'Uri: The Surgical Strike' and 'The Accidental Prime Minister' are the first of the several political films this year
Vicky Kaushal's 'Uri: The Surgical Strike' and Anupam Kher's 'The Accidental Prime Minister: The Making and Unmaking of Manmohan Singh' finally hit the screens on January 11. According to Box Office India, the political puppet-show witnessed 30-40 per cent less occupancy than 'Uri' as the latter has more screens to its account. As per early estimates, the war drama made around Rs 5 crore on its opening day.
Both the films make it clear from the word go as to which political party they cater to and make no secret of it. The fact that both 'Uri' and 'TAPM' have released ahead of 2019 elections, have made many label them as propaganda films.
'Uri: The Surgical Strike' is based on the surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army on seven terrorist launchpads across the Line of Control on September 29, 2016, in retaliation to a terrorist attack on an army camp at Uri earlier that month. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the movie also features Yami Gautam, Mohit Raina, Paresh Rawal and Kirti Kulhari.
DNA critic Harshada Rege gave 'Uri' a rating of 3 stars out of 5. "The film doesn’t give you a deeper insight than what has already been reported in the media about the covert operation, thereby making it an underwhelming watch. The director fails to create the sort of emotional build-up that’s required for a war-drama. Therefore, your answer to ‘How’s the josh?’ isn’t a resounding ‘High’ even during the climax of the movie," she wrote in her review.
Vijay Ratnakar Gutte's 'The Accidental Prime Minister' on the other hand is a fictionalised adaptation of political commentator and policy analyst Sanjaya Baru's time in former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's office. The ‘tell-all’ account is his observation as Media Advisor and Chief Spokesperson of Dr Singh from May 2004 to August 2008.
DNA film critic Meena Iyer wrote in her review, "Anupam Kher who plays Dr Singh gets his walk (slightly effeminate), meek-mannered talk and even his incredulous voice modulation pat. The actor who must have definitely done a 'good' study of watching newsreels featuring the country's most-celebrated Sikh at one point has you convinced that you are actually sitting across the ex-PM himself. As for Akshaye Khanna, who plays Baru, the narrator in this case, well he is a complete delight. Often talking direct to the camera, Khanna has you listening intently to the way things played out behind the closed doors of the PMO at a politically-vulnerable stage in Indian politics. German import, Suzanne Bernert also gets her Sonia-act correct. The Italian who had the Indians panting is shown as Machiavellian and though there isn't that much spelt out, still a slight shudder goes up your spine."
In the box office battle, 'Uri: The Surgical Strike' seems to have emerged victorious over the Anupam Kher and Akshaye Khanna-starrer, so far.
Ranveer Singh's 'Simmba', however, is still going strong at the box office and may affect the collection of both these films. They may also face stiff competition from Rajinikanth's 'Petta' and Ajith's 'Viswasam'.
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 "'Uri: The Surgical Strike' v/s 'The Accidental Prime Minister'")
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