Review: The Emergency (1975–1977) remains one of the most significant and dreadful political events in India’s history, with a profound impact on the nation. Director and lead actor Kangana Ranaut attempts to recreate this tumultuous chapter of history on the big screen with Emergency.
Written by Ranaut (story), Ritesh Shah (screenplay and dialogues), and Tanvi Kesari Pasumarthy, the movie draws inspiration from Coomi Kapoor’s book The Emergency and Jaiyanth Sinha’s Priyadarshini. The narrative starts in 1929 and spans four decades, covering India’s Independence, the Indo-China War and Assam crisis in 1962, Indira Gandhi’s rise to power, and the Indo-Pak war of 1971. However, the screenplay doesn’t flow; it seems like moments of history have been strung together into scenes. Be forewarned, some scenes are overly graphic and sensationalised, particularly those depicting wartime atrocities against women and infants.
While the film aims to capture pivotal moments from Indira Gandhi’s regime, it often fails to provide sufficient background or context for key events and characters, such as Pupul Jayakar (Mahima Chaudhary), a close confidante of Gandhi, leaving audiences struggling to connect the dots. Even the portrayal of the Emergency—the film’s central focus—feels abrupt, as does the depiction of other critical events like the massacre of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family.
Emergency does deliver some powerful moments. One of the standout scenes is Indira Gandhi’s confrontation with US President Richard Nixon ahead of the Indo-Pak War in 1971. Her emphatic retort, “You have weaponry, we have courage,” is a highlight, followed by the meticulously crafted war sequence, for which cinematographer Tetsuo Nagata deserves credit.
The music complements the narrative’s tone, with Singhasan Khaali Karo (Udit Narayan, Nakash Aziz, Nakul Abhyankar) offering an anthemic vibe and Ae Meri Jaan (Arko featuring Hariharan) standing out as a powerful composition.
As Indira Gandhi, Kangana Ranaut excels in the second half, particularly in scenes after the Emergency is lifted, her meeting with philosopher J Krishnamurti (Avijit Dutt), and her visit to Bihar’s Belchi village on an elephant at the age of 60.
Anupam Kher is effective as Jaiprakash Narayan. Shreyas Talpade’s portrayal of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, while serviceable, isn’t convincing. Milind Soman stands out in his brief role as Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, and Vishak Nair’s menacing Sanjay Gandhi leaves a lasting impression. Mahima Chaudhary, as Pupul Jayakar, brings gravitas to her role.
Emergency is hindered by its overly dramatised approach and one-dimensional portrayals. The lack of narrative fluidity and context undermines the attempt to narrate an important chapter in Indian history. However, the movie has its share of impactful sequences.
