Emergency

I was so looking forward to this movie, but it was a big disappointment.

Except for Kangana's acting, makeup, and cast selection, nothing works. The movie touches so many events superficially, bouncing from one to another, without givong background or context on any event. Consequently, if you're not already aware of those events and their significance, the movie doesn't inform or educate you on most of them. It would have been much better to focus on fewer things and provide more context/background that help you understand Indira's character. A good story teller and director would have helped. Despite the title, the emergency isn't given adequate coverage.

The music is loud. Kangana's close-ups are on the screen a little much. And Vajpayee and Maneckshaw singing a song - seriously?

What a disappointment!

While I admire Kangana Ranaut for her sincere attempt at creating a biography centered on Ms. Indira Gandhi, a figure who stands as one of if not the most contentious in our nation's post independence history, the execution falls significantly short of its potential.

Indira Gandhi's character was multifaceted, encompassing her aspirations for absolute power, dedication to her country, and her complex relationship with her son, Sanjay.

All rhese elements warrant a more nuanced script and character development, which "Emergency" regrettably did not achieve, despite having right intentions.

Regarding the performances, Kangana bore a striking resemblance to Indira and attempted to emulate her mannerisms and speech too but all her efforts came off too overstated, lacking the authenticity that would render them natural.

There is always a fine line between imitating an individual against becoming a replica from inside; for reasons unknown, Kangana opted for the former, I wish, she chose the latter.

To truly appreciate this movie, you need to understand our country's history. It presents her story with raw authenticity.

As a historical drama, the film delves deep into the events surrounding the Emergency of 1975, shedding light on the political upheaval and its profound impact on ordinary citizens.

The movie effectively highlights how politics and politicians have the power to shape a country's socio-economic landscape, for better or worse, through their actions and decisions.

Kangana's portrayal of Indira Ji is, in my opinion, one of her finest performances to date, powerful and deeply compelling.

It seems like she is mimicking rather than truly acting. While it's commendable that the filmmakers attempted to take on such an ambitious subject, the portrayal just doesn't feel authentic. When you're watching her performance, you don't get the sense of depth or genuine emotion that's necessary for such a powerful and historical figure. Instead, it feels like she is imitating mannerisms and delivering dialogues without truly inhabiting the character. A performance like this requires nuance and a deep understanding of the person being portrayed, but that nuance is missing here.

I'll admit, I liked the overall camera work. The cinematography has its moments, and there are a few well-composed shots that give the film a polished look. The use of lighting and framing at key moments reflects the technical competence of the crew. However, even the best visuals can't compensate for a weak performance or a poorly written script. The issue lies in the storytelling and the inability to evoke the emotional gravity one would expect from a film about such an influential figure. The visuals alone cannot carry a movie, and that's painfully evident here.

The main problem is that the story lacks conviction. The narrative feels disjointed, and it's as if the filmmakers couldn't decide whether they wanted to focus on Indira Gandhi's political journey, her personal life, or the controversies surrounding her leadership. The result is a storyline that feels shallow and underdeveloped. For cinephiles, this is a major letdown. You go into a film like this expecting a layered, thought-provoking exploration of a complex personality, but what you get instead is a surface-level treatment that fails to do justice to its subject matter.

It's also worth mentioning that the portrayal of Indira Gandhi seems conflicted. On the one hand, it appears that the filmmakers wanted to highlight her strengths and the positive aspects of her leadership. But on the other hand, the lead actress seems like she's struggling to embody those traits convincingly. It almost feels like she doesn't believe in the character she's playing and is only going through the motions because she has to. Whether this is due to the direction, the script, or the actor's own limitations is up for debate, but the result is the same-it just doesn't work.

As a viewer, you can't help but feel that the film is trying to tell two stories at once: one that wants to glorify Indira Gandhi and another that doesn't quite know how to reconcile with her controversial legacy. This lack of clarity makes the film feel scattered and unfocused. There are moments where it seems like the filmmakers are trying to build empathy for her, but those moments are overshadowed by the inability to deliver a cohesive narrative.

The actress has certainly tried, and you can see glimpses of effort in certain scenes. But effort alone doesn't make a performance convincing. Acting is about transformation, about disappearing into the role so completely that the audience forgets they're watching an actor. Unfortunately, that transformation doesn't happen here. Her delivery feels forced, her expressions seem rehearsed, and there's an overall lack of authenticity that keeps you from connecting with her portrayal.

For cinephiles, this movie is hard to watch. If you're someone who appreciates strong performances, compelling narratives, and thought-provoking cinema, you're likely to be disappointed. The film feels like a missed opportunity-an ambitious project that fails to live up to its potential. It could have been a powerful exploration of one of India's most iconic and polarizing leaders, but instead, it ends up being a forgettable attempt that lacks the depth and substance necessary to make an impact.

In the end, while there are a few redeeming qualities, such as the cinematography, they're not enough to save the film. The weak storyline, combined with an unconvincing performance, leaves you feeling underwhelmed. It's a film that tries but doesn't succeed, and for a subject as compelling as Indira Gandhi, that's a real shame.

The subject of the movie is why I went to watch it, as this wasn't taught at school, the movie was very underwhelming though. The movie felt like a non-stop series of events in rapid succession. Before one could grasp what was happening at a particular time period depicted in the movie, it was already on to the next one! For people like me who don't know the complete history from that time, this movie did not feel very informative. Names of characters could have been shown at certain places. The weird thing was the dubbing of the French and some Bengali dialogues! Never before have I seen such a thing in a movie. It looks like the dialogues were not given a proper thought and dubbing was added as a post thought. The makers could have easily included hindi translations for the Bengali and French dialogues. The second half of the movie was more well-defined than the first one. Overall, a boring experience.