Six movies that depict Indian politics and politicians

Bohra production's upcoming movie on Sanjaya Baru's book will cover the events of the 10 years of Manmohan Singh's government

Former  prime minister Manmohan Singh's media adviser to Sanjaya Baru’s book- The Accidental Prime Minister: The Making and Unmaking of Manmohan Singh- is taking the shape of a bollywood movie.

The film promises to be a blockbuster as it will cover the events of the 10 years of Manmohan Singh’s government.

But, it is not the first time that we will be watching a political thriller based on the life of a politician or that includes events associated with a politician.

Business Standard brings you a list of such movies that have left a lasting impression on the Indian viewer.

1 Kissa Kursi Ka
 

Starring Shabana Azmi, Utpal Dutt and Raj Babbar, this Amrit Nahata (a Congress MP from Barmer in Rajasthan) movie was a satirical take on Indira Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi.

Showing raw courage, Nahata makes a spoof on Mother and Son, even naming a birth control pill as 'Sanjay Sanjeevini'.

It was surrounded by controversy and the prints were confiscated during the emergency, and was banned in the country. 

After Janata Party came to Power, Nahata remade the entire film and released it.

2. Aandhi

A Highly controversial and probably the best known movie on politics, 'Aandhi' was rumoured to be based on Indira Gandhi's life.

The movie which was banned during the Emergency period in 1975 has some of the stellar performances by Sanjeev Kumar and Suchitra Sen.

Initially the role of the lead protagonist, Aarti Devi, was offered to Vyjayanthimala and she refused it as she got 'cold feet' because of the semblance to Indira Gandhi.

The movie received 7 Filmfare Awards including Best Film, Best Actor and Best Actress.

3. Gandhi My Father

Directed by UK based theatre director and playwright Firoze Abbas Khan, the movie explores the troubled relations between Mahatma Gandhi and his eldest son Harilal whom he ultimately disowned.

It’s a story of a bitter Harilal who lamented that Gandhi was “the greatest father one could have, but the one father I wish I did not have” also shows the price Gandhi had to pay for his idealism.

The movie challenges an almost fixed imagery associated with Gandhi.

4. Sardar

This is one of the best political biographies in Hindi cinema. Director Ketan Mehta does full justice to the most significant part of Patel’s political life from 1945 to 1948.

The film is a detailed and candid narration of events unfolding around Sardar, played by Paresh Rawal.

The film accurately depicts his handling of the problems posed by the princely states of Kashmir, Junnagad and Hyderabad.

The film also portrays his differences with Nehru and how they work together after the death of Gandhiji.

5. Sarkar

The two dramatic thriller film set in the world of politics and crime, inspired partly by the The Godfather.

The movie draws inspiration from the late Maharastra leader Bal Thackray.

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma even said the movie would not have been possible without Bal Thackeray and adds some of the dialogues in the film were inspired by the Shiv Sena supremo. 

The blockbuster film was premièred at the New York Asian Film Festival.

6. Mardras Cafe

The 2013 Indian political espionage thriller directed by Shoojit Sircar and starring John Abraham is set in the late 1980s and early '90s, during the time of Indian intervention in the Sri Lankan civil war and assassination of former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

It is a journey of any Indian  Indian Army special officer who got wind of the fact that Rajiv Gandhi was going to be assassinated and did his best to prevent it.