PARMANU: THE STORY OF POKHRAN

'Parmanu' is sincere, but fizzles away in historical objectivity

parmanu-pokhran (2) Poster of 'Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran'

It is May 1998. With a staid expression, a newsreader discusses the escalating conflict at the Indo-Pak border. But her expression suddenly transitions to one of excitement; a secretive nuclear test, carried out in Pokhran, Rajasthan, was successful, she announces with gusto. The premise of Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran is India’s mission to become a nuclear state. It was a moment of pride. The film, directed by Abhishek Sharma, captures the jubilation of the public, politicians, media, and the team behind it, with objectivity.

However, the same objectivity is sadly missing while the story is charted out. The film all but skips the initial stages—the genesis of the idea of the nuclear tests, and why it was so important for India. At most places, it seems caricatured, almost as if the whole thing was a one-man mission engineered by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. There are also instances where the movie tries to shove patriotism down our throats, skewed to the right, in keeping with the recent trends.

The film claims to be based on true events. It is. And sincere efforts have been put in to make it look like one—contrasting real-life footage from the speeches made by Vajpayee, Bill Clinton (the covert mission was a great intelligence failure for the US) and Nawaz Sharif. But these efforts fail to make a mark with a script that is lopsided and dampened with too much drama—both in the life of IAS officer Ashwat Raina (John Abraham), who single-handedly (that is what the film makes you believe) carries out the mission, and the sand dunes of Pokhran where two detractors from opposing countries (US and Pakistan) are at work to blow the lid off it.

Raina, in 1995, as a part of a high-profile bureaucratic meeting, suggests that the only way to secure the nation was to become a nuclear power. His plan, however, is dealt with tackily by the ministers-in-charge and the mission fails. He spends three years brooding, in a family life where he fails to take on responsibilities, until a new government comes to power and views his plan with a fresh eye. He is given the full responsibility of and forming a team and carrying out the mission. He brings together the best people from all crucial departments. But, the focus is on Raina, and projecting him a hero. John Abraham makes a sincere effort, at least more than what we have seen of him mostly, in portraying the character.

It’s a serious subject about a serious event in the modern history of India, but is bogged down by the treatment meted out to it. What it does though is talk about an event that changed the way other nations looked at country, and that may be a good thing.

Film: Parmanu

Starring: John Abraham, Diana Penty

Director: Abhishek Sharma

Rating: 2/5

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