The Tashkent Files 2019

Lal Bahadur Shastri, recognized as the second Prime Minister of India, was instrumental in guiding the nation through a pivotal triumph against Pakistan in 1965. Following this victorious period, he traveled to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, to formalize the Tashkent Agreement, a significant treaty signed on January 10, 1966, after an intense six-day negotiation. Tragically, Shastri passed away merely hours after signing this crucial document, leaving behind a shroud of mystery surrounding his untimely demise.

Fast forward to 1992, where the narrative takes a thrilling turn as a Russian spy affiliated with the KGB approaches the British Embassy in Latvia. He presents a briefcase packed with explosive documents revealing how the USSR systematically eliminated key state leaders globally. Enter Raagini Phule, played by Shweta Prasad, an ambitious investigative journalist under immense pressure to create a compelling “scoop” for her publication. She receives an anonymous call that leads her to a trove of documents related to Shastri’s life and the circumstances leading to his death. Armed with this shocking information, Raagini proposes to her supervisor the idea of investigating the whereabouts of Shastri’s postmortem report, which has mysteriously gone missing for over fifty years. The story gains traction, and soon, the media frenzy sweeps the nation.

At the political helm is P. K. R. Natarajan, portrayed by Naseeruddin Shah, serving as India’s home minister. On the opposing side, Shyam Sunder Tripathi, played by Mithun Chakraborty, leads the Janshakti party. In a strategic meeting, Natarajan recalls the political maneuvers that positioned Shastri as Prime Minister, indicating that after the demise of Jawaharlal Nehru, it was Kamaraj who played a significant role in elevating him to power, only to later pave the way for Indira Gandhi to ascend as PM post Shastri’s death.

Both Natarajan and Tripathi conspire to set up a committee to thoroughly investigate Shastri’s mysterious passing, with four nominees from each side. Raagini is invited to join this high-stakes committee alongside notable figures like Justice Kurian Abraham (Vishwa Mohan Badola), youth leader Vivendra Pratap Singh Rana (Prashantt Guptha), IAS officer G. K. S. Anantha Suresh (Prakash Belawadi), NGO activist Indira Joseph Roy (Mandira Bedi), historian Aiysha Ali Shah (Pallavi Joshi), and archival director Omkar Kashyap (Rajesh Sharma).

Shastri’s declining health is also a subject of deep concern, especially considering he had suffered two heart attacks before his trip to Tashkent. The abrupt change of his accommodation from a well-equipped hotel to a mere bungalow raises serious questions. While the hotel was equipped with an operating theater and oxygen, the bungalow fell short, lacking even basic medical provisions. Eight doctors tended to him, yet only six were willing to sign off on his medical report, casting further doubt on the circumstances surrounding his health at that critical moment. A deeply unsettling reality emerges: Shastri was only provided with an intramuscular injection when an intravenous option might have saved his life.

Raagini’s investigation takes a dramatic turn when she encounters a mysterious benefactor who supplies her with a Soviet version of Shastri’s medical report, which starkly contradicts the Indian government’s official stance. This alternative account raises grave suspicions about the true cause of Shastri’s demise. Omkar, a member of the committee, references a book by a former CIA operative indicating that both Shastri and Homi Bhabha, who were poised to advance India’s nuclear capabilities, were systematically eliminated by CIA machinations.

There’s an added emotional layer as Imran Qureshi (Ankur Rathee), Natarajan’s security chief and Raagini’s ex-boyfriend, attempts to intimidate her into abandoning the investigation. As investigations unfold, it becomes chillingly apparent that two witnesses to Shastri’s death—a doctor and his assistant—mysteriously died mere days after Shastri, under suspicious circumstances, leaving a trail of unanswered questions.

Amidst mounting evidence, the committee begins to contemplate a more sinister conspiracy—suggesting that Shastri’s legacy was deliberately erased because he was a transformative leader, and the Congress party sought to suppress a non-Nehru figure from overshadowing the nation’s history. The Green and White Revolutions, alongside significant advancements in India’s atomic program, bore the hallmark of Shastri’s vision; yet, these contributions have largely faded from public consciousness.

Raagini further delves into the details surrounding Shastri’s body, which turned black upon returning to India, signaling possible poisoning. The narrative takes a shocking turn when it is claimed that the cook who prepared Shastri’s final meal was a Muslim, implying a potentially sectarian motive behind the attack—this revelation deeply enrages Ayisha.

A pivotal encounter occurs when Raagini meets her benefactor, Bakshi, a former editor who reveals that the Congress party was complicit with the KGB in orchestrating Shastri’s removal. It is further disclosed that concrete evidence exists within the Tashkent files, which subsequently puts Raagini in grave danger as Bakshi dies in an accident shortly after their encounter.

In a bid to stifle Raagini’s efforts, Natarajan and Tripathi exploit their authority to expel her from the investigative committee, hiding behind the veil of the Official Secrets Act. However, Raagini is relentless, and with sheer determination, she persuades Tripathi to allow her a final opportunity to present her findings.

With compelling evidence, she illustrates that Shastri was indeed poisoned, evidenced by his cap—a personal belonging that bore stains of blood from injuries sustained posthumously. This raised alarming questions about the integrity of the medical reports submitted. Furthermore, it is suggested that an intricate conspiracy ensued thereafter, leading to India’s alignment under Soviet influence, culminating in the embedding of “Socialism” within the Indian constitution during a politically turbulent era.

In a scintillating climax, Raagini unveils the Tashkent files, once deemed inaccessible, which unravel the complex ties between Indira Gandhi and the KGB, signifying that the political fate of India was manipulated from the shadows. The narrative starkly insinuates that Indira Gandhi was indeed on the payroll of the KGB, implicating her in a larger scheme to secure her power while jeopardizing the sovereignty of the nation. Through this intricate tale of political intrigue, the film delves into the profound conspiracy that overshadowed one of India’s most pivotal figures.