of course, English. Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan were my favorites in Tamil. I clearly remember watching Dalapathy and Nayagan in theaters. I have always admired every aspect of filmmaking — the director’s vision, the technical brilliance, the music, and, of course, the actors.
One of my all-time favorite movies is Gandhi, directed by the legendary Richard Attenborough. It is considered one of the classics of world cinema. Do you know what makes this film special, aside from being a biopic of one of the greatest leaders of all time? It was made by a non-Indian — a British filmmaker! What an irony! Even today, we have yet to see a better biopic of Gandhi than the one directed by Sir Richard Attenborough.
This movie is also a classic example of how a person’s life should be documented. The role of Gandhi was played by Ben Kingsley. Although he is of Indian origin, he prepared extensively for his role — losing weight, practicing yoga, watching numerous newsreels, and studying Gandhi’s life in detail. The film won numerous awards, including 8 Academy Awards — for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Costume Design, and many more.
Before A.R. Rahman and Resul Pookutty, the only Indian-origin artist to receive an Oscar was Bhanu Athaiya, who won the award for Best Costume Design along with John Mollo. Pandit Ravi Shankar, along with George Fenton, was also nominated for Best Original Score.
It took 18 years to make this film. Before Richard Attenborough, many others had tried to make it but failed. This film used 30,0000 extras, earning it a Guinness World Record for the highest number of people featured in a movie. A carefully made classic, watching Gandhi on the silver screen is an unforgettable experience.
I have often shared my favorite movies: Shawshank Redemption, Invictus, and Interstellar. But above all, I really like Gandhi.
Even after watching it multiple times, Gandhi still gives me goosebumps. Documenting a legend’s life, directed by another legend — it is truly a masterpiece.