A piece on how the Indira Gandhi Government was shaken after a review of the film
December 2, 2023
  • Circulation
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Organiser
  • ‌
  • Bharat
    • Assam
    • Bihar
    • Chhattisgarh
    • Jharkhand
    • Maharashtra
    • View All States
  • World
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • North America
    • South America
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Global Commons
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • International
  • More
    • G20
    • Sports
    • Defence
    • RSS in News
    • Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
    • Politics
    • Vocal4Local
    • Business
    • Economy
    • Special Report
    • Culture
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Law
    • Health
    • Obituary
    • Podcast
MAGAZINE
No Result
View All Result
  • ‌
  • Bharat
    • Assam
    • Bihar
    • Chhattisgarh
    • Jharkhand
    • Maharashtra
    • View All States
  • World
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • North America
    • South America
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Global Commons
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • International
  • More
    • G20
    • Sports
    • Defence
    • RSS in News
    • Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
    • Politics
    • Vocal4Local
    • Business
    • Economy
    • Special Report
    • Culture
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Law
    • Health
    • Obituary
    • Podcast
No Result
View All Result
Organiser
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Bharat
  • World
  • G20
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Culture
  • Defence
  • International Edition
  • RSS in News
  • Magazine
Home Bharat

A piece on how the Indira Gandhi Government was shaken after a review of the film

by WEB DESK
Jun 25, 2021, 05:49 am IST
in Bharat
FacebookTwitterWhatsAppTelegramEmail

The Day the Aandhi film review was front-paged in Motherland, Shri Dubashi, our chief economic writer, told me when I ran into him on that day in the corridor: "Nothing I ever write now in my journalistic career will equal the heady impact of this review." And how right he was.

 

The Motherland newspaper that ran everything from politics and current affairs to sports and cartoons was admirably headed by Shri K. R. Malkani. Our Editor was a modest gentleman who had the courage of his convictions and articulated his thoughts boldly in his writings. On the same day, when Shri Dubashiji had prophesied on the significance of the story, Shri Malkaniji called me to his cabin. Looking straight into my eyes, he said: "Go and do the Aandhi review.'

 

Somehow I had missed the Delhi premiere of Aandhi and was chary of reviewing it because it was a spade calling the political film, as colleagues had told me.

 

My review was bold and frank. The opening sentence of my review said it all: "The film is based on the private and public life of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi." This impactful sentence said it all.

 

The next day, Shri Malkaniji wrote another bold and open political commentary on the picture, this time under the byline of 'By Our Film Critic,' which everyone in journalism knew to be me. It also appeared on page one. Before typing out his story, Shri Malkaniji went to the newspaper library and collected so much material from other film critics, which too had shown that the film Aandhi was a thinly disguised version of Indiraji's public and private life.

 

The film, starring Suchitra Sen and Sanjeev Kumar created ripples across the political spectrum, making the Prime Minister take notice. Suchitra Sen, showing a streak of white in her hair, looked and acted like Indiraji. All her acolytes, like Dev Kant Barooah and ML Fotedar, were brought to life on the screen.

 

The first act of the Indira Government after clamping down the Emergency overnight was to ban Aandhi. Banning made that film much more viewed and, nearly everybody saw it on their videos or hired videos. Those were the days when you could rent videos. Many journalists like Shri K. R. Malkani and Kuldip Nayyar were arrested for long years. Coomie's husband, Virendra Kapoor, noted for his bold pieces too, was arrested and kept in solitary confinement for a long time because of the machinations of a Sanjay Gandhi's female admirer who rose to prominence during the Emergency.

 

I had a narrow escape as our genial receptionist, Shri Singh at the Motherland office on Rani Jhansi Marg, had refused to give out my South Delhi address.

 

Years later, Shri Kalra, who was Motherland's chief accountant, and Organiser, summoned me to his Jangpura Extension home and handed over a splendid sum of Rs.18,000.

 

Oh! Those were the days. Heady days indeed.

ShareTweetSendShareSend
Previous News

Nobody talked about Pak in PM’s ‘Kashmir meeting’, cordial discussions held

Next News

Emergency: the darkest moment in India’s democratic journey and irresponsible opposition

Related News

South Korea launches its first indigenous military spy satellite amid threats from North Korea

South Korea launches its first indigenous military spy satellite amid threats from North Korea

Delhi: Saras Food Festival, begins today inaugurated by Minister of State for Rural Development Faggan Singh Kulaste

Delhi: Saras Food Festival, begins today inaugurated by Minister of State for Rural Development Faggan Singh Kulaste

Aditya L1 Mission: ISRO declares successful operational status of two payloads attached to spacecraft

Aditya L1 Mission: ISRO declares successful operational status of two payloads attached to spacecraft

Kerala Police register case against BJP leader Krishnakumar and Christian priest for Pro-Israel remarks at rally

Kerala Police register case against BJP leader Krishnakumar and Christian priest for Pro-Israel remarks at rally

Depression over southwest Bay of Bengal to intensify into cyclonic storm by December 3

Depression over southwest Bay of Bengal to intensify into cyclonic storm by December 3

Kerala: Bharat Navy welcomes three anti-submarine war carriers into fleet

Kerala: Bharat Navy welcomes three anti-submarine war carriers into fleet

Load More

Comments

The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Organiser. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.

Latest News

South Korea launches its first indigenous military spy satellite amid threats from North Korea

South Korea launches its first indigenous military spy satellite amid threats from North Korea

Delhi: Saras Food Festival, begins today inaugurated by Minister of State for Rural Development Faggan Singh Kulaste

Delhi: Saras Food Festival, begins today inaugurated by Minister of State for Rural Development Faggan Singh Kulaste

Aditya L1 Mission: ISRO declares successful operational status of two payloads attached to spacecraft

Aditya L1 Mission: ISRO declares successful operational status of two payloads attached to spacecraft

Kerala Police register case against BJP leader Krishnakumar and Christian priest for Pro-Israel remarks at rally

Kerala Police register case against BJP leader Krishnakumar and Christian priest for Pro-Israel remarks at rally

Depression over southwest Bay of Bengal to intensify into cyclonic storm by December 3

Depression over southwest Bay of Bengal to intensify into cyclonic storm by December 3

Kerala: Bharat Navy welcomes three anti-submarine war carriers into fleet

Kerala: Bharat Navy welcomes three anti-submarine war carriers into fleet

All-party meeting convened prior to Winter Session of Parliament

All-party meeting convened prior to Winter Session of Parliament

Manipur Chief Minister defends BJP’s actions amidst unrest, cites measures against illegal intruders and drug menace

Manipur Chief Minister defends BJP’s actions amidst unrest, cites measures against illegal intruders and drug menace

Navy Day 2023: Defence Chiefs lay wreaths at War Memorial in solemn ceremony

Navy Day 2023: Defence Chiefs lay wreaths at War Memorial in solemn ceremony

Chhattisgarh: Two CRPF soldiers injured in IED blast in Dantewada

Chhattisgarh: Two CRPF soldiers injured in IED blast in Dantewada

  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Cookie Policy
  • Refund and Cancellation
  • Delivery and Shipping

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Bharat
    • Assam
    • Bihar
    • Chhattisgarh
    • Jharkhand
    • Maharashtra
    • View All States
  • World
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • North America
    • South America
    • Europe
    • Australia
    • Global Commons
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Defence
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Business
  • RSS in News
  • Entertainment
  • More ..
    • Sci & Tech
    • Vocal4Local
    • Special Report
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Politics
    • Law
    • Economy
    • Obituary
    • Podcast
  • Subscribe Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Circulation
  • Careers
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Policies & Terms
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Refund and Cancellation
    • Terms of Use

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies