Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi – Reviews of the Political Biopic

Indian cinema has often ventured into political storytelling, but rarely with the intensity and focus of Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi, directed by Ravindra Gautam. Released on 19th September 2025, the film is inspired by Shantanu Gupta’s book The Monk Who Became Chief Minister. With Anant Joshi stepping into the shoes of Yogi Adityanath and Paresh Rawal portraying his spiritual guru, the movie attempts to trace the rise of one of India’s most influential leaders.

📖 Storyline – From Hills to Power Corridors

The film follows the inspiring journey of a boy from the hills of Uttar Pradesh (now Uttarakhand) who transforms into a monk, a reformist politician, and finally the Chief Minister of India’s largest state. Themes of discipline, faith, and political willpower dominate the narrative. While dramatized for cinema, the film blends spirituality with politics, portraying Yogi as a man navigating personal struggles, communal challenges, and power struggles with unyielding determination.

🎭 Performances

• Anant Joshi as Yogi delivers a restrained and balanced performance, capturing both the introversion of youth and the fiery determination of a leader.

• Paresh Rawal adds gravitas as the Guru, grounding the story with wisdom and guidance.

• Dinesh Lal Yadav, Rajesh Khattar, and Pavan Malhotra provide strong support, especially in sequences dealing with the mafia and political opposition.

Joshi’s portrayal has drawn attention for avoiding caricature, instead focusing on subtle expressions and a steady build of confidence.

🎬 Direction & Technicals

Director Ravindra Gautam keeps the tone reverent and dramatic. The cinematography by Vishnu Rao captures the rustic hills and the bustling energy of Uttar Pradesh’s political landscape. The editing by Manan Sagar keeps the film tight, though some critics felt the 2nd half leans too much into political sermonizing.

The Meet Bros soundtrack attempts to strike a balance between devotional undertones and dramatic political themes, with mixed reception.

⭐ Reviews – What Critics & Audiences Are Saying

• Positive: Many viewers appreciated the inspirational arc, praising the film for showing the lesser-known struggles of Yogi before politics. Anant Joshi’s committed performance and Paresh Rawal’s gravitas received special mentions.

• Mixed: Some critics noted that the film occasionally drifts into hagiography, painting its central figure in overly heroic colors, limiting nuanced exploration of controversies.

• Box Office: Despite its ₹15 crore budget, the film managed only ₹1.4 crore so far, suggesting that while politically significant, it has struggled to attract a mass audience.

On review aggregators, the film holds a mixed-to-positive score, with audiences who admire Yogi Adityanath finding it more

impactful than neutral moviegoers.

📝 Conclusion – A Reverent Portrait with Polarizing Impact

Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi is not just a film—it’s a statement. For admirers of Yogi Adityanath, it serves as an inspiring account of his rise, his discipline, and his leadership. For others, it may feel like a dramatized tribute that shies away from deeper critique.

👉 Whether you see it as cinema, political storytelling, or spiritual drama, one thing is certain: Ajey attempts to immortalize a leader who continues to shape the course of Indian politics.