Gandhi, Extra Spicy
An early entry in the flurry of articles, exhibitions and films marking the 150th anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s birth, Khaar is an ambitious docudrama on the Salt March and Dandi satyagrah, which launched the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930. Now streaming on the Zee5 platform, it combines historical videos and images, interviews with experts and dramatic recreations of the historical events. The complexity of such a turbulent and eventful period of history is not easy to represent, and Khaar both succeeds and fails at the task. The interviews and the historical footage are well arranged and cogent. The producers have made a valiant attempt at creating the settings of the movement and reproducing the feel of the time. The sets and the lighting of the re-enactment are very contemporary, making a stark contrast with the historical footage. While this visual flavour suits the interviews, it doesn’t suit the recreation. Also problematic is actor Annu Kapoor’s overtly dramatised narration. Kapoor is a fine narrator, especially on his popular radio shows. But this intrinsically dramatic material calls for a restraint that is sadly missing, likely due to the direction he received. At times, it feels like a scandalous night-time crime show.
In keeping with that jarring tone, the caricatured depiction of the English officers makes them appear like comic supervillains who are taught a lesson. (Imagine Lord Irwin as Batman’s nemesis, the Joker). A docudrama needs to maintain a grip on the complexities of historical events. Here, it is sacrificed in favour of the lowest common denominator. Caution is also lacking in aspects like costume. The marchers come across as angry young men with gym-toned bodies, shouting slogans. Surendra Rajan has done reasonably well in his portrayal of Gandhi and, for the most part, the script does adhere to the basic facts. Khaar does well to show the international impact of the march, and how it turned the tide of the freedom struggle, for instance. But it ends with blaming the Indian National Congress for Partition, without qualification or nuance. The powers that be will approve.