The Accidental Prime Minister movie review: Inelegant adaptation with blatant disregard for Manmohan Singh
FirstpostThis adaptation of Sanjaya Baru’s book of the same name, which also carries a disclaimer stating it’s a work of “entertainment”, covers a 10-year period from the 2004 general election — from Dr Manmohan Singh’s elevation to prime minister by party president Sonia Gandhi to 2014, when the United Progressive Alliance ceded power. When he took office, Singh hired journalist Baru as his media strategist, giving him a front row seat to the workings of the Prime Minister’s Office from 2004-08. Singh’s walk is shown puppet-like, and the former Reserve Bank governor and chief economic advisor is portrayed as someone reluctant to take decisions confidently or without guidance. One dialogue that summarises Baru’s position is: “Doctor put family before party and that was his biggest mistake.” The film’s casting is one of its stronger suits, with the actors getting ample support from wigs, make-up and costume, and often being referred to by their given names.