Director: Ravi Jadhav
Cast: Pankaj Tripathi, Piyush Mishra, Ekta Kaul, Daya Shankar Pandey, Pramod Pathak, Prasanna Ketkar, Raja Rameshkumar Sevak
Runtime: 2 Hour 19 Mins
Available On: Threaticle Release
Watch Or Not? Without expecting much from a cinematic standpoint.
Main Atal Hoon Movie Review
Main Atal Hoon tells the interesting story of India’s 10th Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, played by Pankaj Tripathi. The movie shows how Atal Ji went from his early days in Gwalior to becoming the Prime Minister of the country. It is a two-hour and nineteen-minute film that shares almost every major event of his life.
Main Atal Hoon Movie Review: Plot Summary
The first half of Main Atal Hoon delves into Atal Ji’s early life, around his childhood and college days. The film swiftly provides a glimpse into his romantic side with Rajkumari Kaul (Ekta Kaul) and then explores every aspect of Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s life especially professionally. Without shying away from minute details, the movie spans over six decades of Vajpayee’s journey.
Commencing in the late 1930s when Vajpayee was just a child, the story unfolds across the 70s, 80s, and 90s, tracing his rise in the political arena. The movie attempts to cover every major event, providing a comprehensive view of Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s life. The narrative unfolds from his days as a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker during the British Raj, travelling through the significant events of his eventful tenure as the Prime Minister, including the Kargil war and Pokhran-II tests in the late nineties in the second half.
Main Atal Hoon Movie Review: What Works?
The script of the film doesn’t shy away from including any aspect of Vajpayee’s life, addressing his commitment to the Ram temple in Ayodhya and his relationship with Rajkumari Kaul in a responsible and tasteful manner. The director makes clever choices, such as using a monochrome tone in most of the first half to set the period’s atmosphere.
There are a few scenes that provide insight into Atal Ji as a person and Poet rather than just a politician. The potential in elements like Vajpayee’s relationship with his father (played by Piyush Mishra) and his lasting friendship with Rajkumari Kaul (Ekta Kaul) is evident. For instance, the scene where Atal Ji and Advani Ji go for a movie, and Atal Ji shares his vision for an India as beautiful as portrayed in movies, adds depth.
However, the script tends to treat these moments as mere puzzle pieces, fitting them into the broader narrative without exploring their full potential.
Main Atal Hoon Movie Review: What Doesn't Work?
Making a biopic about someone as respected as Atal Bihari Vajpayee is a big challenge. Unfortunately, the movie Main Atal Hoon faces problems because of its inconsistent screenplay. The script, written by Rishi Virmani and Ravi Jadhav, doesn’t work well, affecting the film greatly. The filmmakers tried to include a lot from Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s life to show his important contributions and sacrifices. However, in doing so, they ended up making the movie feel disconnected and lacking emotional impact.
The movie could have been better if there were moments where the audience could take a break and connect with the character. Instead, things happen quickly without explaining their impact on Atal Ji or why he cared about certain people. The film could have focused more on Atal Ji’s personality, but it didn’t quite succeed in doing that.
The cinematography by Lawrence D’Cunha and the music by Salim-Sulaiman, Payal Dev, Kailash Kher, and Amitraj fall short of expectations, lacking the impact and flair one might anticipate.
Rather than feeling like an interesting story about one of the most important personalities in Indian history, the movie might make you feel like you’re just going through a history lesson without much depth or emotion.
Main Atal Hoon Movie Review: Pankaj Tripathi's Performance And Cast
Capturing Atal Ji’s essence on screen is quite a task due to his unique way of speaking, pauses, and distinct gestures. Pankaj Tripathi, in this role, not only understood Atal Ji’s way but also portrayed them quite well. From the subtle finger movements to well-timed speech pauses, Pankaj truly embodies the character. While it generally works effectively, there are moments where it seems a bit too exaggerated and dramatic.
Piyush Mishra manages to captivate the audience in his short appearance, showcasing his talent as he consistently does. However, the film disappoints in its casting, particularly in portraying L.K. Advani.
Main Atal Hoon Movie Review: Final Verdict
Pankaj Tripathi’s Main Atal Hoon, directed by Ravi Jadhav, falls short of capturing the essence of a truly inspiring journey. From a cinematic standpoint, the film lacks excitement. However, those who don’t always expect an in-depth exploration of Bollywood biopics might still find something to appreciate. It had the potential to be a much better biopic.
Main Atal Hoon Movie Review: Movie Trailer
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