Despite the controversies surrounding it, Emergency is a below-average film.
Film Review: Emergency
Rating: 2/ 5
"Emergency" is not just a film about the Emergency period in India but also serves as a biopic of Mrs. Indira Gandhi, covering her life from 1929 to 1984. Kangana Ranaut produces, writes, directs, and stars in the film as Indira Gandhi. It lacks any shock value and fails to leave a lasting impact on the viewers
Acting
Kangana Ranaut delivers a commendable performance as Indira Gandhi, capturing her looks and mannerisms. However, she falls short of perfectly emulating Gandhi's diction and walking style. Despite portraying the "Iron Lady," Kangana's performance occasionally appears timid and underwhelming, particularly in key dialogue deliveries.
Since 2015, Kangana has struggled to deliver a hit, with films like I Love New York, Katti Batti, Rangoon, Simran, Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, Panga, Judgementall Hai Kya, Thalaivii, Dhaakad, and now Emergency following a similar trajectory. This film is unlikely to break that streak.
Supporting Cast
The supporting cast, including Anupam Kher as Jayaprakash Narayan and Mahima Chaudhary as Indira Gandhi’s close confidante, fails to leave a lasting impression. Shreyas Talpade does not convincingly portray Atal Bihari Vajpayee, while Milind Soman is adequate as Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. Vishal Nair delivers a decent performance as Sanjay Gandhi.
Unfortunately, the camera frequently focuses on Kangana, giving limited scope for the supporting actors to shine.
Direction
Kangana Ranaut’s direction is competent but takes considerable creative liberties with historical events. Key facts are either omitted or dramatized, and the portrayal of the Emergency period may not align with the Congress party's perspective. Surprisingly, the Emergency itself is depicted for only 15 minutes.
Her attempt to balance Indira Gandhi's positive and negative traits falls flat.
Kangana Ranaut’s criticism of Vijayalakshmi Pandit, her father Jawaharlal Nehru, her husband Feroze Gandhi, and Sanjay Gandhi may not sit well with the Congress. Additionally, she has taken excessive cinematic liberties in portraying these characters and events, which might lead to further controversies.
Kangana’s previous directorial attempt, Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, was also a critical and commercial failure, and Emergency does little to improve her track record as a filmmaker.
Story, Screenplay, and Dialogue
The film, based on Kapoor's book Emergency: A Personal History (2015), presents a predictable political drama. The lack of impactful storytelling and shock value undermines its potential. Dialogues are simplistic, with many lines in English, which may alienate certain sections of the audience.
Music and Box Office
The film’s music, comprising five forgettable songs, fails to add depth to the narrative. With a runtime of 146 minutes, the pacing is acceptable, but its box office prospects remain bleak due to controversies and stiff competition. Moreover, the film has been banned in Bangladesh and could face boycotts in Congress-ruled states.
Verdict
Emergency is a disappointing attempt at blending history and drama, weighed down by its flaws. While Kangana Ranaut's dedication to the project is evident, the film ultimately fails to make a lasting impact.