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Gandhi is a 1982 film about the life of one of the world's most influential leaders, that of Mahatma Gandhi of India. The film begins with Gandhi's assassination in 1948 and then shows his funeral some days later. This film does not follow a chronological history of Gandhi's life; rather it focuses on various segments and events in his life. One particular incident that is seen as a watershed moment for Gandhi is noted in this film in 1893 when he is thrown off of a train because he is an Indian. Because of this event, Gandhi decides to take up the mantle of non-violent protest in order to gain equal rights for people of Indian descent such as himself. The government eventually relents and then Gandhi is seen as somewhat of a national hero. He is invited to come back to India and he eventually becomes the frontrunner for Indian independence from the British. Once again, Gandhi promotes a regimen of non-violent protest, and Great Britain eventually decides to grant Indians their independence.

Gandhi unfortunately is now caught in the crossfire of tensions between Hindus and Muslims, many of whom begin killing each other among other things. Gandhi is distressed by this turn of events, and calls for an end to the violence to no avail. It is only when Gandhi undergoes a hunger strike that eventually the two sides cease the fighting. Although there is now an uneasy truce, the country of India continues to be divided by the differing ideologies. The tension becomes so high that many member of the Indian parliament decide to allow parts of India to break off into another country, called Pakistan. Gandhi is opposed to this in the movie, and spends the majority of the rest of the film attempting to bring peace between the two nations. He raises the ire of dissidents, which leads to his assassination being shown once more at the end of the film. Gandhi's ashes are spread over the Ganges at the end of the movie.