Mohandas

Plot: A nightmare on a stormy night makes young Mohandas Gandhi repent on a few mistakes he has done. He begins writing a letter confessing his sins, as he recalls those incidents.

Review: Most cinematic representations of Gandhi have shown him being revered and celebrated. His qualities of truth, ahimsa and peace have been celebrated in many tales on the silver screen. This film by P Sheshadri tries to show a more human and flawed side to the Mahatma. The film is interestestingly told and makes for a good watch.

The story begins on a stormy night, when young Mohandas Gandhi has a nightmare and wants to confess all the sins he has committed to his parents. The narrative thereafter showcases his struggle in accepting his flaws as he recalls those moments and how he had given in during each of those times. The film, which has a few of the tales from Gandhi's autobiography My Experiments With Truth used for the screenplay, is a story about repentance and realisation of sins.

The film has a set of youngsters who are seen for a major part of the screen time, who do an earnest job. Ananth Mahadevan and Shruthi play the parents of Gandhi and are aptly cast. The film has been made on a modest budget and it shows, but the techincal team have ensured authenticity as much as they can, be it through the sets, background score or cinematography. The message intended to be conveyed. does come across clearly. Mohandas is not a flashy tale, but it stays true to the filmmaker's style of being a film festival favourite. It does show some rare insights into the life of the Mahatma. Watch it if you like films that are unconventional and not too commercial in nature.