Indu Sarkar[3] is a 2017 Indian Hindi-language period political thriller film, co-written, co-produced and directed by Madhur Bhandarkar.[4] The story screenplay of the movie is written by Anil Pandey and Madhur Bhandarkar and the dialogues are penned by Sanjay Chhel. Indu Sarkar is produced under the banner of Bhandarkar Entertainment and Mega Bollywood Private Limited. The film is set in the period of the emergency in India, i.e. the 19-month-long period from 1975 to 1977 when there was a state of emergency across the country. The film stars Kirti Kulhari, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Anupam Kher, Tota Roy Chowdhury, Nitanshi Goel and Supriya Vinod.[5] The music is composed by Anu Malik and Bappi Lahiri. The film was released on 28 July 2017 with few cuts.[6][7]
| Indu Sarkar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Madhur Bhandarkar |
| Written by | Madhur Bhandarkar |
| Screenplay by | Madhur Bhandarkar Anil Pandey Sanjay Chhel (Dialogue) |
| Story by | Madhur Bhandarkar |
| Produced by | Bharat Shah Bhandarkar Entertainment |
| Starring | Kirti Kulhari Neil Nitin Mukesh Supriya Vinod Anupam Kher Tota Roy Chowdhury |
| Cinematography | Keiko Nakahara |
| Edited by | Devendra Murdeshwar |
| Music by | Anu Malik Bappi Lahiri |
Release date |
|
Running time | 139 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
| Budget | ₹120 million[2] |
| Box office | ₹60.70 million[2] |
Plot
editDuring the emergency, Indu's husband, a government employee, plans to use the situation to his advantage and move ahead in his career. However, Indu's sense of morality sets her on a different path.
Cast
edit- Kirti Kulhari as Indu Sarkar
- Tota Roy Chowdhury as Navin Sarkar
- Neil Nitin Mukesh as Sanjay Gandhi
- Nitanshi Goel as Young Indu
- Supriya Vinod as Indira Gandhi
- Rashmi Jha as Farzana
- Anupam Kher as Nanaji Pradhan
- Sheeba Chaddha as Mekhla Singh
- Manav Vij as Inspector Sodhi
- Abhinav Sharma as Shreedhar
- Ankur Vikal as Shivam, an activist
- Varun Singh Rajput as Nihal
- Zakir Hussain as Inspector Mishra
- Mohan Kapoor as Sahani
- Parvin Dabas as Govardhab Singh, IRS Joint Director, IB
- Jashn Agnihotri as actress part of a song (Yeh Pal)[8][9]
Production
editIndu Sarkar includes a recreated version of Aziz Nazan's popular qawwali, Chadhta Sooraj Dheere Dheere Dhal Jaayega.[10] Rashmi Jha was signed for the role of Farzana, which is inspired by socialite Rukhsana Sultana.[11]
Release
editThe film was released at around 825 screens across India.[12]
Critical reception
editThe film garnered mixed reviews from critics. Nitin Bhave of Times of India praised the film for its acting performances and gave the film 3 out of 5 stars.[13] Rajeev Masand of News18 gave 2 stars by saying "This is at Best an Average Movie".[14] Hindustan Times criticised the director's confused narrative by giving 2 stars.[15] Giving 2 stars Indian Express also panned the film by saying "A watered-down, bloodless version of the Emergency".[16]
Controversy
editThe film generated controversy since the time its trailer got released up until it was shown in the theatres.[17] Indian National Congress supporters heavily criticised the director Bhandarkar's attempt to portray former Prime Minister of India Mrs.Indira Gandhi and her son Sanjay Gandhi in a bad light.[18] However, the director clarified that it was not a biopic on former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi under whose regime the Emergency was declared in the country in 1975.[19][20] Sanjay Gandhi's alleged daughter Priya Singh Paul approached the Bombay High Court seeking a stay on the film.[21] However, Bombay High Court rejected the plea after Paul failed to present solid evidence of her association with the lineage of Sanjay Gandhi.[22] Just two days before the release Paul moved the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the release of the movie after Bombay High Court dismissed her plea.[23][24] The Supreme Court also refused to stay the release of the film and quoted it as "The movie is an artistic expression within the parameters of law."[25][26]
After the release of the film several supporters of the Indian National Congress protested and even tried to stall the screening.[27][28][29] Congress workers created ruckus in front of a cinema hall in Indore. Police used canes to disperse those who came to blows.[30]
Box office
editThe film opened at ₹8.50 million nett on its first day, as reported by Box office India.[31] The film grossed ₹ 47 million net in first weekend.[citation needed] It was declared a disaster.
Soundtrack
edit| Indu Sarkar | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | |
| Genre | |
| Label | Saregama |
| Producer | Bappi Lahiri |
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Yeh awaz hai" | Monali Thakur | |
| 2. | "Chadhta Suraj Dheere Dheere" | Anu Malik, Mujtaba Aziz Naza | |
| 3. | "Dilli Ki Raat" | Bappi Lahiri & Anmol Malik | 3:57 |
References
edit- ^ "Two Interesting Films on Gandhi Politics". Gulte.com.
- ^ a b "Indu Sarkar - Movie - Box Office India". boxofficeindia.com.
- ^ "Madhur Bhandarkar shares 'intense' first look of 'Indu Sarkar'". The Times of India.
- ^ "Indu Sarkar: Who is playing Sanjay Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and more, complete list of who's who in the film". 16 June 2017.
- ^ "Meet the actress who plays Indira Gandhi in Madhur Bhandarkar's 'Indu Sarkar'". 8 June 2017.
- ^ "Controversial film Indu Sarkar on Emergency set to hit screens with few cuts". Oneindia. 25 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ "Madhur Bhandarkar's 'Indu Sarkar' gets a release date". Hindustan Times.
- ^ Service, Tribune News. "Up, close & personal with Yeh Pal girl". Tribuneindia News Service.
- ^ "Ajit Jha and Jashn Agnihotri bag web-series Soch". IWMBuzz. 5 May 2021.
- ^ Hungama, Bollywood (19 April 2017). "Madhur Bhandarkar to incorporate THIS famous qawwali in Indu Sarkar - Bollywood Hungama". Bollywood Hungama.
- ^ "Small-town girl Rashmi Jha wins hearts in 'Indu Sarkar'".
- ^ "Indu Sarkar box office collection day 1: Amid protests, will Madhur Bhandakar's film make an impact at the box office?". The Indian Express. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ "Indu Sarkar Review {3/5}: Bhandarkar drops most gimmicks and turns the page. But he is still far from Page 3". The Times of India.
- ^ "Indu Sarkar Review: This is at Best an Average Movie". News18. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ "Indu Sarkar movie review: Confused between criticising the sarkar and championing it". Hindustan Times. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ "Indu Sarkar movie review: A watered-down, bloodless version of the Emergency". The Indian Express. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ "'Indu Sarkar' in controversy for the period it is set in: Bappi Lahiri". Zee News. 16 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ "Indu Sarkar trailer shocking and misleading, says Sanjay Gandhi s daughter". 11 July 2017.
- ^ "Madhur Bhandarkar hits back at claims of 'Indu Sarkar' being anti-Congress". Mid-Day. 20 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ "'Indu Sarkar' Isn't Sponsored by the BJP Government, Says Madhur Bhandarkar". Huffington Post India. 20 July 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
- ^ "Sanjay Gandhi's 'daughter' moves HC seeking stay on 'Indu". DNA India. 22 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ "Indu Sarkar: Bombay HC rules in film's favour, Revising Committee clears it with 'few cuts'". Firstpost. 25 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ "Just 2 days before release: Plea in Supreme Court for stay on release of 'Indu Sarkar'". DNA India. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ "Sanjay Gandhi's alleged daughter files petition in Supreme Court to stay release of Indu Sarkar". The Indian Express. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ "Supreme Court refuses stay on 'Indu Sarkar' release". The Times of India. 27 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ "SC refuses stay on 'Indu Sarkar' release". Mid-Day. 27 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ "Congress activists force cancellation of Indu Sarkar in Thane". The Indian Express. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ "Congress activists force cancellation of Indu Sarkar in Thane". Zee News. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ "Congress Workers Disrupt Indu Sarkar Shows in Maharashtra". NDTV. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ "Indu Sarkar: Congress, BJP workers clash in Indore, shows in Maharashtra disrupted". Deccan Chronicle. 29 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ "'Indu Sarkar' box-office collection Day 1: The Madhur Bhandarkar film fails to work at the ticket counters". The Times of India. 29 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.