Kangana’s Emergency is a politically charged drama inspired by actual events in India, telling the tale of what was a national shadow cast by Indira Gandhi’s declaration of Emergency—from 1975 to 1977—when governments had powers to arrest without grounds, control media, and restrict freedom. The movie makes an honest attempt to tell this story, which should have hit the mark, yet it stumbled.
About the Movie Emergency:
- Directed, written, and produced by Kangana Ranaut under her banner Manikarnika Films.
- Cinematography by Tetsuo Nagata, an acclaimed French director of photography.
- Music composed by G.V. Prakash Kumar, known for his emotionally charged scores.
- The film was originally scheduled for a 2023 release, but got delayed and was finally released on 17 January 2025.
- Filming locations included real historical sites in Delhi, such as Parliament Street and Connaught Place, for authenticity.
- Milind Soman played Sam Manekshaw, while Satish Kaushik portrayed Jagjivan Ram in his final film appearance before his passing.
- The budget of the film was reportedly around ₹50–60 crore, with relatively low box office returns of ₹21.65 crore.
What the Movie Tells
The film follows Indira Gandhi (played by Kangana) as she resorts to far-reaching measures to remain in power. Major happenings include political arrests, the subsequent Pakistan War, and the silencing of press freedoms during those days. The movie attempts to show us why she made those decisions but is mostly one-sided in its storytelling.
Kangana Is Indira Gandhi
Kangana plays the part of Indira Gandhi in the storyline, directing and producing the film herself. Clearly, she put in a great effort to resemble the Prime Minister. In some scenes, especially in her tour of underprivileged villages, she does somewhat well, but on many occasions, it appears as though she is performing rather than expressing the real thing. As Kangana has a lot of screen time, it reduces the possibility of other characters gaining a bit of glory.
Other Characters
Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Jayaprakash Narayan, and Sanjay Gandhi are significant figures from the opposing camps. Their interpretations by such heavyweights as Shreyas Talpade and Anupam Kher are nothing short of praiseworthy, but their roles were barely sketched and too short. Otherwise, they feel more like background figures in Indira’s sketch, rather than foreground actors in this larger narrative.
Story and Writing
The most pressing concern is the writing of this film. The screenplay unwisely tries to cover so much within two hours. Instead of being a flowing tale, it feels more like a conglomeration of short scenes that do not matter or fit together too strongly. The important moments are covered in a blur, and the emotional bits never really hit.
Some of the Nixon bits felt stilted and awkward; others felt rushed or overly theatrical. At times, it felt more like a history lecture than a movie. It described what happened but rather failed to provoke consideration of what it may have felt like for the people involved.
Direction and Style
Kangana uses a lot of stylish shots and dramatic musical backdrops, often to the detriment of the story. The camera dwells on her face interminably, and many scenes seem designed to showcase her character rather than to advance the plot. The whole affair is out of balance, and the flow of emotion feels forced.
Music and Look
The songs suit the emotional atmosphere of the particular moments in the story: they often alternate between patriotic and tear-jerking. Unfortunately, their timings often grow anachronistic and disrupt the flow. Costumes and sets are suggested as period-appropriate for the 1970s; some elements may be too much of a good thing, providing a feel closer to a stage play than genuine life.
Reaction from the Public
Emergency was released on January 17, 2025. It had a mixed reception from critics and audiences alike. Some praised Kangana’s attempt to tackle such a daring subject, while many felt that the film was not deep or fair enough. It made a collection of merely ₹21.65 crore at the box office—not exactly a hit, considering its production costs.
The film was released later on Netflix on March 17, 2025, giving it another chance for others to watch from home. While it found a few viewers online, it never turned out to be a blockbuster or a topic for much public debate.
About the Actual Emergency (1975–1977):
- Declared on 25 June 1975 by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed on the advice of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, under Article 352 of the Indian Constitution.
- Triggered by the Allahabad High Court judgment (12 June 1975) convicting Indira Gandhi of electoral malpractices in the 1971 elections.
- Over 1,00,000 people were detained without trial under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA).
- Press was censored, and several publications were either shut down or heavily monitored, including The Indian Express and The Statesman.
- The 42nd Amendment to the Constitution was passed, significantly altering the balance of power between the judiciary and the executive.
- Mass sterilisation campaigns were launched, led informally by Sanjay Gandhi, affecting lakhs of poor and marginalised people, often without consent.
- Major opposition leaders, including Jayaprakash Narayan, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L.K. Advani, and Morarji Desai, were arrested and imprisoned.
- The Emergency officially ended on 21 March 1977, after Indira Gandhi called for general elections and was defeated by the Janata Party.
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