Main Atal Hoon, the recent biopic release on Atal Bihari Vajpayee is successfully stealing the hearts of people with its introduction dialogue, “Apni aadhi aankhen band karke, jab woh puri baat bolte the, toh saat samandar paar har koi sunta tha.” These lines pretty much sum up why his illustrious life and career deserve to be shown on the big screen.
Starring Pankaj Tripathi in the titular role and directed by National Award-winning director Ravi Jadhav, Main Atal Hoon stays true to showcasing Atal’s journey across decades. From his formative years, having a keen interest in poetry to studying law, becoming the editor of a newspaper and then a freedom fighter, and eventually joining politics, the film is a sincere homage to Atal’s illustrious journey and rise as a politician. All credit to Pankaj’s pitch-perfect performance that brings Atal’s legacy to life on the big screen with such conviction and confidence.
Main Atal Hoon – Pankaj Tripathi’s stellar performance
Pankaj Tripathi nailed the role of Atal ji with a brilliant performance that doesn’t make you blink an eye and keeps you invested in the film. Pankaj has been made to look exactly like Atal physically, there’s minimal effort to copy his voice modulation or mannerisms while delivering dialogues.
However, Pankaj’s hand movements while giving speeches, body gestures while casually having a conversation, eyes and smiles will make you see the real Atal on the screen most of the time. Pankaj delivering a speech in Ramleela Maidan with rain pouring is one of the most well-written and beautifully shot sequences in the entire film.
Piyush Mishra as Krishna Bihari Vajpayee, Atal’s father and a school teacher, also wins the public’s appreciation with his impeccable screen presence, even though for a limited time. Scenes where Krishna goes to the same school as his son Atal to study law, or when Atal is confiding in his father that he wishes to devote his life to the upliftment of the country are some of the highlights.
Main Atal Hoon has several long shots of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Jawahar Lal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, and they serve as a visual treat. Also, the black-and-white archival footage of past events makes the narrative look more authentic and real. Main Atal Hoon succeeded in showcasing Atal’s journey and telling his story, but it’s Pankaj’s stellar act that takes the cake, as the storytelling remains average.
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