Saturday, August 14, 2010

Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge #91: Gandhi


Hi Everyone,
I had a little blog-cation - as we went on vacation - and so am sorry if I haven't been to your blogs - but promise that I will come around and say hello soon! I missed doing my Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge the last two weeks and am excited to start back with our 91st Cinema challenge -where every week we pick a different movie from which we create a card,etc. and this week we are featuring the 8 time Oscar winning movie (including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor in a leading role..) released in 1982: GANDHI.

Since August 15th (tomorrow) is the celebration of the Indian Independence Day from British Rule and the day that India was born as a sovereign nation - we thought it would we could honor this celebration by featuring this movie that follows the life of MK Gandhi and shows how he was transformed from a lawyer in South Africa to become a national leader in the move for Independence and a national treasure. This movie is beyond inspirational - it shows the multi-level complexity in the struggle for Independence - but more than anything it shows how the simplicity of truth and conviction in one person's heart - changed a nation forever. "Generations to come, it may well be, will scarce believe that such a man as this one ever in flesh and blood walked upon this Earth."- Einstein

There are so many lovely and inspiring quotes in this movie (not just from Gandhi-ji) and so we thought for our challenge requirement today - we could "Quote it Up" . Use a quote that is inspired from the movie in your creation! If you haven't seen this movie its a definite must!

I remember the first time I watched this movie was sitting in between my parents at the historic Senator theater in Maryland when the movie came out. I was almost 9 years old at the time (way too little for certain parts of the movie where there is fighting) but watching that movie with my parents and a whole theater full of Indian people on Independence day left a deep impression. I watched my parents cry, I heard those around me sing with certain parts of the movie and clap when Independence was announced and at the end of the movie - we all stood as one and applauded. I have watched it again and again since that early age of 9 and every single time I have been moved in a different way. The courage and conviction to stand against the might of the British Empire - in the most simple way - to not raise arms and fight - still gives me goosebumps and inspires me.

What Gandhi-ji (btw- to add "ji" at the end of his name is a way to show respect - kinda like adding a mr. before a name) did was to show the inhumane-ness of violence when no one strikes back. I love the quote of his: " An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind". But then I also love this quote: "Be the change you wish to see in the world." and was so excited to see it in rubber (from Unity stamps):

The ribbon is white twill that is inspired by Gandhi-ji's movement for home spun cotton so that it wasn't being imported from Britain and also for his simplicity of cloth, home and food. The hearts for me symbolize the love of a nation and the colors are more of an earth tone - the way that he was with Mother India. I loved making this card and loved watching this movie again with my parents before I made this card.

One thing that I will say is that there are some parts that are hard for me to watch - even now -but I thought that director Richard Attenborough really honored India and Gandhi in the making of this movie -and Ben Kingsley's portrayal of Gandhi is amazing!

Can't wait to see your quoted up movie creations!!! Hope you will play along with us this week! You can check out more details over at the Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge blog!
Thank you so much for stopping by today!
Hugs Sankari

9 comments:

Isha Gupta said...

love your card and your post on Gandhiji. Happy Independence day. Would try to take part in this challenge...its so close to heart.

Cassie_lu said...

beautiful card and the quote is one of my favs too.

Laurie Chilton said...

Sakari what a beautiful to honor Gandhi! I love your card. Your style is gorgeous. I hope you had a restful vacation. We missed you! Hugs :)

cnelson said...

lovely card and sentiment!

Jessica Diedrich said...

Gahhhhhhhhh GORGEOUSNESS!!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE this and one of my fave quotes AND Unity stamps! I miss your sweet face!!!

Imke said...

Very beautiful card. I love the colors !

Jen Tapler said...

Fabulous card my friend!! And one of my all-time FAVORITE movies about an amazing human being. Awesome.

JenMarie said...

Ooo...absolutely FABULOUS!

MarvA1ix said...

This is my first visit to your blog, but it will not be my last :) I love your use of vivid colors and little details. From the first card I saw, I went back to look at your profile to find out, "is she Indian?" I have a daughter-in-law from India, Smita. I have always loved Indian design, but love it even more since Smita and her family have come into my life.
After your wonderful blog about Ghandi, I will have to go back and watch the movie, as it has been many years, and will be even more valid for me now.