| Emergency | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Kangana Ranaut |
| Screenplay by | Ritesh Shah |
| Story by | Kangana Ranaut |
| Based on | The Emergency: A Personal History byCoomi Kapoor Priyadarshini: The Daughter of India by Jaiyanth Vasanth Sinha[1] |
| Produced by | Kangana Ranaut Zee Studios Renu Pitti |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Tetsuo Nagata |
| Edited by | Rameshwar S. Bhagat |
| Music by | Songs: G. V. Prakash Kumar Arko Score: Sanchit Balhara and Ankit Balhara |
Production companies | Manikarnika Films Zee Studios |
| Distributed by | Zee Studios |
Release date |
|
Running time | 146 minutes[2] |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
| Budget | ₹60crore[3][4] |
| Box office | ₹21.75–22 crore[5][6] |
Emergency is a 2025 IndianHindi-languagehistoricalbiographical drama film[7] directed and co-produced byKangana Ranaut, based on a screenplay byRitesh Shah and story written by Ranaut.[8] Based on theIndian Emergency, it stars Ranaut as formerPrime Minister of India,Indira Gandhi.[9][10]
Principal photography commenced in July 2022 and ended in January 2023.[11] It was originally scheduled for release on 6 September 2024, but was postponed due to pending certification of theCentral Board of Film Certification.[12][13] Later, it was cleared by CBFC and released on 17 January 2025 to mixed-to-negative reviews from film critics.[14][15][16] The film also emerged as abox-office flop.[17][18][19]
Following India's independence, Indira Gandhi rises within the Congress Party, initially positioned as a puppet by the Syndicate. She asserts her authority by opposing their stance onOperation Searchlight and engaging with global powers, gradually consolidating control with some support from the opposition. Her decisive leadership during the1971 Indo-Pakistan War earns her nationwide popularity. However, a 1975 verdict by the Allahabad High Court invalidates her election, prompting her to declare anational emergency, citing threats to democracy. Civil liberties are suspended, the press is censored, and opposition leaders are jailed. Her sonSanjay Gandhi gains influence during this period, implementing controversial programs such as forced sterilizations and slum demolitions. On 15 August 1975, Indira prepares to end the emergency but backs down following theassassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman inBangladesh. Eventually, after consulting philosopher withJ. Krishnamurti and recognizing the harm caused, she lifts the emergency in 1977 and calls for elections, which result in a defeat for the Congress and her brief arrest. Years later, during a famine, she visits a neglected village and personally promises aid, restoring her public image and leading to her political comeback. The narrative follows her personal losses, including Sanjay Gandhi's death in a plane crash, and rising unrest in Punjab under Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Refusing to remove her Sikh bodyguards despite warnings, she isassassinated by them on 31 October 1984. The film concludes with her final speech in Odisha, where she declares her life's purpose was not to rule India but to serve it.
| Emergency | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | |
| Released | 31 August 2024 |
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack |
| Length | 18:47 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Label | Zee Music Company |
| Official audio | |
| Emergency (Audio Jukebox) onYouTube | |
The film features four songs composed byG. V. Prakash Kumar and one song composed byArko. The film score is composed bySanchit Balhara and Ankit Balhara. Lyrics are written byManoj Muntashir. The first single titled "Singhasan Khali Karo" was released on 26 August 2024.[27]
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Singhasan Khali Karo" | Udit Narayan,Nakash Aziz,Nakul Abhyankar | 4:25 |
| 2. | "Ae Meri Jaan" (Music byArko) | Hariharan | 4:30 |
| 3. | "Shankhnaad Kar" | Nakul Abhyankar,Neeti Mohan, Romy | 3:53 |
| 4. | "Beqarariyaan" | Monali Thakur | 3:27 |
| 5. | "Sarkar Ko Salaam Hai" | Sreerama Chandra | 2:32 |
| Total length: | 18:47 | ||
Before its release,Emergency faced delays due to concerns raised by theCentral Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The board demanded modifications to certain scenes, resulting in the postponement of the film's release. The CBFC granted aU/A certificate on the condition that the filmmakers implement specific cuts and provide factual sources for controversial historical claims depicted in the movie.[28]
Initially announced to release in October–November 2023, the film was re-scheduled to release on 14 June 2024.[29][30] It was again postponed due to theLok Sabha elections,[31] scheduled to be released on 6 September 2024.[32] On 30 August, Ranaut claimed the film was being denied a certificate by theCentral Board of Film Certification, possibly due to external pressures.[33] TheGovernment of Telangana has also considered a ban on the film due to objections raised by theSikh community members.[34] On 17 October, Ranaut shared on social media that the film had been finally cleared by the CBFC,[35] and the film was released on 17 January 2025.[36] On 11 January 2025, the inaugural special screening of the film took place in Nagpur, India. The event was attended by Union MinisterNitin Gadkari and hosted byKangana Ranaut andAnupam Kher.[37][38]
Emergency has been banned inBangladesh due to escalating political tensions between India and Bangladesh. Officials have indicated that the decision was more related to the current diplomatic dynamics between the two nations rather than the film's content.[39][40]
The film began streaming onNetflix from 17 March 2025.[41]
The film earned₹2 crore on its opening day, aided by Cinema Lovers Day, when tickets were available at cheaper price.[42] It made an additional₹3 crore on the second day,[43] and₹3.7 crore on the third, for an opening weekend collection of₹8.7 crore.[44]
As of 8 February 2025,Emergency had grossed₹19.67 crore (US$2.3 million) in India, with a further₹2.08 crore (US$250,000) overseas, for a worldwide total of₹21.75 crore (US$2.6 million),[5] indicating a box-office bomb.[17][45]
On thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, 30% of 10 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.7/10.[46]
Dhaval Roy ofTimes of India gave the film 2.5 stars (out of 5) and wrote, "Emergency is hindered by its overly dramatised approach and one-dimensional portrayals. The lack of narrative fluidity and context undermines the attempt to narrate an important chapter in Indian history."[14]Saibal Chatterjee ofNDTV called it a "monumental muddle" that demonstrates how not to make a biographical drama, giving the film a rating of 1.5 out of 5 and writing, "The film wades through the early years of Indira Gandhi's life pretty much in the manner that it treats the rest of it—hastily, superficially, and risibly."[15]Shubhra Gupta ofThe Indian Express deemed it as a "confused" biopic that is weak in craft, giving the film 1.5 stars (out of 5) and writing, "For the most part,Emergency is more a scattershot caricature of time, place, and people, riddled with tacky computer graphics."[16] Nandini Ramnath ofScroll deemed it as "parodic" biopic and wrote, "Ranaut's portrayal of Indira Gandhi itself raises the suspicion that the actor who has previously played iconic women leaders—the Queen of Jhansi, J. Jayalalithaa—is parodying the historical biopic this time round."[1] Angel Rani ofDeccan Herald gave the film 2 stars (out of 5) and dismissed Ranaut's portrayal of Indira Gandhi as "meek mimicry".[47]
Deven Sharma ofFilmfare gave the film three out of five, writing, "The film is well-directed by Kangana Ranaut, who, thanks to great makeup and prosthetics, looks exactly like Indira Gandhi in the first frame but later starts looking like herself."[48]Mayank Shekhar ofMid-Day gave the film 3 stars, calling it a "pretty solid biopic of Indira Gandhi—packed with historical events, and human empathy".[49] Lachmi Deb Roy ofFirstpost gave the film three out of five, calling the film "a bold cinematic retelling of one of the most controversial periods in Indian politics". She further wrote, "Kangana Ranaut shines as a director and a craftsman. Not just Kangana, Mahima Chaudhury, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade and Vishak Nair did justice to their roles inEmergency."[50]
Rahul Desai ofThe Hollywood Reporter India wrote, "Emergency—which lacks both skill and self-awareness—is yet another brick in the wall of modern Bollywood."[51] Sana Farzeen ofIndia Today rated it 2.5 out of 5 and called it a rushed crash course on Indira Gandhi's life that struggles to delve deeply into key historical events and character motivations.[52] Utkarsh Mishra ofRediff gave the film a rating of 1 out of 5 and panned Ranaut's portrayal, noting that her character is almost always teary-eyed and lacking in confidence with voice modulation that falls flat.[53] Anuj Kumar ofThe Hindu wrote, "Marked by uneven storytelling, the biopic comes across more as a selective recreation of archival material to serve today's political narrative than a compelling take on the darkest chapter of Indian democracy."[54] Lekha Menon ofKhaleej Times gave the film 2 stars (out of 5) noting, "The film feels like a trying-to-be-a-serious school play rather than a refined, complex portrayal of power and corruption."[55]
The film has faced significant backlash fromSikh organizations, particularly theShiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which accuses it of distorting historical events related to the1984 anti-Sikh riots and defaming theSikh community. In response to these protests, several theaters in the Indian state ofPunjab chose not to screen the film.[56] Internationally, the film faced protests in theUnited Kingdom, where Sikh groups organized demonstrations againstEmergency, disrupting its screening at some cinemas during its opening weekend. The Sikh Press Association stated that the film was seen as anti-Sikh, leading to canceled screenings in cities such asBirmingham andWolverhampton.[57]
In April 2025, veteran journalist and authorCoomi Kapoor filed a lawsuit against Ranaut's Manikarnika Films Pvt Ltd andNetflix, alleging breach of contract and defamation. Kapoor claimed that the film inaccurately portrayed historical events and misrepresented her 2015 book,The Emergency: A Personal History, despite a contractual agreement that stipulated adherence to historical facts and prohibited the use of her name and book for promotional purposes without consent. Kapoor stated that her attempts to address these issues directly with the producers were unsuccessful, leading to legal action.[58][59]
As per the trade portals, Emergency is made in the budget of Rs 60 crores (Inclusive Print and Advertising costs).
Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declares a state of national emergency in this Hindi-language historical biographical drama, which contains bloody and potentially distressing scenes of violence.
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