Story: The biopic chronicles the lives and times of the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a former Indian prime minister. It also details the many sides of his character and the accomplishments the nation made while he was president.
Review: It is no little task to create a biographical picture of a legend such as the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the 10th Prime Minister of India. The actor has to play the part appropriately, and the creators have to craft a coherent story out of a detailed history. Both make Main Atal Hoon stand out. As the poet, politician, statesman, and gentleman Vajpayee, Pankaj Tripathi gives an outstanding performance. Beyond gestures and speech patterns, the actor captures all the subtleties of his character flawlessly. However, acclaimed director-writer Ravi Jadhav (Natrang, Taali, etc.) and co-writer Rishi Virmani masterfully capture the lives and times of one of India’s most revered personalities.
The film briefly depicts Vajpayee’s transformation from a freedom fighter to a respected leader. The story encapsulates all of the significant accomplishments, turning points, and well-known figures that he oversaw. Archival video has been used to illustrate several significant events, such as the Pokhran Nuclear Test, the bus yatra from India to Pakistan, and the Kargil War, which enhances the narrative’s authenticity and engagement. However, to comprehend certain aspects of the film, viewers may need to be familiar with Indian politics. Although the narrator frequently establishes the background, it would have been beneficial to have some history during these sections.
Up until the intermission, the movie runs at a constant pace before sporadically slowing down. In the second part, when the story moves to the height of his political career, it picks up speed once again. In addition to its excellent directing and writing, the film is a visual feast, with camerawork and silhouettes highlighting key moments. The soundtrack by Salim-Sulaiman, Payal Dev, Kailash Kher, and Amritraj is inspirational, and the background score by Monty Sharma enhances the impact of the story. The attraction is further enhanced by the song lyrics and poetry recitations by Vajpayee.
Pankaj Tripathi excels in his role as Vajpayee. Other political leaders like Arun Jaitley (Yogendra Patwal) and Sushma Swaraj (Gauri Sukhtanker) have also been expertly represented. It’s endearing and even makes you laugh at Vajpayee’s connection with his father. It’s nice to see how he and his classmate and lifelong companion Rajkumari Kaul are described. Vajpayee and his adoptive daughter Namita Bhattacharya are also mentioned in the film.
You’ll be mesmerized by the story, direction, and brilliant performance by Pankaj Tripathi in the movie. See this film, which will make you appreciate one of India’s most important political leaders.