'The Accidental Prime Minister': Why did BJP tweet its trailer

Politics

'The Accidental Prime Minister': Why did BJP tweet its trailer

Written by

Shalini Ojha

Twitter

Last updated on Dec 28, 2018, 12:41 pm

The trailer of The Accidental Prime Minister, starring Anupam Kher as former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh, dropped on Thursday, giving us mixed feelings.

But what surely did cringe us, was the fact that BJP's official Twitter handle tweeted the trailer. It seems at this point they aren't even trying to hide their emotions.

That the ruling party shared the trailer caught netizens' attention, unsurprisingly.
In this article
The movie is based on a book by Sanjaya Baru Dr. Singh was shown as victim of Congress' politics Of weird accents and caricatures: The trailer became parody soon Now, coming to BJP. Here's what the party tweeted We understand the disdain for Congress. But was this necessary? It's a movie, but BJP made it an election tool Meanwhile, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore defends the tweet
Movie

The movie is based on a book by Sanjaya Baru
The Accidental Prime Minister is directed by Vijay Gutte and is based on Sanjaya Baru's book by the same name.

Baru was the media advisor to Dr. Singh when he held the PM's office and he released the book in 2014.

The book which chronicled Dr. Singh's journey in UPA government courted controversy. One can expect the movie to follow the same path.
The trailer

Dr. Singh was shown as victim of Congress' politics
The trailer invested a lot of time in establishing Dr. Singh's conflict with the Congress. While Dr. Singh is shown as a patriot, who keeps the country first, the Gandhi family not so much.

Sonia Gandhi, essayed by Suzanne Bernert, is the shrewd villain who just wants her son Rahul (played by Arjun Mathur) on PM's chair.

Till he becomes 'capable', Dr. Singh holds the fort.
Impressions

Of weird accents and caricatures: The trailer became parody soon
For months now, there has been a lot of noise about how every actor pushed their boundaries for this movie. We have seen clips of Kher getting Dr. Singh's mannerisms right, and yet the trailer didn't impress.

Kher's husky voice seemed misplaced and so did Bernert's accent.

Mathur showed RaGa as a spoilt brat who doesn't seem to respect Dr. Singh. We seriously doubt this behavior.
Twitter Post

Now, coming to BJP. Here's what the party tweeted
Riveting tale of how a family held the country to ransom for 10 long years. Was Dr Singh just a regent who was holding on to the PM’s chair till the time heir was ready? Watch the official trailer of #TheAccidentalPrimeMinister, based on an insider’s account, releasing on 11 Jan! pic.twitter.com/ToliKa8xaH
— BJP (@BJP4India) December 27, 2018
BJP's action

We understand the disdain for Congress. But was this necessary?
It is important to note that in the run-up for 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP milked Baru's book to its benefit.

And by tweeting the trailer, it seems it has the same intention this time.

By hinting that Dr. Singh was just a custodian till the 'heir became ready', the saffron party touched a new low.

BJP isn't done with attacking Dr. Singh.
All about power

It's a movie, but BJP made it an election tool
Usually, BJP doesn't tweet trailers of movies. The only time the social media team went all out to promote a movie was when Chalo Jeete Hain was nearing release.

The movie was based on the life of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

And the next movie that BJP supported was The Accidental Prime Minister as it was about belittling Dr. Singh.

We, the people, can look through the propaganda. Doesn't BJP's social media team know this?
Twitter Post

Meanwhile, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore defends the tweet
IB Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on #TheAccidentalPrimeMinister trailer tweeted from BJP handle: Can’t we extend our wishes for a film? Congress has been all for freedom, why is it questioning that freedom now? pic.twitter.com/09KIwguFYz
— ANI (@ANI) December 28, 2018