Pokharan Review: Too SIMPLE and SUPERFICIAL for something serious as NUCLEAR BOMBS

It’s a roller coaster ride of emotions. At once you feel happy and motivated, or laughing over a dialogue, sympathizing with the characters or get a burst of patriotism and nationalism.

The film is average if you forget the fact that it’s based on the true event; the nuclear bomb testing which India conducted in the year 1998, keeping it successfully hidden from the US. This event brought the small, forsaken village of Pokhran in the middle of the Thar Desert on the world map.

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With US, China and Pakistan testing their nuclear bombs and showing their might to the world, a threat loomed on India’s political and defence stature. Adding to the woes, India’s previous attempt of testing the bombs in the year 1995 which failed miserably; it was all the more important for India to stand on its own feet before it crumbled due to the activities of its neighbouring countries.

Ashwat Rana (John Abraham), an IAS officer comes up with a strategic plan to conduct the test successfully, keeping it hidden from the US and its Lacrosse satellite which keeps an eye on India’s movement at the nuclear testing site. However, his plan is rejected even before it was out from his floppy disk. His desperate attempts to conduct the tests led to his suspension after which he gave up his dreams of doing something for his nation.

Himanshu Shukla( Boman Irani), principal secretary to the PM, takes the film ahead as he provides Rana with a chance to execute his plan. Being a smartass IAS officer, Rana gears up and then takes the onus of the whole film on his shoulder and does what is supposed to be a historic event in the history of India.

That’s the basic gist of the movie. However, in an attempt to make the movie Bollywood-y, the film is overdramatized at times and the truth is nicely twisted under the name of ‘based on true events’. Abhishek Sharma brings a big bag of creative liberty to the film and empties it in his work. Sachin-Jigar have done a fair job with the music and BGM.

The story is slow to start, trying to explain the need of testing the bombs, establishing Ashwat as a hero, the team and the adversities they face in their mission. However, 45mins into the film, all set and ready, the story picks up the pace and you start feeling engaged in the film. The ups and downs the character faces in their mission create the required dramatic effect which keeps one longing for more. In short, the screenplay does a fair job as does the direction executing it.

Apart from the protagonist, Ashwat, there’s no effort towards characterization of the other important roles of the movie such as Himanshu Shukla (Irani) and Ambalika (Diana Penty) and other team members. The villainous role played by the American CIA and Pakistani ISI would have been made more dreadful considering the fact that we know the mission is going to be successful (Duh!)You are reminded that it’s a Bollywood commercial movie when unnecessary romance is involved in the film! Anuja Sathe, the wife of Ashwat, was an unrequired character of the story. Having said that, she does a good job with whatever screen time she is allotted.

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Technicalities apart, acting doesn’t click anywhere. John Abraham who did a fairly good job in Madras Cafe, doesn’t pack the punch as expected from him. His built up physique is useless as is the unnecessary humour when he gets thrashed by the Pakistani ISI agent trying to fail their mission. Diana Penty doesn’t really step into the character and so do not the rest of the characters. Boman Irani’s work, however, shines as he pumps that motivation in the team to accomplish the mission.

The story, even though based on true events seems unrealistic and disorganized. Ashwat is not even a novice in nuclear science, yet he is entrusted to conduct such a major project. The script doesn’t dig deep. It provides a superficial narration of the struggle of the protagonist to conduct the test. In short, lack of research is clearly visible. The power of nuclear bombs is turned into a mockery as the team members look unprofessional and make it look like a child’s play.

The script allows clichés and unnecessary sub-plots which are of no worth. Use of documentary footages are the only realistic scenes in this ‘based on true events’ movie.

Watch this movie in order to feel a bit patriotic about how Dr Kalam made India a nuclear power. However, just once though: it’s a onetime watch.

Rating: 🎬🎬