Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran Review - Pandavas For The Win!

Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran is a story of might and it is indeed the story of bravery. Yet, director Abhishek Sharma’s films never takes too many risks - so as to differentiate it from the hundreds of chest-thumping patriotic films. That’s why parts of Parmanu are a slog. Starring John Abraham, Diana Penty, Yogendra Tiku and Boman Irani who are a few names in the ensemble cast that has been set up - this is a story about the 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests. At the centre is Ashwat Raina, played by a stoic John Abraham. He has the task of not only setting up this ‘Mahabharat’ dream team, but also to make sure that these nuclear tests are not only successful, but hidden from the American satellite - Lacrosse.

The film, written by Saiwyn Quadras and Sanyukta Chawla Sheikh (both known for Neerja), is multi-layered. While the film’s action takes place at Pokhran, the conflicts based on family, infidelity, love, marriage and lying all take place outside of this nuclear testing zone. Quadras and Chawla grip your attention throughout Parmanu’s runtime of 128 minutes. The first half is a bumpy ride. There is too much spent on setting up the story. There’s a storyline that sidetracks the whole narrative about a man who’s lost his job and himself. This storyline, of course, is about the central lead - Ashwat.

Ashwat is a bruised character. He too, like the script, has many layers. John’s very good looking and is resplendent with his moustache, but he is armed with too few expressions to give the character his all. But he tries damn hard, and stumbles - especially in the first half hour of the film. But as soon as the action starts, the film’s pace picks up and the legend of Pokhran literally comes to life. There is suspense and all the actors perfectly fit the brief that they’re supposed to. Anuja Sathe as Ashwat’s wife, Sushma, provides the right amount of emotion. Sushma is one of the first army wives I’ve seen in a long time that has some depth to her and Anuja plays the part with aplomb and grace.

Aditya Hitkari, Vikas Kumar and Ajay Shanker play the other three members of the team. They’re strictly okay in their parts, but do fill the brief that the script requires perfectly. The writers also add in welcome bouts of humour at times. During the film’s only action scene (which is rather stretchy), a character accidentally presses a remote - which turns on a full-volume version of Madhuri Dixit singing and dancing like her life depends on it. It’s well placed and well thought of humour. Also funny is Yogendra Tiku as Dr. Naresh, a forgetful man who has the right amount of heart.

After its explosive interval shot, Parmanu’s draggy story sputters to life. The second half is filled with energy and packs in most of the story the film aims to tell. The suspense builds and it does all result in one hell of a climax. The drama hits a crescendo and the screen literally implodes. This is when Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran is at its best. However, the film’s subplots are what threaten to derail it entirely. As soon as the film leaves the story revolving around the actual mission, Abhishek almost loses the audience’s attention - especially in a situation involving one Pakistani and one American spy.

Also, to achieve such a grand vision, a film attempting to recreate nuclear tests as eponymous as these should be technical marvels. This is where Abhishek stumbles. Parmanu is a storytelling marvel but a technical blunder. Most of the top shots look like they’ve been taken from old documentaries and a lot of the film’s footage is grainy. The CGI, except for the actual scene of the explosion, looks unbelievable. But I’m willing to let that go. Because, while Parmanu has many unnecessary moments, it holds your attention till the last second.

John is one of the reasons that Parmanu slows down, but he proves in the end, that as an actor he has some heft. Diana Penty doesn’t have much to do in the film but her stoic expressions are what the role of Captain Ambalika required. I don’t how much of Parmanu is fiction and how much of it is true. But what we get on screen is pretty damn slick and a hell of a good time. Abishek Sharma gives his best film since Tere Bin Laden (because his other two films were The Shaukeens and Tere Bin Laden 2 - some awful films). I think you shouldn’t miss this one. At some occasions, it will seem like a chest-thumping patriotic song, but it has more nuance than your regular ‘nationalism-propagating’ film. I’m going with 3 stars for Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran.