Movie Review – Mangalyann

Review by Rishi Kapoor

An entertaining and ingratiating feel-good movie about the 2013 launch of the Mangalyann space probe, an against-all-odds triumph of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). India’s first interplanetary excursion, and the first time any country succeeded at sending a satellite to Mars in its initial attempt with effective improvisation using minimal resources.

Rakesh Dhawan (Akshay) and mission director Tara Shinde (Vidya Balan ) aim to launch a satellite into the orbit of Mars. A top scientist (Dalip Tahil) doesn’t rate their chances highly and assigns them an inexperienced team, with massive budget cuts. How this unfancied crew faces the pressure and carries out the monumental task forms the crux of the story.

The movie has all the right ingredients for a wider audience reach; it has shown team work is important , how to make a team work with a common objective , women empowerment ( half the team leading the project comprise of women managing home & work) , etc. and obviously to ignite our supposedly latent nationalism.

The film goes all out to celebrate the uniquely ‘Indian’ frugal engineering and innovative ways of fixing issues, of harnessing science for the pride of the nation. And for a better connect with audience has shown the other side of the working scientist , what they do at home and their day to day issues.

The direction by Jagan Shakti is decent with a very basic story keeping in mind the audience connect but the pace of the movie is perfect.

When it comes to performances Vidya balan leads the pack with Akshay and the remaining supporting cast is also decent ( nothing much to do for some ).

Surprisingly the theatre was house full on the 10th day and the audience reaction was quiet positive. Overall it’s a feel good movie with right dose of comedy and drama.

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