() is a 2023 Indian

Hindi-language Modern Standard Hindi (, ), commonly referred to as Hindi, is the standardised variety of the Hindustani language written in the Devanagari script. It is an official language of the Government of India, alongside English, and is the ''lin ...

historical fiction Historical fiction is a literary genre in which a fictional plot takes place in the Setting (narrative), setting of particular real past events, historical events. Although the term is commonly used as a synonym for historical fiction literatur ...

film written and directed by

Rajkumar Santoshi Rajkumar Santoshi is an Indian film director, producer and screenwriter of Hindi films. A recipient of several accolades including three National Film Awards and six Filmfare Awards, he made his directorial debut with the action drama ''Ghayal ...

, and produced by Manila Santoshi. The film stars Deepak Antani and

Chinmay Mandlekar Chinmay Mandlekar (born 2 February 1979) is an Indian actor, writer and stage director, mostly active in the Marathi entertainment industry. He is known for his work in Zenda, Morya, ''Farzand'' (2018), '' Fatteshikast'' (2019), ''The Kashmir ...

in the lead roles. The film deals with a fictional situation in which

Mahatma Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2October 186930January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalism, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethics, political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful Indian ...

survives his assassination and thereafter decides to not only pardon

Nathuram Godse Nathuram Vinayak Godse (19 May 1910 – 15 November 1949) () was an Indian Hindu nationalist and political activist who was the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi. He shot Gandhi in the chest three times at point blank range at a multi-faith praye ...

, but also socialize with him.

Plot

The film depicts that Godse holds

Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2October 186930January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India's independence from British ...

responsible for the

partition of India The partition of India in 1947 was the division of British India into two independent dominion states, the Dominion of India, Union of India and Dominion of Pakistan. The Union of India is today the Republic of India, and the Dominion of Paki ...

and misery of Hindus. He shoots Gandhi on 30 January 1948 but Gandhi is miraculously saved and pardons Godse. After breaking his ties with the Congress, Gandhi begins his Gram Swaraj Movement to inspire villages towards self-reliance. Meanwhile, the system highlights Godse's writing and manipulates public sentiment against Gandhi whose interference has created a ruckus within the government. This leads to Gandhi's arrest which he insists on serving with Godse. They have multiple debates and arguments, even confrontations in prison. Soon Gandhi and Godse start to understand each other. Gradually Gandhi brings a change over Godse. During a marriage officiated by Gandhi, another attacker tries to shoot and kill him; Godse saves his life and soon together they are released from jail.

Cast

* Deepak Antani as

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2October 186930January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India's independence from British ru ...

as Nathuram Vinayak Godse * Tanisha Santoshi as Sushma * Anuj Saini as Naren *

Pawan Chopra Pawan Chopra is an Indian actor who works in Hindi films, television, and commercials. Filmography Films Television Web series References External links * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Chopra, Pawan 21st-century Indian male actors Indian male ...

Jawaharlal Nehru Jawaharlal Nehru (14 November 1889 – 27 May 1964) was an Indian anti-colonial nationalist, secular humanist, social democrat, and statesman who was a central figure in India during the middle of the 20th century. Nehru was a pr ...

* Mukund Pathak as

B. R. Ambedkar Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (Bhīmrāo Rāmjī Āmbēḍkar; 14 April 1891 – 6 December 1956) was an Indian jurist, economist, social reformer and political leader who chaired the committee that drafted the Constitution of India based on t ...

* Ghanshyam Srivastav as

Vallabhbhai Patel Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel (; ''Vallabhbhāī Jhāverbhāī Paṭel''; 31 October 1875 – 15 December 1950), commonly known as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, was an Indian independence activist and statesman who served as the first Deputy Prime ...

* Sandeep Bhojak as Jailer Amod Rai *Vipul Deshpande as DSP Rana

Production

Santoshi confessed in pre-release promotions that it was hard to receive investment for such a large scale film with a potentially controversial subject. He added that it was only after composer

A. R. Rahman Allah Rakha Rahman (; born A. S. Dileep Kumar; 6 January 1967), also known by the initialism ARR, is an Indian music composer, record producer, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and philanthropist known for his works in Indian cinem ...

accepted to do the film, investors started showing interest, and the film may not have been made if Rahman said 'no'. Filming commenced on 20 September 2020 and was wrapped on 6 May 2022.

Bhopal Bhopal (; ISO 15919, ISO: Bhōpāl, ) is the capital (political), capital city of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh and the administrative headquarters of both Bhopal district and Bhopal division. It is known as the ''City of Lakes,'' due to ...

and

Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...

served as the principal locations.

Music

The music is composed by

in his third collaboration with

after '' Pukar'' and ''

The Legend of Bhagat Singh ''The Legend of Bhagat Singh'' is a 2002 Indian Hindi-language biographical drama film directed by Rajkumar Santoshi. The film is about Bhagat Singh, a revolutionary who fought for Indian independence along with fellow members of the Hindus ...

''. The director-composer duo had not collaborated for over two decades, though Rahman was approached for ''

Khakee ''Khakee'' () is a 2004 Indian Hindi-language neo-noir action thriller film written and directed by Rajkumar Santoshi produced by Keshu Ramsay. The film revolves around an Indian police team on a mission to escort an accused terrorist from ...

'' and he did not sign it due to scheduling conflicts.

Release

The film was released in India on 26 January 2023, coinciding with the

Indian Republic Day Republic Day is a Public holidays in India, national holiday in Republic of India, India commemorating the adoption of the Constitution of India, Constitution of the Republic of India and the country's transition to a republic which came into e ...

Reception

The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its performances, visual style, music, and cinematography, but criticized its screenplay and story. Due to the dispute over the context of the film, Santoshi sought police protection after allegedly receiving threats.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gandhi Godse - Ek Yudh 2020s Hindi-language films Films scored by A. R. Rahman Alternate history films Indian historical drama films Cultural depictions of Mahatma Gandhi Cultural depictions of B. R. Ambedkar Cultural depictions of Jawaharlal Nehru Films about assassinations Films set in 1948 Cultural depictions of Vallabhbhai Patel Films directed by Rajkumar Santoshi Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi Films shot in Mumbai Films shot in Madhya Pradesh Films set in Delhi Films set in Mumbai Films set in Maharashtra Films set in Haryana Indian political drama films Films set in prison Hindi-language films based on actual events