‘Main Atal Hoon’ Movie Review: Vajpayee Biopic Tends Towards Propaganda Rather Than History

Date: [20/01/2024]

In the much-anticipated film ‘Main Atal Hoon,’ director Ravi Jadhav attempts to encapsulate the illustrious political career of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. However, the cinematic portrayal, despite having a talented cast featuring Pankaj Tripathi, Bene’t Lynton, and Madhu Singh, falls short of delivering an unbiased reflection on Vajpayee’s life and legacy.

Rating: 1/5 stars

Director: Ravi Jadhav

Cast: Pankaj Tripathi, Bene’t Lynton, Madhu Singh

Atal Bihari Vajpayee, known for his eloquence and poetry, held a complex persona. His interactions with Jawaharlal Nehru, where Nehru allegedly predicted Vajpayee’s future as a prime minister, and Vajpayee’s nuanced stance on divisive issues like the Babri Masjid demolition and the Godhra riots, marked significant chapters in his political journey.

The film, unfortunately, steers away from exploring these intricate facets of Vajpayee’s character, opting instead for a narrative that leans heavily on the director’s own political inclinations. The 135-minute runtime struggles to encapsulate Vajpayee’s six-decade-long political career, and in making choices, the director’s biases become apparent.

Ravi Jadhav dedicates considerable screen time to events like the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and the formation of the BJP, amplifying them with melodrama in music and narrative. The film prioritizes Vajpayee’s personal relationships, such as his college dalliances with Rajkumari, over crucial moments like his challenges during the Emergency or his leadership during pivotal national events like the Pokhran and Kargil achievements.

Pankaj Tripathi’s portrayal of Atal Bihari Vajpayee is marred by a sense of miscasting. While he manages to capture some of Vajpayee’s mannerisms, the repetitive use of these traits in various situations, including intimate conversations, diminishes the authenticity of the performance. The ensemble of characters, including L K Advani, appears more like caricatures, exaggerating Vajpayee’s persona to superhero proportions.

The script, unfortunately, takes an unnatural turn, laden with an excess of florid language. While Vajpayee was indeed a poet, the film’s dialogue seems forced, inserting rhyming words and metaphors even in ordinary conversations. This creative choice diminishes the overall credibility of the biopic.

In essence, ‘Main Atal Hoon’ disappoints as a biographical film, veering more towards propaganda than an honest portrayal of history. The director’s selective emphasis on certain aspects of Vajpayee’s life and the film’s overtly dramatic narrative contribute to an unsatisfying cinematic experience. It fails to capture the essence of Vajpayee’s journey, leaving audiences yearning for a more authentic depiction. For those seeking a nuanced understanding of Vajpayee, perhaps turning to reliable sources like Wikipedia would prove more enlightening and entertaining.