'What a random movie man'
This was pretty much a short review in a twitter format that one person sitting right behind me remarked once the end credits started rolling for 'Gandhi To Hitler'. He couldn't have summed it better than these five words as 'Gandhi To Hitler' is exactly what the gentleman commented - 'Random'!
Really, it is clear to the audience that the makers themselves were hardly clear about what they intended to make when they started work on this film which just doesn't take any direction whatsoever. Is this film about world peace? Is this film about creating sympathy for Hitler? Is it about telling the world how Hitler was a great patriot? Is it about the plight of Indian soldiers who were fluctuating between being Germany's friends or foes? Is it about Gandhi who was disheartened with Hitler's ways? Is it about how India earned it's independence with non-violent ways? Oh, and lest one forget, is it about Hitler's love story with his mistress of over one decade - Eva Braun? Questions are aplenty, answers near to nil. And that's because the story continues to dwindle across different plots and sub-plots, most of which don't make any sense and only end up as fillers to the real story which in any case is conspicuous by its absence. So while there are some films that start losing their way as they progress towards the middle portions, 'Gandhi To Hitler' fails to arrest you from the very beginning. In fact scenes shot by director Rakesh Ranjan Kumar are so haphazardly placed in the narrative that one wonders how frustrated editor Shree Narayan Singh must have been who has a true masterpiece like 'A Wednesday' to his credit!
So here comes one scene where Hitler, played rather poorly by Raghuveer Yadav, is going hammers and tongs over his officers for their incompetence, while there is an immediate scene with Gandhi who is propagating his message of peace and forgiveness. Later in the film while Gandhi is having simple 'daal roti' while sitting on the ground, there is Hitler shown as sipping red wine. There are few more scenes like these which just try to make the film seem like a clash of ideologies but with no success whatsoever. What hampers the film's progress most though is the Aman Verma track who is leading his small team of soldiers who are on the run. The moment film enters this zone, it is time to check your cellphone for any emails, messages or the cricket score. Yes, in comparison the scenes featuring Hitler at least carry a lot of promise. Surprisingly though there aren't any real dramatic encounters due to no hold in direction here, something that really harms whatever little interest that audience may have gained.
Any redeeming factors? Well, last 15 odd minutes of the film still manage to get some credibility to the proceedings as one is exposed to how a powerful man like Hitler as well as his loyal associates failed to defend themselves. Also Neha Dhupia in a brief role does seem convinced about her part though she still stays on the peripherals, not at the epicentre of the drama.
One can go on and on about the boredom that comes with 'Gandhi To Hitler' but that would be unfair for the readers who won't really be bothered to know much about how wayward could a film get. And that should sum it up all.
Rating: *1/2
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