Genres
Biographical drama
Gandhi (1983): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Gandhi is a 1983 biographical drama directed by Richard Attenborough, starring Ben Kingsley, Ian Charleson and Martin Sheen. It runs 3 hours 11 minutes and earned $52.8 million worldwide. It won 8 Oscars, including Best Picture and Actor in a Leading Role, and 13 awards in all. Critics gave it 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and 79 on Metacritic.
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- Released
- Runtime
- 3h 11m (191 min)
- Director
- Richard Attenborough
- Original language
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English - Studio
- Columbia Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
The story
What Is Gandhi About?
The premise of Gandhi without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
This biographical drama portrays the remarkable life of Mohandas Gandhi and his unwavering commitment to nonviolent resistance against British colonial rule. Initially facing doubt and opposition from officials like Lord Irwin, Gandhi's persistent and courageous actions inspire a movement that captures global attention and propels India towards its independence. The film explores his philosophy and the significant impact he had on a nation's struggle for freedom.
Gandhi Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- india
- british india
- protest
- south africa
- hindu
- peace
- hunger strike
- british empire
- partition of india
- independence
- violence
- lawyer
+38 more Show fewer
- indian history
- pacifist
- fasting
- riot
- based on true story
- british raj
- man wears eyeglasses
- nonviolence
- idealism
- idealist
- racial slur
- thrown from a train
- train journey
- angry mob
- protest march
- passive resistance
- husband wife relationship
- courage
- cruelty
- injustice
- surname as title
- minister
- arrest
- assassination
- brutality
- reference to god
- shot to death
- politics
- pacifism
- speech
- reporter
- religious violence
- police brutality
- new delhi india
- hinduism
- calcutta india
- arson
- 1930s
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Cast & crew
Gandhi Cast
Ben Kingsley leads the cast, with Ian Charleson and Martin Sheen. Directed by Richard Attenborough; 10 actors are credited in all.
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Director Richard Attenborough
Also Starring in Gandhi
· 6 more From the director
More from Richard Attenborough
More films directed by Richard Attenborough, best-rated first: A Bridge Too Far, Cry Freedom, Magic and A Chorus Line.
Ratings
Gandhi Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Gandhi 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and 79 on Metacritic.
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Rotten Tomatoes 89% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 92%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 79 Metascore
User score 8.3
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 76% User score
See on TMDB
Plot
Gandhi Plot Summary
What happens in Gandhi from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
On January 30, 1948, as he makes his way to an evening prayer service, the elderly Gandhi, portrayed by Ben Kingsley, receives assistance for his evening stroll. Surrounded by admirers and well-wishers, tragedy strikes when Nathuram Godse (played by Harsh Nayyar) shoots him at point-blank range. In his final moments, Gandhi utters, > “Oh, God!” before collapsing. By his side are Manu (Supriya Pathak) and Abha (Neena Gupta), witnessing the end of a remarkable life dedicated to peace. His state funeral becomes a historic event attended by millions from diverse backgrounds, as a radio reporter eloquently recounts his transformative impact on the world.
Full summary
The whole story of Gandhi, scene by scene
Box office
Gandhi Box Office
Gandhi grossed $52.8 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$52.8M
- US & Canada
- $52.8M
Awards
Gandhi Awards & Nominations
Gandhi won 8 Oscars, including Best Picture and Actor in a Leading Role, and 13 awards in all. Its biggest night was the Oscars 1983, with 8 wins from 11 nominations.
13 wins32 nominations5 ceremonies
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Oscars 1983 8 wins · 11 nominations- Won Actor in a Leading Role – Ben Kingsley
- Won Art Direction
- Won Best Picture
- Won Cinematography
- Won Costume Design
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BAFTA 1983 4 wins · 14 nominations- Won Best Actor in a Leading Role – Ben Kingsley
- Won Best Direction – Richard Attenborough
- Won Best Film – Richard Attenborough
- Won Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles – Ben Kingsley
- Nominated Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Edward Fox and Roshan Seth
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DGA Awards 1983 1 win · 1 nomination- Won Feature Film – Richard Attenborough
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Golden Globes 1983 5 nominations- Nominated Best Director – Richard Attenborough
- Nominated Best Foreign Film
- Nominated Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama (Actor) – Ben Kingsley
- Nominated Best Screenplay
- Nominated New Star of the Year – Actor – Ben Kingsley
Show all 5 ceremonies Show fewer ceremonies
- Golden Globes 1982 1 nomination
- Nominated New Star of the Year – Actor – Ben Kingsley
Videos
Gandhi Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Gandhi.
Quiz
How Well Do You Know Gandhi?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What event leads to the assassination of Gandhi in the film?
Cars
Cars in Gandhi
21 cars on screen, including the 1934 Buick Series 90 and the 1918 Chevrolet 490.
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1934 Buick Series 90 Minor role -
1918 Chevrolet 490 Minor role -
1937 Daimler Straight Eight 4½ Litre Minor role -
1919 Fiat 501 Minor role
Details
Gandhi Also Known As
19 alternative titles, including “Richard Attenborough's Film: Gandhi” and “Gandi”.
- Also known as
-
- Richard Attenborough's Film: Gandhi
- Gandi
- 英雄甘地
- Գաննդի
- Gándhí
- Ганди
- 甘地传
- Γκάντι
- גנדי
- Ґанді
- ガンジー
- 간디
+7 more Show fewer
- 甘地
- 甘地傳
- غاندي, განდი
- คานธี
- گاندی
- Gandis
- Cuộc Đời Gandhi
Seen Gandhi?
More like this
Movies Like Gandhi
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Gandhi, My Father, Gandhi Godse Ek Yudh and The Making of the Mahatma.
From the blog
Articles About Gandhi
2 articles about Gandhi. The latest: “Breaking Down the Biopic: Anatomy of a Genre”.
FAQ
Gandhi FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Gandhi, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Gandhi?
Gandhi runs 3 hours 11 minutes (191 minutes).
When was Gandhi released?
Gandhi was released on February 25, 1983.
Who directed Gandhi?
Gandhi was directed by Richard Attenborough.
More films by Richard Attenborough Who is in the cast of Gandhi?
Gandhi stars Ben Kingsley, Ian Charleson and Martin Sheen, among 10 credited actors.
How much did Gandhi make at the box office?
Gandhi grossed $52.8 million worldwide.
How is Gandhi rated?
Gandhi has 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, 79 on Metacritic and 76% on TMDB.
What awards did Gandhi win?
Gandhi won 13 awards from 32 nominations, including Actor in a Leading Role at the Oscars 1983.
Does Gandhi have a post-credit scene?
No. Gandhi has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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