The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : A different take for Anil Kapoor

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 10, 2007
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

A different take for Anil Kapoor

Staff Reporter

Gandhi, My Father produced by the actor was screened at Kairali Theatre

Photo: S. Mahinsha

Different role: Actor Anil Kapoor enters the Kairali Theatre for the screening of his film ‘Gandhi My Father’ in connection with the 12th International Film Festival of Kerala in the city on Sunday. -

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 12th International Film Festival of Kerala on Sunday received a dash of glamour in Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor, who arrived at the Kairali Theatre in the afternoon for the screening of Gandhi, My Father, which he produced.

Set against the backdrop of Mahatma Gandhi’s political career in South Africa and later his struggle for Independence, the film tells an intensely personal story of one of the most important figures in contemporary history and his failed relationship with his son.

Actor Akshay Khanna plays the role of Harilal, Gandhi’s son, who leaves his father in South Africa and returns to India determined to make it on his own.

The film shows how he spent years roaming the streets like a beggar, converting to Islam as an act of rebellion and converting back to Hinduism as penance and finally drinking himself to death.

Director of the film Feroze Khan, who accompanied Anil Kapoor, told mediapersons that embarking on an “untold and sensitive story” like this did not make him nervous. “When you speak the truth with due respect there is no need to fear,” said Mr.Khan, who carried out extensive research by conducting interviews with the family members of Mahatma Gandhi and also by reading books on Mahatma.

“On that count, I can assure you that the movie is as factual and authentic as possible. The film is about a great man who could transform the soul of a nation through his deeds and words but not that of his son,” he said.

The highlight of the third day of the festival was the repeat screening of the inaugural film Buddha Collapsed out of Sha me. The debut film directed of 19-year-old Hana Makhmalbaf from Iran was screened before a packed audience.

The film is about a six-year-old Afghan girl living near the ruined statue of Buddha, which the Taliban blew up, and the struggles she had to face from the boys of her locality for taking up studies.

Protest at venue

Earlier in the day, the theatre witnessed a protest by the activists of the Non Communist Party of India (Marxist) Forum for Democracy to highlight the plight of landless families at the Harrison Malayalm Estate in Chengara, Pathanamthitta.

“Even after months of protest, the State government is yet to acknowledge the plight of over 5,000 landless families there or initiate any measure to mitigate their suffering,” said O.P. Raveendran State committee member of the Dalit Students Movement.

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