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I Am Buddha Production’s The Vaccine War (UA) is a medical thriller based on the true story of the development of the COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin, by India during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in India.
Prof. (Dr.) Balram Bhargava (Nana Patekar) is the director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research, who is hell-bent on indigenously making a vaccine for COVID-19 in spite of all odds against him. With limited resources, he and his team achieve the impossible right when the pandemic is on. All through the period during which he and his team worked tirelessly to produce the life-saving vaccine in less than 18 months of the outbreak of the pandemic in India, there were people and media persons who mocked at his efforts but he went ahead with cent per cent focus and like a man possessed.
Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri has written a story based on facts in a very interesting style. His screenplay is so fast-paced that it just doesn’t give the audience time to think. Yes, the drama gets too technical at times but once the human element gets prominence, especially in the post-interval portion, it tugs at the heart strings. The challenges which the women doctors and scientists in Dr. Bhargava’s team have to face at the work place and in their homes moves the viewers emotionally. The scene in which Dr. Nivedita Gupta (Girija Oak Godbole) leaves her weeping child to rush to office, will move many among the audience to tears. The scene in which the attending doctor tells Dr. Bhargava (who is then a patient of COVID-19) about the skeletal staff is also a heart-wrenching one. The press conference in the climax is a highlight. The entire drama has an underlying patriotic flavour which will swell the viewer’s chest with pride. Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri’s dialogues are gems and they touch the heart.
Nana Patekar lives the role of Prof. (Dr.) Balram Bhargava. He does such an outstanding job that this will go down as one of his best performances ever. In fact, it is difficult to imagine any other actor doing such justice to the character. Girija Oak Godbole is extraordinary as Dr. Nivedita Gupta. Her sincerity and integrity win the viewers’ hearts. Pallavi Joshi is outstanding in the role of Prof. (Dr.) Priya Abraham. She conveys her frustration, anxiousness, fears, joy, and all other emotions so wonderfully that the audience is one with her. In one word, she is brilliant! Nivedita Bhattacharya excels as Dr. Pragya Yadav. She is as natural as natural can be. Mohan Kapur lends lovely support as Dr. Raman Gangakhedkar. Anupam Kher makes his presence amply felt as the cabinet secretary. Raima Sen looks fetching and acts with complete confidence as Rohini Singh Dhulia from Daily Wire. Deepjyoti Das is excellent as the editor. Mayukh has his moments as Dr. Samiran Panda, and so does Arvind Paswan as Dr. Rajnikant. Anchal Dwivedi (as Dr. Enna Dogra), Vrinda Kher (as Dr. Varsha Potdar) and Sapthami Gowda (as Dr. Sreelakshmy Mohandas) shine. Suhita Thatte (as the house help of Rohini Singh Dhulia) provides extraordinary support. Benny Brown (as security guard Bahadur), Manas Gupta (as the gardener’s son), Divya Seth (as Dr. Bhargava’s wife), Reuben Israel (as Dr. Priya Abraham’s husband), Arjun Dwivedi (as Dr. Sanjay Yadav, husband of Dr. Pragya Yadav), Asheesh Kapur (as Vikas Gupta, husband of Dr. Nivedita Gupta), Aarav Shukla (as Dr. Pragya Yadav’s son), Kavya Goel (as Dr. Pragya Yadav’s daughter), and Rudra Choudhary and Nitant Trivedi (both as Dr. Nivedita Gupta’s sons, Anant and Aditya respectively) lend superb support. Others are also good.
Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri’s direction is splendid. His narration is engaging, engrossing and entertaining. Swapnil Bandodkar, Vikram Bam and Rohit Sharma’s music (original song by Vanraj Bhatia) is functional. Rohit Sharma’s background music is phenomenal. Uday Singh Mohite’s cinematography is lovely. Production designing (by Udai Prakash Singh) and art direction (by Pramod Maharana, Anjan Gajurel and Chanchal Singh Bist) are of a wonderful standard. Shankh Rajadhyaksha’s editing is super-sharp.
On the whole, The Vaccine War is an outstanding film which will win both, critical acclaim and box-office rewards. It may have started slow but collections will pick up phenomenally as the hugely positive word of mouth spreads.
Released on 28-9-’23 at Inox (daily 6 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay thru PEN Marudhar Cine Entertainment. Publicity: good. Opening: so-so. …….Also released all over. Opening was ordinary at most of the places.