Indira’s life and emergency story on screen
Kangana Ranaut’s recent popular film Emergency is not just the story of the Emergency imposed in the country in 1975, it shows the important stages of the life of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, which reflect her personality and her strong intentions. Actually this is the making of Indira. Why Indira Gandhi was called Durga, Chandi, Iron Lady or India is Indira, Indira is India in her political career – this has been shown through major events. But why has producer-director Kangana Ranaut named her film Emergency? There is a need to understand this closely. It is shown in the film that at one time she had to impose emergency due to the movement of Jayprakash Narayan (Anupam Kher), but later when she meets the same JP, she apologizes. Then JP says – By melting in the fire of repentance, a person attains rebirth. Give up attachment and dedicate yourself to serving the country. After this, Indira, who faced all the hatred, returns to power.
If Kangana Ranaut wanted, she could have gained political headlines by merely depicting the incidents during the Emergency, but she did not weave such a story. Ritesh Shah has written its script. Kangana herself has prepared the story of the film. If Kangana wanted, she could have named this film Iron Lady or Indira Maiya (as the people of Belchhi village speak in the film) etc., but she did not do that. In the description of the film, it has been described as a historical autobiographical drama. That is, a story which is based on major events related to the life of Indira Gandhi. In this sense, it is also a film giving political education. This was also evident from the first controversial trailer of the film. And even when the second trailer came, it became clear that Kangana’s intention was not only to show the dark side of the Emergency. Before the release, Kangana had made it clear in many of her interviews that this is a film depicting every aspect of a strong-willed leader.
When Indira Gandhi rode an elephant
In the political history of the country, Indira Gandhi has been counted as a powerful woman ruler who rode a lion. This was a taunt on him and also a statement of his bravery. In the film, everything from dividing Pakistan into two and creating Bangladesh, running Operation Blue Star in Punjab, elephant riding, trip to Belchhi village and his murder case has been shown very well. While the excesses of Emergency are depicted, his tough decisions against Pakistan are also shown. So much so that at one time Indira kept her son Sanjay Gandhi involved in every political decision like a shadow, at another time she maintained a political distance from the same Sanjay Gandhi. Kangana Ranaut has brought all these aspects and moods on screen in an excellent manner. The spontaneity in Indira’s transformation is worth seeing.
When Indira’s confidence turned into arrogance
Indira Gandhi’s brave personality and tough decisions have been depicted through many such examples in the film. There is also a reference to the India-China war of 1962 in the film. It is shown in the film that because of the then Prime Minister Nehru, Assam was about to be cut off from the country but due to the wisdom of Indira Gandhi, it could be included in the country again. After this incident Indira’s confidence increased further. After the death of Lal Bahadur Shastri, when Indira Gandhi got the opportunity to become the Prime Minister, her confidence and ambition gradually expanded further. He began to realize that there was no one to challenge him politically. Similarly, the evolution of Indira Gandhi’s character has been shown in the film. The film wants to say that this growing confidence within Indira proved fatal for her. This overconfidence started turning into arrogance.
When Indira saw her cruel face in the mirror
The story of Indira, full of confidence, starts taking a more dangerous turn politically when her son Sanjay Gandhi’s activism increases. Sanjay Gandhi completely takes over the command of Indira Gandhi’s office. Sanjay used to decide what would be printed in the press, which singer’s songs would be broadcast on the radio. Indira is unable to ignore Sanjay’s words on many fronts. Looks helpless. Sanjay Gandhi interferes in everything from cabinet meetings to the Prime Minister’s Office.
It is shown in the film that when emergency is imposed in the country, Sanjay Gandhi’s autocracy increases further. Ministers have to be humiliated. There are many such scenes in the film when Indira Gandhi regrets every autocratic act she has done. She sees her reflection as a cruel woman in her dreams and mirrors. She gets scared after seeing herself in the mirror. This imagination of the writer-director of the film establishes the character of the character. Indira started feeling remorse – this is what the story of this film says.
Major part of emergency in the film
In fact, Kangana Ranaut and her team of writers have tried to show that when a ruler gradually becomes intoxicated with overconfidence, he commits a mistake like emergency. In this film too, Kangana Ranaut later regrets repeatedly putting leaders of opposition parties like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Jayaprakash Narayan, George Fernandes in jail. Indira also regrets that Sanjay Gandhi launched a sterilization campaign across the country, in which thousands of people died. The film has tried to show that Indira Gandhi had many qualities in her personality. The country achieved new achievements under his leadership but the decision of an emergency put the biggest stain on his political life.
Story of Indira’s victory, defeat and then victory
If Kangana wanted, she could have ended the film till the announcement of end of emergency but she showed the story after that also. Indira Gandhi braved the storm of hatred across the country and made new efforts, visited Dalit colonies, met the poor, had to see people celebrating the death of her son Sanjay Gandhi in a plane crash… but her grassroots roots remained intact. The campaign continued. In this way an attempt was made to wash off the stain of Emergency. Kangana has also shown this aspect.
The defeated Indira proved victorious one day again. He regained power by ousting the same Janata Party which had ousted him from the post of Prime Minister. The entire film tells the story of Indira Gandhi’s victory, defeat and then victory. In the film, Anupam Kher as Jayaprakash Narayan, Shreyas Talpade as Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Vishak Nair as Sanjay Gandhi, Satish Kaushik as Jagjivan Ram and Mahima Choudhary as Pupul Jaykar have portrayed their respective historical roles very well. The environment has been created.
