Going constantly to and forth in time, the film recreates the image of a young Ambedkar waging his personal, casteist battles in all spheres of his life, which in turn set the agenda for the social war, which he fights for untouchables to ultimately win at least constitutionally in a later-day, free India. The only missing link is his transition from the boy Ambedkar into Baba Saheb Ambedkar. After a young BhimraoAmbedkar, we suddenly meet a miniature Baba Saheb Ambedkar and finally an adult Baba Saheb Ambedkar.

Besides, the film falls into the same trap that other cinematic statements on the freedom struggle found difficult to escape. While they were obsessed with Gandhi and patronising of others, Patel also undercaptures the overall aura of those heady days, in turn making Ambedkar's image larger-than-life. Patel even lays bare the man in Gandhi to the extent of humbling the Mahatma as is fashionable today to highlight the odds against which Ambedkar was pitched. He is shown as a shrewd politician with perfect PR, intended or unintended. It's an honest film-from the perspective of Ambedkar as much as Gandhi was from the latter's side.

--Rajiv Tikoo