# Dial 1975 review: Kay Kay Menon film trapped in amateurish production 2026-08-21T19:28:39+00:00 | Entertainment | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Dial 1975, starring Kay Kay Menon and Kirti Kulhari, has been released on the OTT platform Waves after a delay of nearly a decade. The film, directed by Navneet Behal and Vibhu Kashyap, is set during the Emergency of the 1970s and revolves around a prime minister's aides trying to steal a futuristic communication device brought to India by a German. The device, an early mobile phone, is unknown to the government and seen as a threat to authoritarian rule. The review notes that the film appears incomplete, with scenes starting and ending abruptly, missing connective tissue. Tom Alter, who died nearly a decade ago, appears as an 'Angrez jailer' in what was his last film. Critics highlight poor performances, with Menon's acting described as unconvincing, and the chemistry between Rana and Kulhari's characters as negative. A German character speaks only off-camera, suggesting a local actor was used. The film is described as a two-hour highlights reel rather than a complete story. ## Indian Opinion Analysis Dial 1975 joins a list of small-budget Indian films that have tried to tackle the Emergency era, a period that remains sensitive for political parties today. The film's delayed release by nearly a decade means its technical and narrative flaws stand out more starkly against current OTT standards. For viewers, the key question is whether the film offers any historical insight or merely exploits a dramatic backdrop. The presence of Tom Alter's final performance adds a layer of trivia, but does not rescue the production. The next relevant development is whether the filmmakers will release a completed version or if this cut remains the final word. ## Coverage - thefederal.com The review is a straightforward critical assessment of the film's quality, without political framing or endorsement of any viewpoint. This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Tags: Dial 1975, Emergency, Kay Kay Menon, Kirti Kulhari, Tom Alter, Waves OTT Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/dial-1975-review-kay-kay-menon-film-trapped-in-amateurish-production/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/dial-1975-review-kay-kay-menon-film-trapped-in-amateurish-production/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes. How this brief was made: an AI model read the report linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/