Emergency (2025) [Movie Review]: A Tumultuous Tale That Struggles to Take Flight

Plot Overview

Set against the sweeping panorama of India’s modern history—from the freedom struggle of 1929 through the Indo-China conflict of 1962, the 1971 war, and finally the draconian Emergency of 1975–77— Emergency attempts to chart the rise and rule of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi (Kangana Ranaut). Inspired by Coomi Kapoor’s The Emergency and Jaiyanth Sinha’s Priyadarshini, the film stitches together pivotal events, but often feels like a series of disconnected vignettes rather than a cohesive narrative.

Screenplay and Pacing

Co-written by Ranaut, Ritesh Shah, and Tanvi Kesari Pasumarthy, the screenplay aims for epic scope but stumbles in execution. Key figures such as Pupul Jayakar (Mahima Chaudhary) and moments like the fallout after Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s assassination lack sufficient context, leaving viewers to piece together motivations and timelines. Additionally, certain depictions—especially wartime atrocities—veer into sensationalism, disrupting the film’s dramatic balance.

Performances

Ranaut finds her footing in the second half, delivering a compelling portrait of Indira as she grapples with the lifted Emergency, her philosophical encounter with J. Krishnamurti (Avijit Dutt), and her elephant ride through Bihar’s Belchi. Anupam Kher brings a grounded sincerity to Jaiprakash Narayan, while Milind Soman’s brief but vivid Field Marshal Manekshaw and Vishak Nair’s menacing Sanjay Gandhi leave memorable impressions. Shreyas Talpade’s Atal Bihari Vajpayee, however, never quite convinces—a serviceable yet underwhelming portrayal.

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Technical Brilliance

Cinematographer Tetsuo Nagata elevates the film’s wartime sequences with striking visuals, and one standout moment finds Indira grippingly sparring with President Nixon, her retort—“You have weaponry, we have courage”—anchoring the narrative’s emotional high point. Production design and costumes effectively evoke each era, yet the film’s choppy editing undercuts its historical immersion.

Musical Score

The soundtrack echoes the film’s shifting tones: the rousing “Singhasan Khaali Karo” (Udit Narayan, Nakash Aziz, Nakul Abhyankar) serves as an anthem for defiance, while “Ae Meri Jaan” (Arko feat. Hariharan) adds a poignant undercurrent to moments of personal reflection.

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Final Verdict

With its sprawling ambition and intermittent flashes of cinematic power, Emergency earnestly tackles a dark chapter of Indian history but is hindered by its fragmented structure and one-dimensional character sketches. While the film delivers several impactful sequences, the lack of narrative fluidity and context keeps it from truly resonating. 

Rating: ★★⯪☆☆ (2.5 / 5)