Mission Mangal

*ing: Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan, Sonakshi Sinha, Taapsee Pannu, Nithya Menen, Sharman Joshi, Kirti Kulhari, Vikram Gokhale, Sanjay Kapoor

Rated: 7/10

Almost every Indian knows about The Mission Orbiter Mars (MOM) or Mangalyaan, a space probe, which was a success. Most of us know that our country was the first in the world to have achieved this success at first go. The US failed four times before it’s Mars mission was a success. Russia has failed eight times. Therefore, all kudos to the entire team of ISRO and it’s scientists who made India proud and in turn made every Indian proud of the moment since it started orbiting since September 24, 2014.

Mission Mangal tells this story — how it all happened. It goes without saying that to make the movie appealing for the masses, there has been dramatisation by director Jagan Shakti. Interestingly, it is this dramatisation that keeps the viewers engaged which could have otherwise been another docu-film that would lost itself in the many others that have been made over the years.

Writer R Balki ensures that the viewers are engaged with each of the characters. Subtlety placed one liners that are his trade mark give a sneak peek into the lives of the scientists — their dreams, their quirks, their problems and their daily struggles — has an instant connect. The minute there is a connect, there is a winner. So much so that despite knowing the end result, one still roots for the team to succeed.

Then, there is some great performance by the actors. Akshay Kumar as Rakesh Dhawan is absolutely brilliant. Passing the spotlight to his women co-stars will win brownie points from the women viewers. Vidya Balan who plays Tara Shinde, the project director exhibits an energy that gives us a glimpse why some people become scientists— they see, dream and live it. Not many of us in jobs can boast of this. HG Dattatreya who plays a wizened scientist endears himself with his antics. Sharman Joshi does his bit as do Tappsee Pannu who may not be a leading lady here but manages to make her presence felt as does her Pink co-star Kriti Kulhari. Sanjay Kapoor, who plays Vidya Balan’s husband, is just as good. His angst that his children are not confirming to what he thinks is right is sweet and evokes laughter.

On the whole, the film captures the lives of the scientists in a manner that is heartwarming and truly inspiring.