The memory of the 1975 emergency is still fresh in the minds of Indians. Our B-town is also not exceptional in this. There is a plethora of documentary on emergency in India which exposes the challenges faced by Indians during the two-year-long emergency period. Here is a list of such movie on emergency in India which has shown us the true picture of India during the emergency rule. Additionally, this article will also share a list of books on emergency in India. Read the full article to know more.
Movies On Emergency In India
Some of the movies that are based on emergency are:
1. Indu Sarkar
A 2017 hit release, the movie on emergency in India, Indu Sarkar was directed by Madhur Bhandaar who told us the story of a woman and how her life completely changed during the 19-month long emergency period. The movie shows the plight of the people who protested against the corrupt system. The movie portrayed Kriti Kulhari as Indu Sarkar whose husband works in association with the Union Minister.
When the Emergency begins, Indu chose to protest but had to survive his husband’s torture. Soon, she decided to shelter two children who had lost their parents to the system. His husband asked him to choose between him and the children. And we all knew in our hearts, our strong hearted Indu will never support corruption, she chose to divorce him and left. Later, she was arrested and put in jail!
2. Kissa Kursi Ka
Set during the emergency period, Kissa Kursi Ka is a satirical drama movie on Indira Gandhi emergency. Directed by Amrit Nahata and produced by Badri Prasaad Joshi, the movie was a tight slap on the corrupt system.
Released in 1977, the movie stars Shabana Azmi, Raj Kiran, Utpal Dutt, Rehana Sultan and others. Though the movie had to suffer rejection from the Censor Board and the makers suffered allegations from the Government, the new version of the movie hit the screen in 1978! This was the movie which fueled the end of Sanjay Gandhi’s career!
3. Baadshaho
Released in 2017, this action-adventure movie was directed and co-produced by Milan Luthria. Set in the two-year-long emergency era, the movie introduces us to Maharani Gitanjali of Rajasthan. During the emergency, all her possessions were confiscated and she was put behind the bars. The police decided to transfer everything to Delhi, and so they handed a custom-made truck to Seher Singh.
Meanwhile, Gitanjali used her lover, Bhawani Singh to retrieve her property. When Bhawani came to know that the princess was cheating on her, he exposed everything and distributed the gold among the poor! The movie stars Ajay Devgn, Emraan Hashmi, Ileana D’cruz, Vidyut Jammwal, Esha Gupta, Sanjay Mishra, Priyanshu Chatterjee and others.
Also Read- National Emergency In India 1975 – The Darkest Phase In Indian History
4. Nashbandi
Written, directed and produced by I.S. Johar, the movie on Indira Gandhi emergency, Nasbandi was banned from theatres on the charges of the portrayal of forced sterilization during the emergency rule!
5. Hazaaron Khwaishen Aisi
An Indian political drama movie on emergency in India, the movie was directed by Sudhir Mishra and produced by Rangita Pritish Nandy. The movie revolves around three friends, Siddharth, Geeta and Vikram. While Siddharth is a revolutionary, Geeta is a London return and still, Vikram is a middle-class boy who grew up in a family based on Gandhian values.
The movie is set against the backdrop of emergency, which shows us how their lives changed completely! Though Geeta was married to an IAS, she divorced her to live with Siddharth in the remote villages. In the last half of the movie, we find Vikram suffering brain damage due to severe beating from trying to save Siddharth from the police. Siddharth left the revolution and went to London to study medicine and Geeta and Vikram found their love for each other!
6. Emergency
Kangana Ranaut’s movie Emergency is set to hit theatres soon. The movie is based on the life of Indira Gandhi and we will get to see Kangana as the late Prime Minister. According to the actress, the movie will depict the cause of the Emergency and its consequences to society and the public as a whole!
Best Books On Emergency In India
1. The Emergency by Coomi Kapoor
Based on the emergency period, writer Coomi Kapoor says that she has collected all information from the actions of people who were involved during this time, i.e. George Fernandes, Subramanian Swamy, and, of course, Indira Gandhi herself.
The book on emergency is a personal history book originally published in the year 2015 and is a personal experience of the writer during the emergency rule of Indira Gandhi.
Also Read- Interesting & Unknown Facts About Indira Gandhi
2. The Dramatic Decade by Pranab Mukherjee
The book The Dramatic Decade by Pranab Mukherjee takes the readers to the period between 1969 and 1980. The book reveals excerpts from Jayaprakash Narayan’s letters and other books on the Emergency. The movie also takes us through the time when Pranab Mukherjee decided to join the political system in order to fight for democracy. This has made this book to run on position two on the list of books on emergency in India.
3. Indira Gandhi, the ‘Emergency’, and Indian Democracy by P.N. Dhar
The book gives a glimpse of the struggle that a woman had to face in a patriarchal society, during the emergency rule. The book also reveals her different reactions, both public and private, to his son’s actions!
As P.N.Dhar was the personal secretary of the late Prime Minister, he was a part of her various decisions including the emergency. The book travels us through these years of emergency and shows us the changing scenario of Indian democracy throughout the two-year emergency period!
4. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
The book tells a tale of four people – a Parsi widow, her paying border, and two Hindu tailors during Indira Gandhi’s emergency period. This book is nominated for the Booker Prize. The book takes us through the plight and sufferings of poor people. The book shows us that despite problems, each one of them cares for the others no matter what!
5. The Sanjay Story by Vinod Mehta
The book revolves around the life of Indira Gandhi’s son, Sanjay Gandhi. He is portrayed as an awkward, cold, unemotional, power-crazed leader.
The book also introduces us to Sanjay’s obsession with cars, which later became the cause of the establishment of the Maruti factory. The book also tells us the story of the forced sterilization of Sanjay Gandhi, who thought that this move of him will secure his place in the system!
Also Read- Rahul Gandhi Got emotional On Indira Gandhi’s Death Anniversary
6. Emergency Retold by Kuldip Nayar
The book begins from the day when the Allahabad High Court was ready to give judgment on the Raj Narain petition which blamed Indira Gandhi for corruption during the election campaign. The book reveals the failed attempts taken by the Prime Minister to bribe justice Jagmohan Lal Sinha of the Allahabad High Court.
The book reveals the true cause behind the declaration of emergency, and introduces the authors to the truth, lies and facts about the same, making it set at the end of the list of books on emergency in India.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we would suggest all our readers watch the above-mentioned movies if you want to get a better knowledge of the years of emergency. Additionally, you will also understand the present political scenario as the present is always linked to the past!
If you are someone who loves to read books or review a few documentary on emergency in india, we would highly recommend you all to read the mentioned books. It will not only help you to gain knowledge about the black years of Indian democracy but will also help you to understand the plight of Indira Gandhi and why she had to declare the two-year nationwide emergency rule, which ultimately brought an end to her reign!
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