Kangana Ranaut envisioned Emergency as her magnum opus. This marked the first occasion where the actor-director exercised complete creative authority over her project; the theme was pertinent, and she was supported by a robust cast. However, the final outcome fell short of expectations. This sentiment is echoed not only by critics but also by the audience. With a reported budget of ₹60 crore, Emergency is finding it challenging to surpass ₹15 crore as the first week comes to an end.

As the film faces difficulties in achieving box office success, a crucial question arises: what led to the failure of Emergency? The explanation may not be simple.

What is Emergency about?

Directed by Kangana herself, the film sees the multiple National Award-winning actor play former PM Indira Gandhi and chronicles the darkest chapters of her tenure, notably the 1975 Emergency. It also stars Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Mahima Chaudhry, Milind Soman, and the late Satish Kaushik.

The delay in release hurt Emergency?

Initially, the film Emergency was scheduled for release in October 2023. However, as the release date approached, it was postponed to June 2024. Following the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections, the filmmakers decided to delay the film once more, this time to September. On August 30, just a week before the anticipated release, Kangana took to social media to assert that the Central Board of Film Certification was withholding the film's certification, potentially due to external influences. Ultimately, the CBFC approved the film in October, and a new, definitive release date was established. An exhibitor commented, "The delay resulted in a loss of momentum for the film. Audiences tend to lose interest when discussions continue for an extended period without any new content. While larger films like RRR or Jawan can maintain their appeal despite delays, smaller films face significant challenges."

Political biopic is a difficult genre

Industry experts indicate that the film faced challenges due to its classification as a political biopic. Historically, films within this genre have struggled to achieve success in Hindi cinema, despite an increase in their production in recent years. Film trade analyst Atul Mohan remarks, “No one has successfully navigated the political biopic genre in India. Biopics about PM Narendra Modi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee have not performed well. Even the biopic of Balasaheb Thackeray found limited success, primarily in Maharashtra. Audiences tend to hold specific perceptions of political figures that these films often fail to reflect. Additionally, the content can frequently be perceived as unengaging, which does not resonate well with an audience that prefers more dynamic narratives.”

Did Kangana's politics turn people away?

There exists a theory suggesting that numerous individuals were deterred from viewing the film due to a belief in an inherent bias within its narrative. Although the film endeavours to depict the tenure of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in an impartial light, many viewers struggled to distinguish between Kangana, the actress, and Kangana, the political figure. "Kangana is a BJP Member of Parliament who has frequently expressed critical views regarding the Gandhi family. Therefore, I did not believe that a film directed by her about Indira Gandhi would be just," remarks Kashish, a film enthusiast who chose not to attend the screening of Emergency despite his interest in the subject matter. Atul Mohan further comments, "This perception of bias may have adversely affected the film's reception, as audiences presumed it would present a negative portrayal, leading to their absence."

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