Equality & Justice For All: Watch A 2000s Biopic Depicting Dr Ambedkar’s Revolution
In India, greeting someone by touching their feet is an expression of deep respect, prevalent especially in Hindu traditions. Yet, the origins of the caste system are rooted in a stark irony that relegates the Shudras to the lowest rung, for they are said to have emerged from Brahma’s feet rather than his mouth, arms, or thighs like other castes.
The national award-winning 2000s biopic 'Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar' opens by recounting this paradox and portrays it through evocative sketches; one of which dramatically illustrates how, during the Peshwa era, Dalits had to walk with a broom tied around their waist, intended to erase their footprints as they walked. This deliberate erasure of identity and existence forms the very crux of caste oppression in India. Directed by Jabbar Patel, the film masterfully recounts a long history of bigotry through the life of a man who became a beacon of hope for the oppressed. It chronicles his battle against the dehumanisation of the marginalised.
Jabbar crafts a moving portrait of Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, played by Mammooty — a man whose life was a constant struggle against entrenched caste prejudices and systemic injustices. This cinematic work, rendered with both historical precision and emotional gravitas, captures the relentless pursuit of equality in a society plagued by an age-old discriminatory system. It chronicles the multiple dimensions of discrimination that marked Ambedkar’s journey from an oppressed individual to an iconic reformer.
The film deftly illustrates not only the brutal physical manifestations of caste prejudice but also the subtle yet pervasive social and intellectual ostracism that defined his early experiences. The film's scenes evoke the stark realities of a society that relegated his community to a life of indignity, where individuals were often treated as inherently unclean and unworthy from birth — like when a Dalit man seeking shelter from rain is beaten by a group of men for making the temple 'impure'.
Within this twisted backdrop, Ambedkar’s personal odyssey is marked by brilliant academic accomplishments. Despite the severe limitations imposed by the discriminatory norms of pre-independent India, he managed to secure scholarships and gain entry to some of the world’s most prestigious institutions, including Columbia University and the London School of Economics. His academic journey is portrayed as a pivotal battleground where he encountered intellectual isolation and social exclusion.
The film also pays close attention to Ambedkar’s experiences abroad, where, even in the corridors of high learning and intellectual circles, the sting of prejudice was never far removed. The cultural and ideological displacement he experienced in these foreign lands ultimately galvanised his resolve to confront the inequalities that afflict his homeland. His transformation from a sensitive student, who once wept in the face of demeaning treatment, into a formidable leader who confronted his oppressors directly is rendered with remarkable subtlety and power. The narrative suggests that his emotional responses in those formative years eventually crystallized into a steady resolve to demand dignity and equality in every sphere of public life.
One of the film’s most compelling aspects is its exploration of the multifaceted struggle for social justice. Ambedkar's relentless campaign for the rights of the downtrodden was not only a fight against blatant physical violence but also a battle against the deeply ingrained social hierarchies that dehumanised entire communities. Whether it was through public protests or through symbolic acts such as the burning of the 'Manusmriti', his methods were both innovative and courageous.
We also see the personal cost of this struggle. The film gently touches on the solitude and sacrifices that came with his mission, as seen in the quiet strength of his wife, Ramabai, who shared in his hardships and bore the brunt of his long absences. Ambedkar himself wasn't without wounds, his belief in equality was his strength but constantly butting heads with people who had held the caste system as the divine truth did take a toll on him emotionally from time to time.
The interpersonal dynamics portrayed in the film further shed light on the environment he was working in. In depicting Ambedkar’s contentious engagements with other prominent figures of the time, notably his ideological clashes with Mahatma Gandhi, the film underscores the magnitude of the challenge he faced. These confrontations, far from being mere political debates, were profound reflections of a deeper discord — a chasm between visionaries on how best to address the systemic inequities in society.
But the fight wasn’t against the oppressors alone. One of Dr. Ambedkar’s greatest challenges lay in transforming the mindset of his own people, whose self-worth had been worn down by an inherited script of inferiority. Many among the lower castes had internalised the oppression, resigned to a life dictated by suffering, convinced of their own social unworthiness. In the absence of any alternative imagination, submission had become survival. Ambedkar understood that no structural change would endure without first reigniting the moral and psychological compass of the oppressed. He took it upon himself to re-educate an entire people through critical thinking and a radical sense of rebellion, and sometimes even a little shame; not of who they are, but what they have allowed to happen to them.
By stirring the fires of dissent and self-respect, he created a new language of hope. He urged them to read, to think, to question, and most importantly, to reject the belief that they were less than human. His slogan, “Educate, Organise, Agitate” emerged as a lifeline extended to generations who had forgotten what it meant to dream.
Working both within the system as a legal reformer, and against it as a revolutionary, he laid down the blueprint for a society that aspires to achieve true equality and justice for all. And he did all of that without thinking of himself as a messiah. His mission was always to allow people to fight for themselves because he knew that that was the only way they could reclaim their identity and live with dignity, which is what makes him such a revered figure even today.
You can watch the film at the top of the page via YouTube.
