World premiere of ‘Gandhi’ period biographical film held in New Delhi 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 30 1982)


Video: 'Gandhi' trailer

(Tuesday, November 30, 1982, evening India Standard Time)Gandhi, a period biographical film based on the life of Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of nonviolent non-cooperative Indian independence movement against the British Empire during the 20th century, had its world premiere today in New Delhi.

A co-production between India and the United Kingdom, it is directed and produced by Richard Attenborough from a screenplay written by John Briley. It stars Ben Kingsley in the title role.


Video: 'Gandhi (1982) - Movie' (8 clips)

The film covers Gandhi’s life from a defining moment in 1893, as he is thrown off a South African train for being in a whites-only compartment, and concludes with his assassination and funeral in 1948.

Although a practicing Hindu, Gandhi’s embracing of other faiths, particularly Christianity and Islam, is also depicted.