Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara(2005)
*Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara* (transl. I Did Not Kill Gandhi) is a 2005 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by Jahnu Barua and produced by Anupam Kher. The film stars Anupam Kher as Professor Uttam Chaudhary and Urmila Matondkar as his daughter Trisha. It follows a retired Hindi professor in Mumbai whose dementia worsens after he sees an ashtray placed on a newspaper photograph of Mahatma Gandhi. He becomes convinced that he accidentally killed Gandhi as a child. The film explores the emotional toll of mental illness on the patient and his family. It received critical acclaim for its mature treatment of dementia and strong performances. Anupam Kher won the National Film Award – Special Jury Award for his role. The film was released theatrically in India on 30 September 2005.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Prime Video, YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 1 January 2005
- Director
- Jahnu Barua
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 1h 54m
- Rating
- 6.5/10
Storyline
A retired Hindi professor in Mumbai slowly loses his mind to dementia. After a small incident triggers a childhood memory, he becomes convinced that he killed Mahatma Gandhi. His daughter fights to save him from his own delusion while the disease destroys his reality.
“The guilt that never dies.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara
Cast reunions in this film: Anupam Kher & Urmila Matondkar (4 films together), Anupam Kher & Parvin Dabas (4 films together), and Anupam Kher & Rajit Kapoor (2 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title is a twist on a famous Hindi phrase meaning 'I did not kill Gandhi,' playing on the professor's confused memory.
- Director Jahnu Barua is from Assam and known for Assamese cinema; this was his first Hindi film in over a decade.
- Anupam Kher prepared for his role by spending time with Alzheimer's patients to understand their behavior and speech patterns.
- The film was partly funded by the National Film Development Corporation of India, supporting its serious social theme.
- It won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi in 2005, highlighting its critical acclaim.
- Urmila Matondkar's role as the caring daughter was a departure from her usual glamorous parts in Bollywood at the time.
- The story uses Gandhi's assassination as a metaphor for personal and national trauma, linking memory loss to historical events.