Mickey Mehta’s documentary highlights Mahatma Gandhi’s alternative and natural therapies to cure chronic ailments. He shares details with K Bhardwaj
Not many are aware of Mahatma Gandhi’s passion for naturopathy and alternative natural healing therapies. Director Mickey Mehta’s latest documentary throws light on Gandhi’s healing techniques.
Gandhi-The Healeris a two-part documentary shot across seven locations in India including Mumbai, Kerala, Meghalaya, Ahmedabad, Pune, Nagpur and Delhi.
“His drugless naturopathy methods captured my attention. The angle of fitness and Gandhi as a healer has never been explored before and this inspired me to take up this documentary. The aim has always been to disseminate Gandhi’s messages, apart from the ones that speak about freedom,” says fitness guru Mehta.
Considering Gandhi’s extensive travel within and beyond the Indian boundaries, the research was conspicuously far-reaching. Informs the director, “For the documentary, we interviewed several experts such as Shyam Benegal, spiritual guru and mystic sadguru Jaggi Vasudev, Sree Kumar Mangalam Birla, Rajshree Birla, noted historians Dr Basudev Chatterji, Dr Santosh Rai. Dr Nisal, director, Nisargopchar Ashram, and Dr Issac Mathai of Saukya Spa gave valuable opinions on behalf of the naturopaths, along with Gandhians, Ullhas Jhajhu, Narayan Desai and Dr Sundar Ayengar VC. Some of them have also featured in the film.”
Gandhi believed that nature is the remedy to all ailments. “He desired good health for all. Gandhiji’s prescription to prevent disease was to live by the laws of nature, which according to him, were the laws of God. He, in his search for truth and to get rid of human suffering, experimented on himself and developed various methods to treat illnesses,” adds Mehta, who has worked with Bollywood stars like Priyanka Chopra, Preity Zinta, Bipashu Basu, Ayushmann Khurrana and Aamir Khan to name a few.
Gandhi-The Healerwas certainly a digression from Mehta’s previous work. He shares that making the film was a learning experience for him. He says, “He (Gandhi) was committed to serve people. This documentary is my tribute to him and in the film I have also shared a detailed do-it-yourself guide. The guide will be about easy to use home remedies,” he said.
The film is expected to release on Gandhi’s birth anniversary. It will also participate in several Indian and international film festivals. “The film is near completion and is scheduled for release on Gandhi Jayanti. We are working at a multi-city release, after which we will launch the DVDs. We are also looking forward to prepare it for a TV broadcast,” Mehta concludes.