Emergency Review

Emergency, directed, written, co-produced and led by Kangana Ranaut, chronicles one of India's darkest political chapters, the Emergency of 1975. The film ambitiously intertwines history with drama, showcasing Indira Gandhi's transformation from a naive girl to a strong-willed leader. However, despite being a platform for Ranaut's multifaceted involvement, the film often veers into distortion and caricature, leaving behind a muddled narrative. It appears like if the Emergency was a law of decree, this movie is a decree of Ranaut - she did what she felt like doing.

The film begins with Indira Gandhi as a young leader navigating political complexities, and juxtaposes her rise to autocracy with her vulnerabilities as a mother influenced by her son Sanjay Gandhi (Vishak Nair). Key historical moments, such as the creation of Bangladesh, the imposition of the Emergency, and her eventual political downfall, are depicted through vignettes that mix fact and fiction.

The narrative oscillates between her personal and political struggles, her interactions with figures like Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw (Milind Soman), and the infamous Turkman Gate demolition and population control by forceful sterilisation led by Sanjay Gandhi. However, instead of following a cohesive arc, the film meanders into surrealist sequences, including a perplexing song featuring political stalwarts like Jayaprakash Narayan (Anupam Kher) and Atal Bihari Vajpayee (Shreyas Talpade).

While the Emergency era offers fertile ground for storytelling, the film falls short of providing an incisive or balanced portrayal. The screenplay, laden with Ranaut's creative liberties, shifts the focus from historical nuance to personal glorification. Complex figures are reduced to stereotypes: Nehru is insecure, Indira's aunt is oppressive, and Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale is villainised a little too much.

Documented history states that Arun Jaitley was the first to be jailed during the Emergency, but in her parallel narrative, Ranaut places Vajpayee, Jayaprakash Narayan and L K Advani in prison. The film also depicts Indira Gandhi seeking spiritual guidance from J Krishnamurthy which is rarely mentioned elsewhere. The movie is riddled with several such inaccuracies and fabrications. However, the saving grace is that the film is not overtly saffronised like Razakar, Godhra and Veer Savarkar. While it highlights some of Gandhi's misdeeds, it subtly and consistently portrays her actions as being driven by the greater good of India rather than by selfish motives.

Ranaut's effort to juggle genres - political drama, biopic and satire - also results in tonal inconsistencies. And sequences like Parliament members bursting into song undermining the gravity of the story.

Ranaut expectedly delivers a visually convincing portrayal of Indira Gandhi, aided by prosthetics and meticulous styling. However, her performance often leans on repetitive mannerisms, such as pursed lips and a strained voice, which after some time seem clichéd. Vishak Nair as Sanjay Gandhi captures the recklessness attributed to the historical figure but remains one-dimensional. The supporting cast, including Anupam Kher and Mahima Chaudhary (Pupul Jayakar), are underutilized, reduced to mere placeholders in an already scattered narrative. The late Satish Kaushik injects some energy as Jagjivan Ram, though his role is caricatured. He is there for a few minutes to taunt Gandhi.

The film also falters in technical execution. The cinematography oscillates between sweeping shots of historical landmarks and awkwardly framed close-ups that fail to capture emotional resonance. The use of computer graphics is glaringly subpar, too. The editing feels disjointed, with abrupt transitions that disrupt the narrative flow. While the costumes and set design authentically recreate the 1970s, they cannot compensate for the lack of cohesive storytelling.

Emergency is not the polarising cinematic endeavour that it was expected to be. But its narrative is scattered and the result ultimately is a sub-par movie. For those seeking a nuanced exploration of this tumultuous period, this film might disappoint.