Madam Chief Minister trailer: Richa Chadha makes play for the throne

Directed by Subhash Kapoor, Richa Chadha's Madam Chief Minister is centred on a woman who fights her way to the top of the heap but reigns at a cost that is far dearer than she ever imagined. The trailer depicts the nexus of politics and corruption that spreads across all divides, proving the adage that power corrupts absolutely. 

The trailer begins with a scene depicting Chadha's character being beaten by the goons of a political party. This is her first lesson on the brutal nature of politics in the Hindi Heartland. As she learns the ropes from Masterji (Saurabh Shukla), she soon discovers that there is more to politics than caste and religion. From using raw manpower to Machiavellian methods, she soon attempts to retain power at all costs. 

The trailer does not shy away from underlining the underhandedness of modern-day politics. The woman's rise to power is paralleled with allegations of resorting to violence and threats. From its blatant caste symbolism to a line which states that politicians make gains via religious clout rather than development, the trailer is pretty bold and unflinching. Chadha's appearance mirrors that of Mayawati, one of the most powerful female icons of Dalit politics in India. The presence of a statue of Dr Ambedkar points to the caste subtext, which is unavoidable considering that the film is set in Uttar Pradesh. 

The trailer not only shows Chadha's character as a woman who fights against caste and religious discrimination but also as a shrewd leader who is willing to abduct MLAs and sow discord among the opposition. This duality of character is a welcome change from the sanitized version of politicians we see in films. Chadha looks the part and seems to have nailed the character in the trailer. 

One of the major deviations from reality, perhaps, Chadha's character's short-lived marriage with Manav Kaul's character, an IAS officer. Kaul, along with Shukla and Nikhil Vijay stand out as the men on the protagonist's side while Akshay Oberoi plays a scorned party member who turns against the chief minister. 

The film is being produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Naren Kumar and Dimple Kharbanda of T-Series.

Madam Chief Minister will be released on 22 January. 

Check out the trailer below and let us know if you are interested in watching the film.