'Emergency' movie review: From 'iron lady' to meek mimicry, Kangana's Indira falls short

Emergency begins with an overlong disclaimer about "drawing inspiration" from real-life events. We get it, we're all for creative liberties. But when a film about one of the most tumultuous phases of Indian democracy is marinated with melodrama, complete with apparitions in the mirror, it's a letdown.

No one's questioning Kangana Ranaut's acting chops, but here, her efforts are concentrated on perfecting Indira Gandhi's quirks, right down to her voice. And, oh yes, that prosthetic nose sticks out like a sore thumb.

Indira Gandhi has a conflicting legacy. But right or wrong, she was always known as the "iron lady". Kangana's "Indu" lacks this aura of confidence. She appears confused and speaks meekly, possibly due to the mimicry.

Halfway through, the movie tries its hand at being a musical. So you have influential leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan (Anupam Kher) and Atal Bihari Vajpayee (Shreyas Talpade) break into a synchronised performance.

Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw (Milind Soman) joins the chorus, singing a song — and thankfully no dance — about an autocratic leader who must "vacate the throne".

Writer-director-producer Kangana has torn out quite a lot of pages from the history book and bound them into an over-the-top script. Again, artistic freedom.

The 1971 Indo-Pak war, the birth of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's assassination, the Pokhran nuclear test, Operation Bluestar, Sikh extremist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Assam crisis — there's a lot packed into Emergency, but the effort feels laboured and most incidents lack context.

For all the mayhem he causes, Vishak Nair's Sanjay Gandhi is the only one who comes across as real in the sea of overdone performances. The "spoilt son" bulldozes thousands of illegal slum settlements as part of the Delhi beautification project. The "black sheep" of the Gandhi family is also the brain behind the forced vasectomies ("Bloody Indians breed like rabbits") during the dark era.

Emergency resembles a jumbled caricature of a critical period and its people. Jawaharlal Nehru is a "defeated man" in the eyes of his daughter Indira. There are also glimpses of Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia and Maneka as the film traces Indira's transition from an unsure child to a fearless politician, then her election loss, arrest and finally, assassination.

The movie suggests that Indira's fixation on power led to her downfall. To her credit, Kangana gives her character a redemption arc after the first half. But the absence of nuance and slapdash making sink Emergency. As for subtlety, rest in peace.