Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar (film)

2021-06-02T14:07:21Z

2409:4073:4E07:700B:3327:9FE7:DC5D:AE5B: /* Awards */Real awards updated

{{distinguish|Dr. B. R. Ambedkar (film)}}
{{short description|2000 film by Jabbar Patel}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar
| image = Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar (film).jpg
| director = [[Jabbar Patel]]
| producer = Tirlok Malik
| writer = {{ubl|Daya Pawar|Arun Sadhu|[[Sooni Taraporevala]]}}
| starring = {{ubl|[[Mammootty]]|[[Sonali Kulkarni]]|[[Mohan Gokhale]]|[[Mrinal Dev-Kulkarni|Mrinal Kulkarni]]}}
| music = Amar Haldipur
| cinematography = [[Ashok Mehta]]
| editing = Vijay Khochikar
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|2000|12|15|df=y|ref1=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/english/movie-details/dr-babasaheb-ambedkar/movieshow/66234193.cms|title=Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Movie: Showtimes, Review, Trailer, Posters, News & Videos - eTimes|access-date=6 July 2020|via=timesofindia.indiatimes.com}}</ref>}}
| runtime = 180 minutes<ref>{{cite web|title=Classics revisited: Jabbar Patel's Ambedkar biopic is a portrait of both the man and the legend|url=https://scroll.in/reel/864097/classics-revisited-jabbar-patels-ambedkar-biopic-is-a-portrait-of-both-the-man-and-the-legend|first=Damini|last=Kulkarni|date=January 7, 2018|access-date=April 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616143723/https://scroll.in/reel/864097/classics-revisited-jabbar-patels-ambedkar-biopic-is-a-portrait-of-both-the-man-and-the-legend|archive-date=16 June 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
| country = [[India]]
| language = [[English language|English]]<br />[[Hindi]]<ref name="Nandy"/>
| budget = {{INR|8.95 crore}}<ref name="Nandy"/>
}}
'''''Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar''''' is a 2000 Indian English-[[Hindi]] bilingual [[feature film]] directed by [[Jabbar Patel]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blink/cover/resurgence-of-an-icon/article8447300.ece|title=Resurgence of an icon|first=Vivek|last=Kumar|website=@businessline|access-date=20 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809184336/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blink/cover/resurgence-of-an-icon/article8447300.ece|archive-date=9 August 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> It tells the story of [[B. R. Ambedkar]], known mainly for his contributions in the emancipation of the downtrodden and oppressed classes in India and shaping the [[Constitution of India]], as the chairman of the Drafting Committee of the [[Constituent Assembly of India|Indian Constituent Assembly]].<ref name="Nandy">{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2000/jun/27jabb.htm |title=A revolutionary who changed the life of millions of people |work=[[Rediff.com]] |date=2000-06-27 |access-date=2011-07-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618203522/http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2000/jun/27jabb.htm |archive-date=18 June 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

''Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar'' won the [[National Film Awards]] for [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in English|Best feature film in English]], [[National Film Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] (Mammootty) and [[National Film Award for Best Art Direction|Best Art Direction]] (Nitin Chandrakant Desai) in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/snapshots-of-life-outside-the-ring/|title=Snapshots of life outside the ring|date=29 October 2009|access-date=14 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514164054/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/snapshots-of-life-outside-the-ring/|archive-date=14 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The film was screened retrospective on August 15, 2016 at the ''Independence Day Film Festival'' jointly presented by the Indian [[Directorate of Film Festivals]] and [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]], commemorating 70th [[Independence Day (India)|Indian Independence Day]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Pune A film festival that celebrates freedom|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/pune-a-film-festival-that-celebrates-freedom-2962539/|date=August 9, 2016|access-date=April 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801200601/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/pune-a-film-festival-that-celebrates-freedom-2962539/|archive-date=1 August 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Plot==
Bhimrao Ambedkar studying in [[Columbia University]] library and is approached by [[Lala Lajpat Rai]] to join his home rule league but Ambedkar refuses to do so as he came here on the scholarship of his highness [[Sayajirao Gaekwad III]] of [[Baroda State]]. Ambedkar is unable to afford studying in America so he also works part-time jobs washing plates and cleaning.

He passed his M.A. exam in June 1915, majoring in economics, and other subjects of sociology, history, philosophy and anthropology. He presented a thesis, Ancient Indian Commerce. Ambedkar was influenced by [[John Dewey]] and his work on democracy. In 1916 he completed his second thesis, National Dividend of India - A Historic and Analytical Study for another M.A. In October 1916, he enrolled for the Bar course at [[Gray's Inn]], and at the same time enrolled at the [[London School of Economics]] where he started working on a doctoral thesis. 1917 The term of his scholarship from Baroda ended, so that he was obliged to go back to India in June with his work unfinished; he was, however, given permission to return and finish within four years. He sent his precious and much-loved collection of books back on a steamer—but it was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine Ambedkar went to Baroda State to work as a probationer in the Accountant General's Office . A scholarship of 11.50 British pounds a month, for three years, was awarded to the young Ambedkar and per the agreement he has to serve baroda for 10 years after the completion of his studies. However, upon arriving in Baroda, he realized that none of the Hindu hotels would allow his to stay due to his lower caste. He found a [[Parsi]] inn, but here, non-Parsis were not allowed to stay. He and the Parsi inn-keeper reached a compromise, where by Ambedkar gave his name as a Parsi, and was allowed to stay. After joining the new office as a new senior officer (Probationary officer) being an untouchable the peon of the office doesn't give him file in his hand he throw files on his table, Ambedkar feel thirsty and ask for a glass of water, the peon says there is no water when he goes on to drink water from the pot, Upper caste people finds this very uncomfortable and insult him and he is not allowed to drink water from that pot as they think by his touch it will pollute the water so they tell him to bring his own water and call him dirty and untouchable. After a few days of stay in Baroda it is discovered by other Parsis, that he is not Parsi and on the eleventh day of his stay, a group of angry Parsi men, armed with sticks, arrived to remove him from the inn. He had to leave the inn that very day, and not having a place to stay, was forced to leave Baroda and return to [[Bombay]] to find work elsewhere.

In Bombay, Ambedkar applies for the post of professorship as professor of [[political economy]] in [[Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics]]. On the first day of his job the students makes fun of him thinking what this untouchable will teach them does he know how to speak English. In the staff room when Ambedkar approaches towards water pot to drink water a professor named [[Trivedi]] doesn't like it and insults him. Ambedkar is approached by Shri [[Shahu of Kolhapur|Shahu]] Maharaj of [[Kolhapur State|Kolhapur]] and Ambedkar starts a newspaper called Mooknayak in the year 1920. Ambedkar took a conference in [[Mangaon]] in Kolhapur it was attended by Shri Shahu Maharaj. The Maharaj declared in a prophetic vein "You have found your saviour in Ambedkar and I am confident that he will break your shackles".

==Cast==
*[[Mammootty]] as [[Dr. B. R. Ambedkar]]<ref name="MammoottyIT">{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/interview/story/19970430-i-could-not-really-visualise-myself-as-ambedkar-mammootty-830228-1997-04-30|title=I could not really visualise myself as Ambedkar: Mammootty(updated=April 30, 2013)|first=Jacob|last=George|date=April 30, 1997|website=India Today|access-date=April 15, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/for-them-ambedkar-was-god-says-mammootty/articleshow/64635715.cms|title=For them, Ambedkar was God, says Mammootty - Times of India|website=The Times of India|date= Jun 18, 2018|access-date=April 15, 2020}}</ref>
*[[Sonali Kulkarni]] as [[Ramabai Bhimrao Ambedkar|Ramabai Ambedkar]], first wife of Ambedkar
*[[Priya Bapat]] as young Ramabai<ref>{{Cite web|title=Priya Bapat is a star on the Marathi screen – but here is why she isn't resting on her laurels|url=https://scroll.in/reel/924675/priya-bapat-is-a-star-on-the-marathi-screen-but-here-is-why-she-isnt-resting-on-her-laurels|date=Jun 18, 2018|access-date=April 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605042930/https://scroll.in/reel/924675/priya-bapat-is-a-star-on-the-marathi-screen-but-here-is-why-she-isnt-resting-on-her-laurels|archive-date=5 June 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Mrinal Kulkarni]] as [[Savita Ambedkar]], second wife of Babasaheb
*[[Govind Namdeo]] as [[Ambedkar family|Subedar Ramji Maloji Sakpal]], father of Babasaheb
*[[Mohan Gokhale]] as [[Mahatma Gandhi|Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi]]
*[[Tirlok Malik]] as [[Lala Lajpat Rai]]
*[[Anjan Srivastav]] as [[Sayajirao Gaekwad III]]
*[[Nawazuddin Siddiqui]] as one of the leaders of Second [[Mahad Satyagraha]] and in background of Manusmriti Dahan
*[[Sushant Singh]] as Asnodkar, a friend he met while studying in [[London]]
*[[Nandu Madhav]] as [[Gangadhar Nilkanth Sahasrabuddhe]]
* [[Ashok Lokhande]] as [[Bhaurao Gaikwad]]

==Production==
The film was a project funded jointly by the [[Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (India)|Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment]] and the [[Government of Maharashtra]]. It was made at a budget of {{INR}} 8.95 crore.<ref name="Nandy"/><ref>[http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/33856957F2401AF865256940004B7B35 "Ambedkar film cost shoots up to Rs 8.95 cr"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613053804/http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/33856957F2401AF865256940004B7B35 |date=13 June 2011 }}</ref> The production was managed by the government-owned [[National Film Development Corporation of India]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/Readers-Editor/Ambedkar-film-better-late-than-never/article16302923.ece|title=Ambedkar film: better late than never|first=S.|last=Viswanathan|date=24 May 2010|access-date=20 March 2019|via=www.thehindu.com|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref>

In an interview with Pritish Nandy of ''[[Rediff.com]]'', director Jabbar Patel said that the research and filming took three years each. The government said they wanted a film on the scale of [[Richard Attenborough]]'s ''[[Gandhi (film)|Gandhi]]''. For the role of [[B. R. Ambedkar|Ambedkar]], they considered hundreds of actors around the world. Patel claimed that, in that search, they also sought [[Robert De Niro]] who was very keen on the role but backed off when he was told that he had to drop his American accent and speak the way Ambedkar did -- in his typically "clipped Indo-British accent". Mammootty was cast by chance when Patel saw his picture on a magazine and felt he had some resemblance with Ambedkar. Mammootty was initially resistant to be cast as that would have meant shaving off his mustache, recalls Patel.<ref name="Nandy"/> Since there were no footage of Ambedkar available to them, his body language and way of talking was to be done out of imagination.<ref name="MammoottyIT"/> The film was simultaneously shot in English and [[Hindi]].<ref name="Nandy"/>

Although ''Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar'' was certified in 1998, it was released commercially in 2000.

==Music==
{{Track listing
| headline = Track list
| total_length=
| extra_column=Singer(s)
| title1 = [[Kabir]] Kahe
| length1 = 5:31
| lyrics1 = [[Kabir]]
| extra1 = Ravindra Sathe, Vinod Sehgal
| note1 = Hindi language song
| title2 = Buddham Saranang Gachhami
| length2 = 4:49
| lyrics2 = [[Bhikkhu]]s
| extra2 = Jayashree Shivram and [[Roop Kumar Rathod]]
| note2 = Pali language song
| title3 = Bhamaichya Wasracha
| length3 =
| lyrics3 = [[Vitthal Umap]]
| extra3 = [[Vitthal Umap]]
| note3 = Marathi language song
}}

==Awards==
The film won [[National Film Awards]] (India) in 1999.
* [[National Film Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] - [[Mammootty]]
* [[National Film Award for Best Art Direction|Best Art Direction]] - Nitin Chandrakant Desai

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0270321}}

{{National Film Award Best Feature Film English}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar (Film)}}
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:2000 films]]
[[Category:2000 biographical drama films]]
[[Category:Films about B. R. Ambedkar]]
[[Category:Films featuring a Best Actor National Award-winning performance]]
[[Category:Films whose production designer won the Best Production Design National Film Award]]
[[Category:Best English Feature Film National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:English-language Indian films]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of B. R. Ambedkar]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Mahatma Gandhi]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Jawaharlal Nehru]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Muhammad Ali Jinnah]]
[[Category:2000 drama films]]
[[Category:Films about Buddhism]]

Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar (film)