After a long time this film brought us to the fact that mainstream cinema can be used as a art medium to express issues of concern. This was long sought after we’ve missed out on the likes of Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Basu Chatterjee and other versatile film-makers.
There’s not much to say about the plot - because we know it all, courtesy Manoj Kumar in the older version which was a masterpiece in itself. But the acting in this version was superb, - from every role. Starting with Farida Jalal, Raj Babbar and ending up with ’’Yakku’’ Akhilesh ’’Azad’’. Everybody was brilliant - and Ajay Devgan just topped them all. It’s been a treat to watch this guy from the action-hero typecast of ’’Phool Aur Kaante’’ to transform into the fabulous actor of today.
The music was definitely good, but it did sublimate the gravity and depth of the subject with the songs. But I would let go of it because it’s difficult to keep a movie on this subject away from the shadows of the earlier version of Manoj Kumar, and that was the music marvel which added the colour to ’’Shaheed’’, the film we still remember.
Then there’s the controversial issue of the portrayal of the Bapu. Well, the people who think this was wrong, or this was an insult to the father of the nation, are just being foolish. Let’s get it straight then...Mr. Gandhi’s portrayal was totally at the artistic & creative liberty of Rajkumar Santoshi. And the people better understand that if they are from a different school of thought that doesn’t necessarily mean Santoshi should be crucified, nor that the film should be boycotted. We should be mature enough to accept different viewpoints people have on a common subject. And personally, I agree with Santoshi. The Great Gandhi, according to me, was and is the reason of suffering of so many people. I don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings or thoughts, but I do put the blame on Gandhi for being instrumental in creating the rift of India-Pakistan which is till date the biggest blemish in the history of modern INDIA.
But all these are not the reason why I liked the movie. The sole reason for me is - this movie has treated the subject with due honesty and honour and has tried best to relate the socio-political situation of that time to that of today. And for that Mr. Santoshi, you should treat this as your best work.