Okay, I’ll be honest– I’m not much into political biopics cuz politics ain’t my cup of tea. But if the movie is about Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Pankaj Tripathi is the lead… hell yeah I’m in. “Main Atal Hoon” attempts to encapsulate the vibrant life and political journey of the 10th Prime Minister of India, and while it was one of the better biopics I watched in recent times, there was still a lot that I didn’t like about it. I had gone in expecting a well-balanced story that explored both the personal and public life of Atal ji, but director Ravi Jadhav reduces this movie just to a string of important anecdotes of his career. Disappointed, ngl.
Plot
So the plot is basically just a series of significant events that shaped Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s life. From his early years where we could see him leaning towards the poetic world to his entry into the political arena, the film explores key moments such as the Pokhran nuclear tests, the Lahore Bus ride, and the Kargil War. But, in an attempt to make you more curious, the plot ends up squeezing in more history than your NCERT book. The result? You often feel disconnected from the movie. I really wish ki instead of piling up major events just for the sake of it, they had actually explored Atal ji’s character depth and ideologies. Cuz bro we have read about those events, it is the man that we wanted to know more about. Opportunity missed, ngl.
Performances
No points for guessing who stole the show. It is Pankaj Tripathi, of course. I don’t think I can ever get enough of him. The body language, the gestures, and that brilliant Hindi, everything is just on point. The man literally embodies the character he’s playing. While Daya Shankar Pandey and Pramod Pathak do justice as Deen Dayal Upadhaya and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, the performance of Raja Sevak as Lal Krishna Advani disappoints. Idk it feels very gimmicky and caricaturish, you know jaise school mein Republic Day skits hote the? Same feeling aati hai. Most of the characters feel more like cardboard cutouts than flesh-and-blood ones, and that’s a biggg minus for me.
Direction and Writing
This department could have been so much better man. It feels like Ravi Jadhav literally went “Haan ye incident dikha diye, ab ye wala dikhayenge, phir ye dono dikhayenge, phir wo teen dikhayenge aur bass bann gayi film.” While the journey of moving from one incident to another is engaging, tel lene gayi Atal ji ki character development?? From what I’ve heard and seen, I know ki he was a very layered person. But the movie doesn’t explore that. It is all just surface level. Also, the makers smartly show just one side of things, while ignoring the other side. It’s sad how biopics have become so one-dimensional. People who are interested in Indian Politics might like the film, but I can’t say the same for the others. Disappointing man.
Screenplay and Cinematography
The screenplay is a mixed bag. Some of the scenes are brilliantly executed, while some are a snoozefest. Atal ji’s speech in the pouring rain has got to be one of my fav scenes from the movie. But in between the flashes of brilliance, the plot gets so slow that it feels like staring at a blank canvas. Overall, bada disjointed sa lagta hai. Thankfully, the cinematography jumps in to save the movie to some extent. The different eras are beautifully depicted and feel very believable. Whenever there is an important historical event, the cinematography makes sure to highlight its grandeur. Even the personal, more emotional moments are nicely captured. Also, the actual black and white footages add to the authenticity and at times, feel more impactful than the movie itself.
So, is “Main Atal Hoon” worth watching? Yes, if you wanna learn about the history of Indian politics. No, if you wanna know more about Atal ji’s character. So choose which side you are on, and then decide. For me, this was a disappointment for me because I had expected a lot more from the movie. But yeah, it is a decent one time watch. Dekh sakte ho if you want to.
