Thackeray, as you have guessed by now, is a glorified biopic made on the life of the late Balasaheb Thackeray, the man who gave India Shiv Sena. Backed by his own party, the movie is written and produced by Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut. Nawazuddin Siddiqui plays the main lead as Bal Thackeray, and Amrita Rao makes a comeback to the big screen, playing his wife. Interestingly, Thackeray is directed by Abhijit Pande, an MNS leader, making the movie the teamwork of MNS and Shiv Sena. We are watching Thackeray right now and here's what we have to say about the first half -

To appreciate Thackeray, you have to appreciate Thackeray the man, Thackeray the politician and his policies. If not, then this movie is not for you. The movie depicts two timelines  --  the minor bit with Bal Thackeray deposing for his involvement in the Lucknow High Court and the major bit shot in black and white, showing the rise of the man as a talented cartoonist. The movie showcases him as someone who cares for Maharashtrians' priorities, even if his methods aren't agreeable to others. And mostly, right so. From leaving his job at the Free Press Journal in 1959, Bal Thackeray begins his political journey by making fiery speeches against South Indian immigrants, while asking his fellow statesmen to fight for what they deserve. Not Nawazuddin Siddiqui But This Actor Was the First Choice to Play Balasaheb Thackeray In his Biopic.

Soon, his popularity surges ahead and he starts his own party to contest in the elections. The entire country knows how powerful this man is during the agitations of 1969 to merge Belgaum and Karwar in Maharashtra that resulted in citywide violence. The interval point arrives with the murder of the communist leader, Krishna Desai and with the first hint of colour through a marigold, that establishes Shiv Sena as the major political force in Maharashtra.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 25, 2019 10:01 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).