Even as the Gandhian institutions continue to struggle to keep the Mahatma alive, it is the film industry which has resurrected him in many ways, bringing his message in a message the young can understand and can carry forward 'Gandhiwaad' or - as coined by Bollywood - 'Gandhigiri'.

'Naanu Gandhi' is unique as it aims to reach the young as no one has done before. Directed by N R Nanjunde Gowda, this film has won several accolades including the Best film award for propagating educational values at the Columbia International film festival in Carthagena, the first for any children's film from India and has been shown successfully in film festivals in Italy (Giffoni), Tunisia (Sousse), and Canada (Toronto).

The film, which had a successful run in Karnataka late last year, has been made by a man who has for long been espousing the cause of children's cinema. His `Chukki Chandrama' (star and Moon) was the inaugural film at the International Children's Film Festival held at Thiruvananthapuram in 1991 where it won the Best Screenplay award. A film that made the adults think about the values they were inculcating in their children, it featured teenage children, narrating in a mature way the thin line between love and sex that they tread on. He followed it up with `A Aa I II' (ABCD) that depicted both at the children's and adults' level the inherent contradictions between globalization and native culture and their impact on young minds. The film was a runaway success.

'I am a film director who firmly believes that films are to be released in theatres for public viewing. Awards and recognition are important, but we should work towards reaching out to people who come to theatres for viewing films,' says Gowda.

Though Gowda also made several other films and television serials before this film, his crowning glory came when he established Children's India, a non-governmental organization aimed at espousing the cause of children's cinema.

In fact, Children's India now hosts an annual film festival in Bangalore, perhaps one of the very few niche festivals being organized by single NGOs anywhere in the world.

ABOUT THE FILM

'Naanu Gandhi' (I am Gandhi) tells the story of a young child who is often made fun of by his fellow villagers because his name is Gandhi. He was named thus because his grandfather Rangappa had fought for the freedom of the country, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi.

The film is also a strong commentary on modern times in that even a teacher called from the city when the village school gets its first computer makes fun of the Mahatma and derides the child.

Gandhi is so fed up of all this that he decides to change his name, and even convinces his mother Shantavva in this regard, much to the disappointment of the grandfather.

But the villagers, who have by now learnt the true values that the father of the nation stood for, prevent the child from doing so.

Produced by Ms Kokila N Gowda, wife of Nanjunde Gowda, the film is based on a story by Dr Besagarhalli Ramanna and screenplay by Gowda himself. The music is by Raju Upendra Kumar.

It stars Master Likhit in the title role along with Ramesh Bhatt, Sundar Raj, Pramila Joshai, Sadashiva Brahmavar, Mandya Ramesh, Raaga Ranga Nagaraj, Venkatachal, N.G.E.F. Sri Kantaiah, Mosale Manjunath, Master K S Sharath Kumar, Master Nandan Kumar, Master Shashank, Baby Nisha, Baby Soumya, Baby Sneha, Bharathi and others.