Kangana Ranaut’s film claims that Indira Gandhi “usurped” Nehru as Prime Minister, and shows how she went from “Gandhi is India” to “Indira is India”

Kangana Ranaut’s film ‘Emergency’ released its trailer on Wednesday. The Rise of Indira Gandhi Indira came to power after the death of her father, Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India. The quick preview shows her rise amidst allegations that she usurped power from her father. From the trailer, it seems that the story of the film will be limited to Indira’s time as Prime Minister. It will cover her period from when she first became Prime Minister in 1966, to her decision-making during the 1971 war with Pakistan, and her role as Prime Minister in the 1980s. The year of emergency, Described as one of the darkest periods in Indian history, fundamental rights were restricted and the government ruled by decree. Her assassination is likely to be explored in the film.

 

Here, Kangana plays Indira like a dictator and continues to highlight how the sanctity of democracy was not respected under Indira’s leadership. She declares, “India is Indira and Indira is India,” “Main high cabinet honey.” In the film, Indira categorically declares that she is in politics for her own benefit, not the welfare of the nation, but she also says, with tears in her eyes: “Nafrat, aur mila kya hai mujhe is desh se.” “What have I gained from this country besides hatred?”?” The film also portrays her son Sanjay Gandhi as one of the biggest villains in Indira’s life.

 

In India, biopics are often treated as works of hero worship, but in Emergency, it is clear that Kangana made the film to portray Indira as an autocratic leader who did not have the country’s best interests at heart. It remains to be seen how audiences will receive this film, which has no so-called “heroic” figures. The film features characters Atal Bihari Vajpayee (Shreyas Talpade), who is initially impressed by Indira but later changes his opinion, and Jaiprakash Narayan (Anupam Kher), her scathing critic.

 

Watch | Emergency Trailer

The film also stars Milind Soman, Satish Kaushik and Mahima Choudhury. Written and directed by Kangana Ranaut, it was initially scheduled to be released in 2023. The release was postponed to 2024, but then further postponed as Kangana was contesting elections for the Bharatiya Janata Party. She eventually won the elections and this will be her first film release since entering mainstream politics.

 

Emergency, from JP to Sanjay Gandhi: Who is playing who?

Here, Anupam Kher plays Jayaprakash Narayan, Shreyas Talpade plays Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Satish Kaushik plays Jagjivan Ram. Mahima Chaudhary plays Indira’s best friend Pupul Jayakar, Milind Soman plays Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and Vishak Nair plays her son Sanjay Gandhi.

 

Kangana Ranaut responds to question on whether Emergency is biased

It is well known that the BJP has been a vocal critic of the Nehru family and has often criticised Indira Gandhi’s actions as prime minister during the 1960s and 1970s. Certain truths are likely to be removed from the story to suit Kangana’s personal political views. Asked if the film would be biased given that she is a BJP MP from Mandi and the film is based on the life of a former prime minister who belonged to the Indian National Congress party, Kangana told Variety: “A large team of historians is working on the film. No one will be offended by such honesty.”

 

She also likened Indira Gandhi’s life to a “Shakespearean tragedy”. “Her (Indira Gandhi’s) life was truly a Shakespearean tragedy. It is not for us to judge or evaluate. It is the reality. If you watch the film, you will find it a very honest portrayal of the Emergency, its causes and how it ultimately turned out,” she said.

 

What happened during the emergency?

The State of Emergency, which lasted from June 25, 1975 to March 21, 1977, saw the suspension of civil rights, mass arrests, restrictions on press freedom and the cancellation of elections. Often referred to as one of the darkest periods in modern Indian history, the Emergency was imposed by Indira Gandhi using special provisions in the Constitution. It saw the imprisonment of almost all opposition leaders and restrictions on fundamental rights, including freedom of speech and expression.

She lifted the Emergency in early 1977, but suffered a major defeat in the 1977 elections. The Janata Party, a merger of the Jana Sangha, the Indian National Congress (O), the Socialist Party and the Indian National Congress, came to power, and Morarji Desai became India’s first non-Congress prime minister.

 

Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her bodyguard in 1984. After her death, riots broke out in many parts of India.