Indian Film Culture - 16.cdr - federation of film societies of india

which counts in his favour is his resemblance to
Gandhi. He is forced to accept the offer of
playing Gandhi with much reluctance, mainly
because of the pressure from his son Jayu and
his wife who are enamored by the prospect of
earning handsome remuneration for acting and
hope to give a better education to their only son.
His son is engaged in speculating share
business, like gambling and he wants to make
quick money.
Playing Gandhi's role becomes a nightmarish
experience for Ananda Rao. He gets ridiculed
by every one for his bad performance, including
his own grandson. In the process, he realizes that
he did not care for his wife who longed for his
presence during her last days when she died of
cancer. He also regrets he was not able to give a
better education to his son, because he remained
non-corrupt. He is disillusioned, and in no mood
to continue, but he is forced to persist at any cost
by his family, and is made to study the life of
Gandhi through books for giving a better
performance. By studying Gandhi he also
comes to know that the director of the serial has
taken liberties to alter the story for his
convenience to make it popular. When he raises
objection to certain sequences, the director
makes his intention very clear, that he has no
reverence for Gandhi or his ideals; his only
objective is to make it popular and make money.
The only redeeming factor for Anand Rao is, he
becomes popular for playing Gandhi. He is
recognized by the public; he now has fans,
obliges many with his autographs and poses for
photographs. He is able to influence the corrupt
establishment to get things done for his friends.
His son wants to use his influence for gains.
Interestingly, Rao develops intimacy with
Susheela, the erstwhile star of the film world
who is now in the twilight of her career and
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playing the role of Kasturba. Rao admires her
for her proficiency in acting and she in turn
admires him for his knowledge on Gandhi and
his ideals. This familiarity generates interest in
him and he is inspired to dress well and look
smarter.
Unfortunately, there is no end for Rao's misery,
it continues, he is not able to get the role of
Godse, the killer of Gandhi for his young friend
Iqbal for the fear of possible communal rift that
it may create. His son is arrested on criminal
charges for issuing a cheque that has bounced.
He continues to get blamed by his director for
blemishes in his performance. Ultimately when
the climax scene was to be shot, his murder by
Godse, his inept acting creates ruckus, a large
number of shots wasted and as a climax Anand
Rao confesses that he is a bad actor, can no
longer tolerate this agony, it is better he ends his
life. He tells Godse (actor) 'Please finish me.'
The concluding shot of the murder of Gandhi is
shown in the midst of title credits in the
beginning. Ironically when the Pistol shot is
fired and Gandhi succumbs there is an all-round
applause from the onlookers. For a moment it
appears amusing as it conveys celebration.
Anand Rao, the actor suffers an attack and
collapses. The previous link for this shot is
shown at the end of the film. It is pertinent that
we should not miss the beginning of the film.
June 2012
Indian Film Culture