Pankaj Tripathi Shines As Atal Bihari Vajpayee in An Earnest But Uneven Biopic – Main Atal Hoon

Main Atal Hoon, directed by Ravi Jadhav, is a well-intentioned attempt to chronicle the life and political journey of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, one of India’s most respected Prime Ministers. While the film has its heart in the right place, the execution leaves much to be desired.

Capturing The Essence Of Vajpayee

The film traces Vajpayee’s journey from his early days as a passionate writer and orator to becoming one of the tallest leaders in Indian politics. We see his ideological grooming in RSS, his camaraderie with peers like LK Advani, and his ascendance in the Jana Sangh and later BJP. The first half builds up Vajpayee’s background adequately, even if condensed for cinematic liberty.

However, the second half appears rushed as it crams multiple landmark events like the Emergency, Babri Masjid demolition, Pokhran tests, and Kargil victory within a limited timeframe. The narration lacks depth and nuance to do justice to Vajpayee’s intriguing personality and astute statesmanship.

Tripathi’s Towering Act

While the writing leaves scope for improvement, Pankaj Tripathi rises above the material to deliver an outstanding performance. He becomes Vajpayee on screen, nailing his mannerisms, speech style, wit and wisdom. It’s a masterclass in transformational acting as Tripathi portrays both Vajpayee’s lighter and graver sides with aplomb.

Scenes where he debates with Nehru or Indira Gandhi in Parliament, or when he talks of peace with Pakistan show his ability to dominant the screen with sheer craft. His emotional resonance in personal moments is equally striking.

Supporting Cast

Piyush Mishra as Vajpayee’s father and Raja Rameshkumar Sevak as LK Advani provide able support. Their scenes with Tripathi stand out as highlights. Elsewhere, the supporting cast lacks depth barring their physical resemblance to real-life figures. The music by Monty Sharma elevates several key sequences.

The Last Word

Main Atal Hoon makes for an earnest, well-intentioned biopic that gives us a glimpse into the life of a political giant. However, the writing and execution lacked the finesse to truly capture Vajpayee’s nuanced journey and leadership.

Pankaj Tripathi’s truly extraordinary performance remains thebiggest strength that keeps you engaged despite the uneven narrative. For his acting masterclass alone, Main Atal Hoon is worth a watch for cinema lovers and those interested in Vajpayee’s legacy.

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