EXCLUSIVE: Leading Indian filmmaker Sudhir Mishra is preparing to direct a biographical drama film tentatively titled Gandhi And My Mother, which will be structured as an international co-production.
The story focuses on the last six months of the life of Gandhi. These would cover the lawyer-turned-peace campaigner’s journey through the troubled regions of Bengal on his way to the national capital. Gandhi settled in Delhi in September 1947 before being assassinated by a Hindu fanatic in early 1948. These events were less than a year after India had achieved independence from Britain.
The film is also likely to include personal references. Mishra’s mother, Durga Devendra Nath Mishra, had many dealings with Gandhi when she was a child. Before she died in 2022, Mishra promised his mother that he would move ahead with a long-discussed Gandhi film.
The project is set up with Anubhav Sinha’s Benares Mediaworks as the Indian partner and with Joel Farges and Olga Prud’homme Farges of Paris-based Kolam Productions.
Speaking in Goa on the sidelines of the Waves Film Bazaar, Farges told Screen that given Gandhi’s global and continuing name recognition, the project would aim to be of international scale and structure. “It may also be significant that this would be the first serious Gandhi project in many years to be made by an Indian director,” said Farges.
Farges, who has previously produced films in India and Europe and directed the India-set Pondicherry, Juste Avant l’Oubli, aims to bring in at least one other European co-production partners and tap into the French and EU soft money systems.
“Two or three European partners would be ideal,” he said. “We are looking at using a mini-treaty structure, such as one involving France and Germany. We’d also consider either a Belgian or Spanish company too.” The budget is expected to be in the €2.5-5m range.
Mishra aims to finalise the screenplay and start production by September next year. “The season is significant,” he said. Subject to availability, Manoj Bajpayee (Gangs Of Wasseypur) is in talks to star as Gandhi.
“One of the things that is so interesting about this film is that today we look at Gandhi one way but, when he was alive, he was a controversial figure with enemies on different sides,” said Mishra.
Mishra is regarded as one of India’s most skilful directors and has worked across both film and TV. His film credits include Dharavi (1992), Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi (2003), Chameli and Serious Men, earning him three national awards from the Indian government and the Order of Arts and Letters from the French government. He also directed the 24-part SonyLIV thriller series Tanaav, which aired from 2022.
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