Ahimsa Film Update

Original Story by Aaron J. Sams (2021-06-21)

To celebrate the recent 150th anniversary of Gandhi’s birth, director Ramesh Sharma filmed Ahimsa: Gandhi The Power and the Powerless. The documentary film looks at the message of Gandhi, and how that message has spread over time, including his influence on later leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama. And the film features the track “Ahmisa,” recorded by U2 with A.R. Rahman, and released as a single in 2019.

The film’s producer, Anant Singh spoke about the song “Ahimsa” being part of the film, “We are also very excited that the film features the song, ‘Ahimsa’ performed by U2 and A.R. Rahman, with the lyrics written by Bono and A.R. Rahman which complements the spirit of the film.”

The song was developed by U2 with A.R. Rahman in advance of their concert in Mumbai to end The Joshua Tree Tour 2019, and included performances by Rahman, as well as his daughters on the song. It was recorded in September 2019. The “Ahimsa” single was released on November 22, 2019.

VIDEO: Trailer for Ahimsa: Gandhi The Power and the Powerless

We told you last year that U2 would be contributing the song. But it appears Bono may have contributed a bit more than just his vocals to the film. He’s also listed as Executive Producer for the film in the trailer above, posted by the Bagri Foundation London Indian Film Festival. You can also hear “Ahimsa” at the end of this trailer. However, not all trailers for the film are including the Bono credit. This one, posted to Vimeo, lists the executive producers at Michela Scolari, Simmran Bedi, and David Traub instead.

The film has started to make the rounds at different film festivals. Earlier this month the film won the award for Best Documentary Feature at the New York Indian Film Festival. The documentary was also recently awarded the Global Peace Award at the United Nations.

From the media kit accompanying the documentary, we have the following synopsis:

The film narrates the impact of the Gandhian message of Non Violence worldwide; how it inspired Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement in USA, the Solidarity Movement in Poland, The Velvet Revolution of Havel, and the Anti-Apartheid strife in South Africa and Nelson Mandela’s fight against injustice, oppression, racism and his struggle to restore basic human rights and dignity for the coloured citizens of his country. In short, the film decodes the power of Non-Violence and why it remains relevant to this day.

Interviews with world renowned scholars, biographers, as well as close family members of Mahatma Gandhi and Nobel Laureates such as HH The Dalai Lama, Former Polish President Lech Walesa. The feature documentary weaves in rare archival footage, photographs, inspirational songs, to put together a compelling and powerful narrative of the impact of Ahimsa – Non-Violence.

More information about the film is available at the official site for the film.

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