5 Controversial Political Films On OTT To Watch If You Liked Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency

Emergency Film Release:  Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency was finally released in theaters on 17 January 2025. The film is set during the political reign of India’s woman Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and the infamous Emergency imposed by her from 1975 to 1977. 

Due to its politically inflammable setting and personalities, the film has faced several delays and a list of controversies surrounding its release in theaters. 

The film is touted as a political biographical thriller delving into the life of Indira Gandhi. However, claims have been made that it misrepresents facts, twists history in favor of some, and puts others in a bad light. 

The film is still stirring up trouble in the Sikh community. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) is still protesting against it, urging it to refrain from release in Punjab.

However, Emergency is not the only film that has created a hostile atmosphere in the country due to its politically controversial undercurrents. 

Here is a list of five political films that faced backlash for their content but were finally released in theaters and are now streaming on OTT. 

Article 370 on Netflix 

Aditya Dhar’s film is based on Article 370 of the Indian Constitution which lends Kashmir a special autonomous status. Touted as a fictional movie inspired by true events, the film follows the real-life events that led to the revocation of Article 370. 

Many critics believed that the film was factually incorrect, politically biased toward the ruling party, and portrayed the realities of Kashmir in a negative light. On its release, the film was called a propaganda film but made a box office collection of Rs. 110 crore over a budget of Rs. 20 crore.   

The Accidental Prime Minister on Zee5

Based on the book of the same name by Sanjaya Baru, the film focuses on the tenure of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was often labeled as the puppet of the Indian National Congress. The film faced a controversial halt in 2017 when former Censor Board chief Pahlaj Nihalani said that the filmmakers would need to obtain a no-objection certificate from former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Indian National Congress President Rahul Gandhi.

Thackeray on YouTube or AppleTV

Abhijit Panse helmed the film, which stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the titular role. Siddiqui is a highly influential politician in Maharashtra and the founder of Shiv Sena. The film ran into a controversy when the Central Board of Film Certification suggested audio modification over a couple of scenes on Babri Masjid and the South Indian community.

The Tashkent Files on Zee5 

The film centers on the mysterious death of Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. His death in itself was a controversial topic with many speculating he was poisoned while the official document read that he died of a heart attack. 

The film was called out for its shallowness, political bias, and use of juvenile arguments to bash certain ideologies of the left.

Firaaq on Prime Video

Directed by Nandita Das, and starring Naseeruddin Shah, and Nawazuddin Siddique in major roles, the film follows the communal riot of Gujarat in 2002. The people of Gujarat are the victims, perpetrators, and silent observers of the violence around them. The film was not allowed to be released in some states due to its communal currents and political pressure.