Mission Mangal Review! \”Mission Impossible\” accomplished!

There was this recent meme which showed PM Modiji telling Akshay Kumar, \”Tu film banate jaa me tuze har mahine script deta jaunga!\” (You keep on making films, I will give you a new script every month). The film topic was a similar feather in the cap of the country.

The film begins with Tara, a typical housewife fighting on all quarters at home, while working passionately at ISRO. Then comes along a failed GSLV launch attempt. What ensues further is a typical corporate apathy for trying something new and the way the team struggles and overcomes all the personal problems, and professional financial and other issues.

The film is crisp length wise, with just a single song. But this isn\’t the thrilling scientific biographical story of the mission. But it seemed quite logical except for a few melodramatic filmy scenes. However, venturing into an unprecedented territory, quite literally, with lot at stake has been potrayed a bit too simplistically with ample comparisons between home science and rocket science. Some scientific concepts have been explained well so that the average viewer is not bored to death with the technical jargon. I didn\’t feel like the cinematography was exceptional although there was scope with all the space theme. There\’s the Kal Ho na Ho \”room revamp team effort with a song backdrop\”, but this time with the ISRO scientists themselves doing all the cleaning. Also a Chak de India \”beating the hell out of some hooligans with an unsuspecting team effort\”. Thankfully, politics has been kept out of it all.

Dalip Tahil is the arrogant NRI Desi who looks down upon Indian capabilities and who is wronged at the end. Akshay Kumar\’s character on the other hand, is at its patriotic best, constantly with an ultra positive attitude and egging on his team. Vidya Balan is the all pervading director at home and the project, with her adaptive acting skills. All the characters have their distinctive characteristics and leave a mark in their own way. Tapsee\’s a army husband loving and a reluctant amateur driver. Sonakshi the young, NASA crazy youngster. Kirti Kulhari, a single divorced Muslim girl who is typically biased against because of her religion.

India was the first Asian nation to achieve this feat, and also the first in the world to do it in the first attempt. That in itself is an extremely proud moment to remember on Independence day this year. And to witness a sensible Bollywood movie being made about it, is even more heartening!!