The art of killing Gandhi

Why some Indian artists and filmmakers are bent on rewriting one of the 20th century’s greatest tragedies

Ashok Tyagi is a big fan of Ashok Tyagi. And why shouldn’t he be? “I have impeccable credentials,” he says. He was a brilliant student who always stood first in class, went on to join the premier filmmaking school, the Film and Television Institute of India, and has made movies starring legends like Dev Anand and Rajesh Khanna.

His latest project is, in his words, “the best docu-drama I’ve seen”. In fact, every time he sees it, he is moved to tears.

“Why I Killed Gandhi” is a re-enactment of the trial of the Mahatma’s assassin Nathuram Godse. Actually, it …

Author

Omkar Khandekar

Omkar specializes in long-form narrative features and has reported from India, the UK, Germany and the Maldives. He writes across beats, from politics and crime to cinema and sports. His works have been published in Indian and international outlets including The Caravan, Mint Lounge, the BBC, Al Jazeera and The Huffington Post.

Senior Features Writer

omkar@mailtmc.com

Delhi