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Vikramaditya Motwane & Sameer Nair express gratitude over the overwhelming response for Indi(r)a’s Emergency received at Jio Mami Mumbai Film Festival
Vikramaditya Motwane and Sameer Nair are both elated and appreciative of the tremendous response that their documentary, “Indi(r)a’s Emergency,” received at the Jio Mami Mumbai Film Festival. In the present landscape of Indian cinema, we are witnessing a surge of content-driven films, and this particular documentary, directed by Vikramaditya Motwane and produced by Applause Entertainment, made a significant impact at the festival. It was featured under the “Icons of South Asia” section, and the audience’s reception was nothing short of spectacular, with a packed house and resounding praise. The documentary delves into the darkest chapter of Indian History – The Emergency declared by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in June 1975.
Speaking about this overwhelming response, Vikramaditya Motwane shared, “Samir Patil (of Scroll) approached me. I have a deep-rooted interest in history, having studied the subject in college. Originally, this was intended to be a three-episode series. However, we soon realized that it presented an excellent opportunity to narrate recent history to an audience that might have some knowledge but not the complete picture.”
Vikram further explained that what sets “Indi(r)a’s Emergency” apart from typical documentaries is its unique approach. He remarked, “I was determined not to follow the conventional documentary format with interviews and intermissions. Instead, we opted for archival footage, sourcing remarkable material from Getty, Pathe, and other sources. Fortunately, Mr. Sameer Nair came on board to produce it after seeing a rough cut of the project.”
Sameer Nair, the Managing Director of Applause Entertainment, also expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “We aspire to have a version that can be released in theaters as well. It is vital to narrate stories like this, and the documentary’s captivating use of footage, animation, voiceover, and writing makes it an engaging experience.”
“Indi(r)a’s Emergency” is directed by Vikramaditya Motwane and produced by Applause Entertainment in association with Andolan Films and Scroll Productions. The documentary is co-directed and edited by Archana Atul Phadke and Arya Rothe, with a screenplay by Abhay Korane and Sunil Kandola. The narration in the documentary is skillfully delivered by Swanand Kirkire.
