Emergency OTT release date: Here's when and where you can stream Kangana Ranaut's Indira Gandhi biopic

After its wide theatrical release on January 17, 2025, Emergency is all set for its full-fledged OTT release. Kangana Ranaut, who directed and co-produced the film, plays the lead role of the former Prime Minister of India, Mrs. Indira Gandhi. The actor-filmmaker confirmed on her Instagram story that Emergency is indeed making its way to Netflix exactly two months after it made it to the big screen. The OTT release date is set for March 17, 2025.

Emergency direction and screenplay

Ranaut directed the historical biographical drama film from a screenplay by Ritesh Shah and a story she wrote herself. The film is based on the book of the same name. The events depicted in Emergency actually took place in 1975. The film follows the life of Mrs. Indira Gandhi, a legendary figure in Indian history known for her leadership roles.

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Star-studded cast

Emergency supporting cast includes Anupam Kher as Jayaprakash Narayan, Shreyas Talpade as Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Avijit Dutt as Jiddu Krishnamurti, Ashok Chhabra as Morarji Desai, Mahima Chaudhry as Pupul Jayakar, Indira Gandhi's close confidante, Milind Soman as Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, Vishak Nair as Sanjay Gandhi, and Satish Kaushik as Jagjivan Ram.

The Central Board of Film Certification's pending certification delayed its initial release date of 6 September 2024. Issues brought up by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) caused Emergency to experience postponements before its debut. The film's release was delayed due to the board's demands for scene edits. The CBFC approved the film with the stipulation that some cuts be made and that the producers show evidence for contentious historical assertions made in the film.

Critical reception and box office performance

Critics gave it mixed to poor reviews before the CBFC cleared it for release on January 17, 2025. The movie bombed at the box office as well.

Many Sikh groups have spoken out against the film, claiming that it defames the Sikh community and distorts historical events surrounding the anti-Sikh riots of 1984. The most vocal group in this regard is the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). In light of these objections, multiple venues in the Indian state of Punjab choose not to show the film.

International protests and UK screenings blocked

Protests started in the UK, as Sikh groups staged anti-emergency demonstrations that blocked the film's opening weekend showings at several theatres. Birmingham and Wolverhampton were among the cities that stopped screenings of the film after the Sikh Press Association said it was anti-Sikh.

ALSO READ: Emergency review: Kangana Ranaut's history lesson falters amid a frenetic and disjointed pace