Emergency (2025) English Subtitle - A Controversial Take on India’s Darkest Chapter

Emergency (2025) English Subtitle - A Controversial Take on India’s Darkest Chapter

Emergency (2025) English Subtitle - History or Political Drama?

Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency (2025) is an ambitious attempt to bring one of India’s most controversial political eras to the big screen. The film, directed and co-produced by Ranaut herself, narrates the events surrounding the Emergency period (1975-1977) under the rule of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Featuring a star-studded ensemble cast, the film aims to provide a dramatic retelling of history but struggles with its execution, leading to mixed-to-negative reviews and a lackluster box office performance.

The film follows Indira Gandhi’s rise to power, initially perceived as a puppet within the Congress Party. As she defies expectations and consolidates control, she strengthens India’s global influence but also alienates party leaders. Her victory in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War cements her dominance, but political turmoil and a controversial court ruling push her to declare a state of Emergency. What follows is a turbulent period marked by mass censorship, forced sterilization, and political oppression, orchestrated largely by her son Sanjay Gandhi (Vishak Nair). The narrative builds towards Indira’s realization of her political missteps, culminating in her decision to lift the Emergency and call for elections in 1977.

Ranaut’s portrayal of Indira Gandhi is intense but often veers into theatrical excess, making her character feel more like a caricature than a nuanced historical figure. Vishak Nair delivers a compelling performance as Sanjay Gandhi, embodying his authoritarian tendencies with conviction. Anupam Kher, as Jayaprakash Narayan, provides a strong counterbalance, while Shreyas Talpade as Atal Bihari Vajpayee delivers a restrained yet impactful performance.

The film’s biggest strength is its cinematography by Tetsuo Nagata, which captures the era’s political tension and turmoil effectively. The production design does a commendable job of recreating the 1970s, and the background score by Sanchit and Ankit Balhara enhances the film’s intensity. However, the screenplay by Ritesh Shah lacks the depth needed to fully explore the complexities of the Emergency, often resorting to dramatization over nuanced storytelling.

Despite its potential, Emergency struggles to balance fact with fiction, occasionally resorting to sensationalism. The film’s overtly dramatic approach and clear political undertones have polarized audiences. Critics have pointed out its one-sided portrayal, making it less of a historical biopic and more of a political statement. The film also suffered from poor word-of-mouth, contributing to its disappointing box office run, earning only ₹21.75–22 crore against a ₹60 crore budget.

Final Verdict: Emergency is a bold but flawed political drama that attempts to tackle one of India’s most controversial historical events. While it offers gripping performances and strong visuals, its uneven storytelling and biased tone prevent it from being a truly definitive retelling of the Emergency era.

Rating: 2.5/5 ⭐

--Emergency (2025) English Subtitle--