• Kangana has a good sense of history and direction. The movie is a must watch for those interested in national affairs & youngsters who wish to know   independent India’s history between 1960s-early 1980s. Review has sections on Mrs Indira Gandhi, Casting, Foreign policy, Events covered, Sikh protest and ideas for Kangana. 

Curious to know what was in the movie that made the Censor Board delay release of Emergency by Kangana Ranaut (KR) and because she excelled in her last directorial venture Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi I decided to watch movie. Also, since I grew up in the late 1970-1980s wanted to know how she had portrayed a difficult period in India’s post independence history.

The movie is based on books by Coomi Kapoor and Pupul Jaykar.

Summary 

The movie is more a life story of the late Indian Prime Minister Mrs Indira Gandhi (IG). The name Emergency is a misnomer.

KR has a good understanding of history and knows how to present it. She covered many key events briefly so viewer gets an overview. Archival footage is well interspersed in movie so one doesn’t get a feeling it is a documentary.  

For students of Indian history and national affairs it is a must watch. Those born post 1980 must see.

Be it the liberation of Bangladesh, Emergency or Terrorism in Punjab, we saw the reality of that period. Background music was not worth remembering.

“The Green Revolution, nationalisation of banks, and abolition of privy purses don’t make it to the script or, for that matter, the failed motto of garibi hatao.” 

Mrs Indira Gandhi

The portrayal of Mrs IG was fair. She is praised for her handling of the Bangladesh War and criticised for the Emergency. I quite enjoyed her interactions with the Americans and how she visited world capitals to garner support before the war with Pakistan. 

Post the death of her son Sanjay Gandhi in a 1980 air crash, she seemed shaken up, to be a different person and was reflecting on her life probably knowing that her end was near. Be it Dhritrashtra in the Mahabharat or Mrs IG, pitra moh (love for son) is eternal.

Casting

Anupam Kher as Jayprakash Narayanji and Shreyas Talpade as Atal Vajpayee were miscast. Kher is too healthy to play that role and Atalji’s role could be best played by Pankaj Tripathi.

Very good performances by those who played these roles - Sanjay Gandhi (Visakh Nair), Pupul Jaykar (Mahima Chaudhury), R K Dhawan, Gen Sam Manekshaw (Milind Soman) and Jagjivan Ram (late Satish Kaushik).

Kangana did well as Indira Gandhi. The look and make up were good though her voice control could be better. I liked the twinkle in her eyes but felt that Lara Bhupati, as Mrs IG, did better in the movie Bellbottom.

Portrayals of Kamal Nath, Dumpy (friends of late Sanjay Gandhi), R N Kau (first RAW Chief) and Zail Singh were realistic. I was surprised that the friendship between Sanjay G & Rukhsana Sultana (mother of a retired Bollywood actress) was covered.

Foreign Policy Angle 

At a time when India-USA relations are on an uptick, the Americans might not be pleased with the Indian public seeing former President Richard Nixon’s approach during the 1971 war. The Russians would be happy though. 

India’s role in the liberation of Bangladesh is a timely reminder to Bangladeshis and Indians alike. Shown in black and white the killing of Mujibur Rahman (first Prime Minister) was well shot. 

What events does the movie cover?

1. Mrs IG’s childhood at Anand Bhawan, Allahabad/Prayagraj.

2. India China War of 1962 and her interactions with father Nehru.

3. Appointment of Lal B Shastri as Prime Minister and his death at Tashkent.

4. Appointment of Mrs Gandhi as Prime Minister and intra Congress issues.

5. Atrocities by Pakistan Army in East Bengal (today’s Bangladesh) and killing of Mujibur Rehman (father of former PM Sheikh Hasina).

6. Why Mrs IG signed the Simla Agreement after winning the war with Pakistan, through which India returned 93,000 Prisoners of War, beats me?

7. Mass public protests against Mrs Gandhi’s rule under the leadership of Jayprakash Narayan.

8. The Allahad High Court order that unseated her from Rae Barelli.

9. Declaration of Emergency, jailing of political leaders and throttling of media.

10. Mrs Gandhi’s interactions with philosopher J Krishnamurti.

11. Calling of Lok Sabha polls and Congress party loss.

12. Mrs Gandhi’s arrest and her visit to Bihar village on an elephant (this was well captured and changed her political fortunes then).

13. How Congress supported Bhindranwale in order to oust the Akalis from power in Punjab?

14. Operation Bluestar, mowing down of Hindus by Sikh terrorists (archives were realistic) and her killing by Sikh bodyguards in 1984.

With Mrs Indira Gandhi’s death the movie ends.

Wonder why Sikh groups in Punjab are protesting against the movie?

Perhaps sections of the Sikh community who played victim card worldwide now have to face the truth of Sikh militants killed Hindus. It is perhaps for the first time that a Bollywood movie has shown these killings and occupation of Hari Mandir (Golden Temple) by terrorists. Read   The truth about in 1984

A Must Watch for whom

This movie is a must watch for those who lived during that period, students of history and youngsters of today who wish to know about post independence Indian history during 1960s-to early 1980s.

With better casting it could have been more captivating. After seeing the movie how would I describe Mrs Indira Gandhi?

She was a power hungry nationalist.

Kangana has a good sense of history and is also a good director. It is for the BJP to use her strengths. For that this MP from Mandi needs to weigh her words carefully and do something innovative for e.g. promoting tourism to Mandi, the cultural capital of Himachal Pradesh.

Also read

1. Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi

2. What happened during the Khalistan Movement

3. The truth about in 1984

4. What were the events that led to Operation Bluestar

5. Why are Punjab farmers protesting   

6. Holi in Mandi

7. Shivratri in Mandi

8. Triloknath Temple in Mandi