Sir Ben Kingsley stars as Mohandas Gandhi in Lord Richard Attenborough’s riveting biography of the man who rose from simple lawyer to worldwide symbol of peace and understanding. Winner of 8 Academy Awards® including Best Picture, Best Director (Richard Attenborough) and Best Actor (Sir Ben Kingsley), GANDHI’s highly acclaimed cast also includes Candice Bergen, Edward Fox, Sir John Gielgud, Roshan Seth and Martin Sheen.

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Video Quality

Gandhi has been given a 2160p 4K UHD upgrade with Dolby Vision that serves as a monumental step up from the included Blu-Ray that was first released in 2009. Not only this, but the film was originally released on 4K UHD Blu-Ray in 2020 as part of the Columbia Classics Collection: Volume 1 from a 4K restoration of the Original Camera Negative with HDR10 but not Dolby Vision. Sony has taken this latest opportunity to rectify the situation with a new 4K UHD disc featuring Dolby Vision. This new release is not a night and day difference from the older, terrific release, but the addition of Dolby Vision does allow for some notable improvements which make this the definitive word on the film. The film is split across two 4K UHD Blu-Ray discs at the built-in intermission.

The biggest improvement with this new release is in the tone mapping which allows the disc to more effortlessly handle the balance between the light and the dark. The HDR10 layer is quite a bright showcase of luminance that admittedly works well with the material, but the Dolby Vision calibrates it to a more aesthetically ideal level. Highlights remain properly bright, but the stability and integration are refined which allows this to not veer into blooming. This also impacts how we consume the natural film grain on display. The improvements from the Blu-Ray to the original 4K UHD were a dream in this respect, and the Dolby Vision makes things just a touch more organic and refined. This allows the movie to sparkle and gives an abundance of pleasing texture and detail to the transfer. The image presents a stunning amount of depth that makes these worldly environments feel more lively and three-dimensional than ever.

Black levels are nuanced and allow the picture to maintain a formidable amount of depth and detail in shadowy spaces. There is no semblance of print damage or other such blemishes that would ruin the look of this title. This also translates into a superior encode which cleans up a few compression issues and other digital anomalies. Overall clarity is magnificent, especially when you look at the environments or textures on costumes. The UHD disc contains very warm, deep colors throughout with the environments shining thanks to the cinematography. Skin tones look natural and the clarity of the transfer gives you an observable amount of facial detail including some of the sweat from the palpable heat. This transfer is a gift for fans of this classic title. Sony has delivered an unbeatable release with this transfer.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc utilizes the previous Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio, and DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio tracks found on the original 4K release. The amount of audio and subtitle options Sony provides on this disc is unlikely to displease anyone. The Atmos track is not a monumentally different experience from the 5.1 presentation, but it does give the overall soundscape extra vigor and complexity that provides a more deeply immersive quality. There is a natural emphasis on the front channels when it comes to the dialogue, but activity extends to the surrounds, rears and overhead speakers when it comes to the score and certain environmental sounds to make this journey feel more bustling and all-encompassing. The sounds above in the height channels are not constant, but they are present enough to keep the auditory experience quite invigorating. These channels really come in handy during scenes with large crowds or distinct weather.

Atmospheric sound effects are rendered appropriately within the mix so that directionality is never in question. While the film adapts well to an Atmos track, the included 2.0 track preserves the original artistic intent in a way that cannot be undervalued. Dialogue is crisp and clear without ever getting muddled amongst the other elements. The low end effects from the subwoofer provide some extra power to key moments in the story such as a bloody massacre. The film is a transcendent experience when it comes to the memorable score from Ravi Shankar that permeates the room in a really satisfying, enveloping way. There is very little distortion or age-related wear and tear throughout. Sony should be commended for their achievement here.

Special Features

Sony has provided Gandhi with a sleek, colorful new Steelbook featuring artwork that is truly lovely in person. Video of the Steelbook can be found at the top of this review.

Director’s Commentary

Gandhi’s Legacy – A Picture-In-Graphics Track

Introduction by Sir Richard Attenborough: A minute-and-a-half message from the filmmaker.

Interviews: A trio of interviews is provided in which the actor and filmmaker discuss the process of making the film, the sprawling ensemble, the music of the film, and more.

- Ben Kingsley Talks About Gandhi (19:23)

- From The Director’s Chair – On Casting (7:03)

- From The Director’s Chair – On Music (2:54)

In Search Of Gandhi: A nearly ten-minute piece in which Attenborough discusses his first exposure to Gandhi.

Looking Back: A nearly 19-minute piece that explores the original four-hour runtime, the reception of the film, the legacy of the feature, and more.

Madeleine Slade – An Englishwoman Abroad: A ten-minute look at the Mirabehn character and the casting process.

Reflections On Ben: A ten-minute featurette on the casting of Ben Kingsley and what went into his performance.

Shooting An Epic In India: An 18-minute exploration of the realities of shooting in India.

Designing Gandhi: Three brief looks at the creation of key settings are provided.

- Building The Ashram (1:16)

- The Tent (2:06)

- Finding Trains (2:16)

The Funeral: A nearly 14-minute look at the creation of one of the biggest sequences in the film.

The Words of Mahatma Gandhi: A two-minute montage of quotes from Gandhi.

Newsreel Footage (10:05)

The Making Of Gandhi Photo Montage (5:24)

Trailers: This disc provides the Theatrical Trailer #1 (2:55) and Theatrical Trailer #2 (5:05).

Previews

Final Thoughts

Gandhi is a monumental biopic that crams a brilliant, complex life into a sturdy three-hour runtime that condenses a lot without losing the heart of the subject. Sir Ben Kingsley delivers a beautiful performance that feels genuine at all stages of life. For a figure who represents non-violence, the movie finds numerous ways to keep you glued to the screen with thrilling developments and a moral reckoning. The film maintains an unbelievable pace that is accessible for anyone who wants to dive deep into this one. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a grand A/V presentation and a favorable assortment of special features all in a sleek SteelBook package. This should be considered a must-own for any serious film fan. Essential

Gandhi is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray and Digital.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.