Yerwada Jail hosts exhibition depicting Gandhi's influence on cinema

Celebrating Gandhi’s 150^th birth anniversary, the National Film Archives of India (NFAI) has put together a special exhibition of film posters which showcase the influence of Gandhi and his thoughts on Indian Cinema. The exhibition was inaugurated at Yerwada Jail by Anil Shirole, Member of Parliament in the presence of Keerti Tiwari, deputy director NFAI and jail superintendent Mr.U.T. Pawar. The main exhibition was inaugurated in Mumbai’s Rajbhavan by C. Vidyasagar Rao, Governor of Maharashtra in the presence of Prakash Magdum, director of NFAI and Santosh Ajmera, OSD NFHM.

Speaking about the exhibition, Prakash says, “We are delighted to launch this special exhibition to celebrate the teachings of our father of the nation. We thought it will enlighten and inspire the inmates of the Yerwada jail, where Gandhiji spent considerable time during the freedom struggle. We intend to take this exhibition at various places across the country during the year so that people at large can see the influence of Gandhian thoughts on Indian cinema over the years.

The twenty-five pertinent exhibits include biopics and films which depict Gandhian thought and philosophy in multiple languages. Truth, non-violence, peaceful rebellion, communal harmony, emancipation of women, upliftment of the marginalised and depressed classes of the society, Self Sufficiency in Agrarian and Industrial Sectors were among the highlighted philosophies portrayed in the films.
Among the most noted film posters were Achhut Kanya (Hindi, 1936),Balyogini (Tamil, 1936),Kunku (Marathi, 1937), Seva Sadan (Tamil, 1938), Mala Pilla (Telugu, 1938), Thyagabhoomi (Tamil, 1939),Admi (Hindi, 1939), Ekta (Sindhi,1942),Udayer Pathey (Bengali, 1944), Meerabai (Gujarati, 1947), Piyoli Phukan (Assamese, 1955), Gandhi se Mahatma Tak (Hindi, 1996) and Lage Raho Munnabhai (Hindi, 2006).