PM NARENDRA MODI MOVIE REVIEW CLICK TO RATE THE MOVIE

Omung Kumar's PM Narendra Modi is a biopic (read hagiography) of Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of the country. Chronologically, the film begins in the 1950's, with a 9-year-old boy selling tea (no points for guessing who he is). The movie conveniently scripts the screenplay to be more positive about Modi and becomes a highlight reel of the positives in Modi's life.

The world has a lot of religious people, atheists, and some in between. Well, if there was an entity called God, it has to be Modi in this film. He doesn't turn water into wine, nor does he walk on water (he chooses not to). He doesn't face any downs in his life if, at all he does, it is the conspiracy of the ruling party.

It is known that biopics have a certain fictitious element to make the film interesting. However, this biopic goes overboard and adds events like Modi and RSS workers going on a journey to Srinagar, and being hell-bent upon erecting the National flag there. In the process, they are attacked by militants. When the Indian Army is ducking and a cross-fire ensues, there is one person who stands tall. Again, no points for guessing. The film also showcases that India's enemy is Pakistan (apparently a country sans humans), Godhra riots weren't solved on time because the neighbouring states didn't provide resources, and his personal life where Modi never married.

Also, for a film to be engaging, you need a strong opposition for the protagonist. Here Manmohan Singh is caricatured as a person who never speaks, like Vivek Oberoi who finds it tough to switch between expressions while playing Modi. The writing isn't that great either. In a specific scene, Modi wanders from one place to another after becoming a Sanyasi, where he meets a Sadhu. "After 20 years of meditation, if you had a choice between walking on water, and becoming a boatman, helping people cross the river what would you do?" asks the Sadhu. Modi instantly replies saying he would become a boatman. A few scenes later, the Sadhu reveals that Modi is a man who always cared about the lives of people, making us wonder, why becoming a boatman needs 20 years of meditation? There are a lot of such scenes, that are placed to glorify the leader but doesn't serve a purpose in moving the plot ahead.

Another example is a scene where Modi salutes the National flag in his childhood, showcasing his patriotism. When another kid questions him, he reverts back asking why people join their hands at the temple. Fast forward a few scenes, Modi is seen praying in a temple. In another sequence, he gives a speech about women empowerment, but in the very next shot, he is seen applauding for an item song in a movie theatre. The film shows that Modi is all up for uniting Muslims and Hindus. Agreed. However, it also paints terrorists as Muslims. It repeatedly stresses that Modi puts India ahead of Hinduism, but also has a dialogue, where he says "Hinduism is the reason why India is secular." So these conflicts confuse a viewer to actually wonder, What is the film trying to say?