Rama Krishna Sangem
It’s an unbelievable sympathetic narrative on Indira Gandhi by Kangana Ranaut. Most of us thought that Kangana, a BJP Lok Sabha MP from Mandi would come up with a scathing attack on late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, that too in her own film titled “Emergency”. Instead, we saw a 148 minute Hindi movie from her that not only presented an understandingly, if not positive, version on making of India’s only woman Prime Minister.
Kangana, besides donning the role of protagonist Indira, penned, directed and part-produced the film, that is made on a Rs 60 crore budget. Released on January 17, 2025, Emergency so far (first 4 days) collected around Rs 11 core at the Box Office but is sure to make a profit from all forms of revenue sources over the weeks. Zee Studios and Kangana’s Manikarnika films who made the movie know to make it work, financially too. That’s secondary.
There have been protests in the UK and Canada against portrayal of certain characters in the film. More than that, none of the Congress leaders seems to have showed interest to watch the film leave alone endorsing it. But, they can. In the movie, Kangana covered almost entire life of India, right from childhood at Anand Bhavan, Allahabad, to her tragic assassination by her own bodyguards at PM’s official residence in 1984. Emergency is just a part of the movie.
Here too, efforts are made to explain why and how Indira was pushed to impose Emergency in 1975.
Biopic political drama
38 year old Kangana, though controversial for her off-screen views often, is a New York Film academy trained and award winning actor. Going by the script of the movie, it appears she is in awe admiration for the late PM. Maybe partly because of strong female leader qualities, Kangana, at most times, owned up Indira, who was unmistakably hated by the then Janata Party, of which present BJP was a part. Kangana tried to offer why and how Indira took most of her key decisions – right from imposing Emergency to conducting Pokhran nuclear tests.
Of course, the circumstances under which Indira decided to liberate Bangladesh and go for war with Pakistan in 1971 was vividly shown. Starting with young Indira visiting Assam during 1962 China war, Kangana tried to tell us that the late PM was a strong nationalist, unlike her beloved father then PM Jawarhal Nehru, a dreamy socialist. That’s why then Jan Sangh leader Vajpayee has always had a soft corner for Indira. Scenes depicting their meetings are interesting. Indira’s meeting with US president Richard Nixon at White House is gripping.
Transformation of Indira from the image of Gudia to a seasoned politician who at a stage sincerely believed that Indira is India and vice-versa. Kangana obviously took swipes at Jagjeevan Ram, among other leaders of Congress who enjoyed power till the last – when Indira ordered elections in 1977, after lifting Emergency, and turned against her later. Jayaprakash Narain is given ample screen space, but he too was not exactly a die hard anti-Indira leader.
Sanjay Gandhi is shown as a spoiled brat, mostly angry and emotional. He enjoys sitting in his mother’s PM chair and gatecrashing into Cabinet meetings. All Emergency excesses were attributed to him. Kangana tells us that Indira kept him aisde after her 1980’s historic win to become PM again. Editing by Rameshwar S Bhagat is dictated by the director’s choice, while background score from Sanchit & Ankit Bhatia is good. Cinematography of Tetsuo Nagata is the soul of the movie.
Steely from outside, loner inside
Kangana took pains to explain that from outside Indira Gandhi maybe an Iron lady with steely resolve, authoritarian, dictatorial and nepotist. But, inside, she is a loveless loner. She missed her mother Kamala during her childhood and worshiped iconic father Nehru. But, Nehru was not generous in admiring Indira’s leadership qualities when she entered Congress politics. Indira also was torn between her dominant father and husband, Feroz, with equally strong political views.
Finally, Indira had to depend on Sanjay Gandhi, who too loved his mother more than any in the family. If Indira looked for someone who stood with her in critical times, it was Sanjay who filled that slot. Rajiv Gandhi was always a family man, with open dislike for politics, till Sanjay’s death. Indira mostly depended on her close confident Pupul Jayakar, but their relations too were not stable. Pupul introduced J Krishnamoorthy to Indira to bring some solace to the latter.
All through the film Indira puts on a persona of unemotional, except when Sanjay died, in a chopper crash. Kangana took pains on prosthetic make up to look like Indira. She came to closer to Indira’s squeaky voice but appeared over doing mannerisms – particularly in sideways looks. On the whole, this is a glimpse into life and times of a woman leader of 60-70 crore nation, who often faced jealous and jeers from men, who never took her rise kindly.
Those who enjoy political drams will surelyenjoy this movie too.