This was a 19-yr project overall for director Attenborough, and the result was a near perfect biopic of the late Mahatma Gandhi, a.k.a. Mohandas K. Gandhi, who began as a minority rights lawyer and later inspired the movement for Indian independence through non-violent means. The casting had to be perfect, and Ben Kingsley was, getting a well-deserved Oscar. This is a monumental epic, worthy of its subject. Two million people showed up for the filming of the funeral scene! They had to eliminate all shots showing Levis and Nikes... and had promised 'free lunch' for all participants! 8 Oscars