Renowned actor last seen in movies like Kadak Singh, Fukrey, and Metro in Dino, has made it into theatres with his first film of the year Mai Atal Hun. Pankaj Tripathi‘s acting has left the fans in awe.
A Glimpse into the Biopic of Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Main Atal Hoon is not just a film; it’s a fabulous creation by writers Rishi Virmani and Ravi Jadhav. The biopic delves into the life of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the iconic leader bestowed with the Bharat Ratna. The film, backed by Bhanushali Studios Limited and Legend Studios, brings forth a scenic portrayal of a political dignitary. The movie is getting mixed reviews at the box office.
Pankaj Tripathi’s Compelling Portrayal
Pankaj Tripathi delivers a solid performance that holds the audience tight from start to finish. Playing the iconic Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Tripathi impresses with his nuanced portrayal, avoiding mimicry of the late Prime Minister’s voice modulation or mannerisms. Pankaj’s authenticity, emphasizing his convincing hand movements during speeches, body gestures in casual conversations, and expressive eyes and smiles, bringing the real Atal to life on screen surprises the fans.
First-Day Box Office Collection
In a notable debut at the box office, Main Atal Hoon, directed by Ravi Jadhav, kicked off with a decent ₹1 crore nett opening in India on its first day, as per early estimates reported by Sacnilk.com. The film, released on January 19, features Pankaj Tripathi portraying the role of the late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Though it has failed to make a huge impact, it is expected to improve performance by the weekend.
Pankaj Tripathi on Playing Atal Bihari Vajpayee
In a conversation with news agency ANI, Pankaj Tripathi expressed the challenges of playing Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a poet and leader with admirers even among his staunchest critics. Tripathi emphasized the late PM’s democratic ethos, stating that Vajpayee’s ability to inspire belief in everyone’s potential resonated deeply with him.
“The personality of Atal Bihari Vajpayee is such that it cannot be compared to present-day politicians. He was a poet… He was a leader whose staunchest enemies were also his admirers. I’ve learned that a person should be democratic from the inside; that even when I’m upset with you, I know deep down that I’m angry with you and you don’t like me, but I still enjoy this. He motivates you to believe that everyone can do anything in life.” Pankaj Tripathi told ANI.
Talking about his preparation for the role, Tripathi shared that he attended Atal ji’s political rallies, standing amidst the crowd to understand the essence of the late leader’s charisma. In one of the interviews, the actor also spoke about the struggle he faced during the shoot. The prosthetic makeup done on the actor to look like Atal Bihari Vajpayee while shooting was a hurdle to carry while acting and shooting.
Major Events in the Movie
Main Atal Hoon not only marks a commendable start at the box office but also stands out for Pankaj Tripathi’s exceptional work and the well-crafted narrative. As audiences immerse themselves in the life of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the poet-turned-politician, known for his allegiance to the RSS and unwavering belief in the Hindu Rashtra, emerges as a colourful and charismatic character in history, yet this movie reportedly has somehow managed to do justice to his diverse facets.
The film focuses on its main character who builds with the help of other important figures in the party who gained prominence during that era. Lal Krishna Advani (referred to as Raja Sevak) is portrayed mainly as ‘the friend’ introducing the hard-working Vajpayee to the cinema, with little ease. Actors playing Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, and Pramod Mahajan have minimal screen time marking the moments of significance in the former PM’s life, while Vajpayee’s key moments like the nuclear bomb, Lahore bus, and Kargil war took centre stage. Atal’s relationship with Rajkumari and her family appeared neat and classy, depicting more as a duty than passion, which may be hard to digest for many.