When Anupam Kher played the role of Manmohan Singh in ‘The Accidental Prime Minister’

A scene from ‘The Accidental Prime Minister’

India is mourning the demise of Dr. Manmohan Singh, who passed away last night at the age of 92 at AIIMS, Delhi. A great personality in Indian politics, Singh’s legacy as a scholar, economist and the 13th Prime Minister of India has left a lasting impact on the nation. His death has also refreshed memories of his controversial portrayal in the 2019 film The Accidental Prime MinisterWidely criticized as a propaganda material, the film was accused of reducing the late leader’s complexity to a caricature of meekness and subservience.

Directed by Vijay Ratnakar Gutte and starring Anupam Kher, the film was based on the memoir by Sanjay Baru, which detailed Singh’s tenure as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014. An experienced policy analyst and journalist, Baru gained insight into Singh’s tenure as Prime Minister. His father’s former association with Singh also included his role as media advisor and chief spokesperson from 2004 to 2008, as well as his role as Finance Secretary.

The film claims to expose the “dynastic politics” of the Congress party, portraying Singh as nothing more than a puppet Prime Minister controlled by Sonia Gandhi. However, critics immediately noted The Accidental Prime Minister The narrative propagated by Singh’s political opponents took a heavy toll, raising questions about its timing and intentions.

Released in an election year and actively promoted by the Bharatiya Janata Party, the film was seen by many as an attempt to score political points at Singh’s expense. Congress leaders condemned it as “political propaganda” and reviews alleged that the film was made to strip Singh of his dignity and nuance.

From FIRs against the filmmakers to demands for no objection certificates from Singh and the Gandhi family itself, the controversies overshadowed any meaningful discussion about Singh’s leadership. While the youth wing of the Congress initially tried to challenge the film, they later withdrew their objections, likely to avoid what many perceived as a smear campaign.

Singh was an economist and finance minister who led India through liberalization in the 1990s and has the distinction of being the only non-Nehru-Gandhi Prime Minister to serve two full terms. The accidental Prime Minister reduced him to the label of “Mouni Baba” (silent sage), a man who could not – or would not – speak out against his party’s leadership.

Despite the controversy, Singh himself remained an eminent figure, often rising above partisan conflicts. In his later years, Singh often remarked, “History will be kinder to me than the media.”