The Accidental Prime Minister movie review: Leave your political affiliations at the door because that's not what it's about

History will be kinder to me than media, Dr Manmohan Singh h said towards end of his dece-long stint as Prime Minister of India. Months later, as his party was comprehensively voted out of power, his prediction could t have sounded more like a prayer. Luckily for Dr Singh, by 2019, 'history' has alrey arrived in shape of Accidental Prime Minister - a film with almost unrivalled potential for being politicised seeing as how it gives quarter when it comes to depicting netas we all w kw like back of our hands. Because of this, biggest question you're asking yourself as it begins rolling is 'What is this really and how many grains of salt do I take it with?' Let's find out. 

Setting Scene

We've heard this story. Congress has come up trumps in 2004 elections - people think Sonia Gandhi will become Prime Minister. scenes of jubilation (Congress workers) are from real-life foot. It's immediately familiar and n suddenly, as we transition to make-believe, re's a positive explosion of guesswork! 'That's Chidambaram... That's Pranab Mukherjee... Is that Ghulam Nabi Az?', are some of things you are likely to think and hear from seats around you. It's a super-charged start, powered by Sonia Gandhi's flawless accent. Rahul Gandhi is re as well, seemingly winging it even as his sister Priyanka delivers more measured responses as ir mor decides Manmohan Singh will be PM. And n term begins...

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Plot

Perhaps because we've seen so much of Anupam Kher as Manmohan Singh in pre-release promotional material it's possible to immediately move beyond superficial look-and-feel and peer into qualities of character he's portraying, as well as his surroundings. Wher or t Manmohan Singh was an 'accidental' Prime Minister, what's clear is that he's got a whiff of confidence about him - it comes from having served and delivered in key roles across executive branch of government, which film depicts via a walk down memory lane that is South Block. His office is perhaps a little too gilded and ornate but it's pleasing on eye - as are sets through film. 

Things really begin to take off when Sanjaya Baru (Akshaye Khanna) and Ahmed Patel (Vipin Sharma) arrive and politicking begins. As it turns out, it wasn't Opposition parties on which n PM was forced to keep an eye on, as much as it was his own party-members, alliance partners and PMO bureaucrats. turf war explainers are done by liberally breaking fourth wall - essentially making Akshaye Khanna's character real lynchpin of film. He's PM's man, whereas Ahmed Patel, who is just a touch more 'politician' than or politicians is re to uphold primacy of party and Sonia Gandhi. ir exchanges remain a frequent motif.

Given that story spans about a dece, pacing was always going to be key, and that's where Accidental Prime Minister first stumbles. Across first two jumps - to 100-day mark of UPA-1 government and n to 2007 - re's little effort me to explain what exactly is going on. Politics may be intrinsically deft and source material backed by real history, but it's too much to ask audience to by mselves grasp significance of some letter leak or criticality of nuclear deal y keep harping on about. Sometimes, you just want someone to raise a dramatic cry of 'Mandir Wahin Banega', or something else that strikes an emotional chord. All this makes absence of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack (apart from a fleeting and nebulous mention) a glaring miss.

From bright and promising start, one can't help but feel let down when film devolves into a tale of PM and his media visor's relationship. mittedly, se are some of best scenes in piece - mostly due to Dr Manmohan Singh's highly underrated comedic chops - but Akshaye Khanna strutting around with a confident grin is overkill, and as second half moseys along, you're left wondering what peg of story is, even though in truth you kw exactly what's going to happen. 

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Verdict

Accidental Prime Minister is t a political thriller or a propaganda film. It's actually an honest (and kind, to fulfill Dr Manmohan Singh's prophecy) attempt to depict Prime Minister-ship of what is me out to be a very likeable man who hides a steely resolve beneath a wispy exterior. While acting is superlative and some of exchanges - between Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi, with his wife Gursharan Kaur, involving Rahul Gandhi, between Sanjaya Baru and Ahmed Patel, are delightful, something keeps it from all coming toger cohesively. 

What works: actors who play some of politicians are fantastic, monts of historical foot give it a political pulse, background score - essentially one which makes matters light and palatable and ar which is for more sombre occasions.

What doesn't: Ultimately, makers are unable to decide wher to make second half about relationship or outcome. In years to come, as events of Dr Manmohan Singh's tenure cease to be so top-of-mind, y may also rue t ding more detail to narrative.

Stars: 3.5/5