Vikas Production’s I Killed Bapu (UA) is the story of why Nathuram Godse killed Mahatma Gandhi. It is based on the novel, Maine Gandhi Vadh Kyu Kiya, written by Nathuram Vinayak Godse.
Nathuram Godse (Sameer Deshpande), a patriot who fought for India’s freedom from the British Raj, has murdered Mahatma Gandhi (Rajesh Khatri) and is now facing trial in court. He doesn’t have a lawyer and argues his case himself. He tells the court that he had envisioned an undivided India. He was totally against Gandhi’s division of the country into India and Pakistan. He was also against Gandhi favouring Pakistan as a nation. He also informs the court that while Hindus were left to die in Pakistan, Muslims in India were allowed to escape to the neighbouring country in the dark of the night, courtesy Mahatma Gandhi. He admits that he had killed Gandhi because of these grave mistakes committed by him.
Aadesh K. Arjun has written a story which is inspired from the novel and which may not find much acceptance if only because it presents the counter-view and tries to justify a murder. Aadesh K. Arjun’s screenplay is ordinary and does not emotionally involve or engage the viewers. In other words, the drama lacks conviction. It is doubtful whether the audience would be one with Nathuram Godse even after knowing his reasons for murdering Gandhi. Aadesh K. Arjun’s dialogues are so-so.
Sameer Deshpande does an average job as Nathuram Godse. Rajesh Khatri is so-so as Mahatma Gandhi. Hemant Rasakonda is fair as Harinarayan Apte. Akshay Verma is alright as the advocate. Umashankar Goenka, Mukesh H. Kapani, Nagesh Mishra, Zaffar Kazmi, Nafees, Ravi Dev Rai, Shweta Prajapati, Fiza Khan, Avinash Bandhe, Karamjit Kumar, Manish Kashyap, Sachin Sahu and the rest of the actors pass muster.
Hyder Kazmi’s direction lacks conviction. The drama doesn’t quite convince the viewers. Aman Shlok’s music is average. Pranay Pradhan’s background music is nothing to shout about. Ashwin Prabhakar’s cinematography is ordinary. Riyaz Sultan’s action and stunt scenes are devoid of thrill. Govind Dubey’s editing ought to have been tighter.
On the whole, I Killed Bapu is an ordinary fare.
Released on 29-9-’23 on Zee5.