A half-baked lesson in history
   Date :18-Jan-2025

A half-baked lesson in history
 
 
By Archana Purohit :
 
KANGANA Ranaut’s Emergency promised to be a cinematic deep dive into one of India's most controversial political periods, but what emerged instead was a lukewarm attempt at historical storytelling - peppered with moments of brilliance, but weighed down by an uneven narrative and misplaced priorities. The movie kicks off with a strong, purposeful start. We’re introduced to a young Indira Gandhi grappling with personal loss as her mother fades away, leaving her alone in a bustling household of power and politics.
 
FILMREVI EW 
 
These opening moments hint at a compelling character study, one that shows the pain and rejection shaping the steel in Indira’s spine. From her assertive act in Assam, where she showcases political spark only to face dismissal by her father and senior leaders, the first half builds a solid foundation. Here, the audience is given a glimpse of the ‘making’ of Indira Gandhi - the woman behind the iron fist. What worked? Without a doubt, the supporting cast (or rather the anticipation to watch them do more). The casting was picture perfect bringing an ear to life - watching Satish Kaushik as Jagjivan Ram or Shreyes Talpade’s portrayal of a young Atal Behari Vajpayee has been refreshing. While Milind Soman as the charismatic Sam Manekshaw is so captivating that you wish the camera would linger on him a little longer. Anupam Kher, is given the most important character to play, but no decent screen presence. And Mahima Chaudhary’s much anticipated role, as Pupul Jayakar is a blink and you miss it moment. But just when you’re hooked, expecting powerful speeches, historical insight, or dramatic dialogues... BAM! The cast suddenly breaks into a musical. Yes, you heard that right -amusical.
 
At this point, you can almost hear the collective sighs of disappointment from the audience. It’s as though someone accidentally swapped reels with a Broadway show. Why, Kangana, why? Kangana Ranaut herself, who plays Indira Gandhi, unfortunately misses the mark. The Indira we’ve read about - fierce, commanding, sharp - is replaced by a version that’s timid, unsure, and oddly subdued. Instead of portraying her as a powerful political figure navigating the controversial Emergency, the film bends towards victimising her, showing her constantly under pressure, second-guessing herself, and, at times, just plain twitchy. Kangana’s portrayal of Indira Gandhi - low on fire, high on nervous energy - makes you question if this is the same leader who imposed one of the most controversial decisions in Indian history. The script, too, suffers from the dreaded ‘jumpy syndrome.’
 
Emergency feels like a collection of newspaper headlines stitched together with duct tape. Major historical moments are rushed through, and the storytelling lacks cohesion. Instead of delving deep into the Emergency as an era-its atrocities, resistance, and fallout - the movie turns into a fragmented biopic, skipping from one incident to another with no emotional or narrative payoff. Emergency had the potential, but falls flat in the second half. It’s a halfbaked effort at recreating history that neither educates nor entertains fully. This one would have played better as an OTT only release - at least we’d have the option to skip those unnecessary musical interludes. This ambitious project misfires and fails to create the magic onscreen expected of a charismatic personality like Indira Gandhi. The Hitavada Rating: ✯✯1/2