The Vaccine War

It is very tough to make a coherent and engaging film on an esoteric, yet relevant topic, such as making vivid vaccination. Kudos to Vivek Agnihotri for getting it executed well, for the most part.

Based on the book Going Viral by Dr Balaram Bhargava, the head of ICMR, Vaccine War (VW) shows the challenges to culmination in a chronological manner, of the drive to produce an indigenous vaccine for the dreaded Corona.

It could have done well with better editing. This is my only sore issue with the film.

There are interweaving shots of family and professional lives, of the scientists. After a point, they feel forced and take you away from the central theme.

There are several shots, several times, which show people just nodding heads during meetings.

The politicking bit, with a journalist going after the vaccination to show the government of the day in poor light showcases Agnihotri's established political leanings. This bit is acted well by Raima Sen, who vamps impressively.

Nana Patekar is at the top of the game in most bits.

I liked it. Recommended for the intellectually curious.

Going to theater after more than a year , when it's a Vivek Agnihotri film you just have to! After watching this film I just want to say thank you to Vivek ji! Only you have the guts to make something like this.

Brings out the most unique subjects with the best execution. He is just getting better and better with each film.

The film keeps you on the edge through out, you just get no time to think in the first half! The film just grips you and takes you on a roller coaster of emotions.

The actors are institution in themselves, Nana ji and Pallavi ji just amazing and Vivek ji succeeds in getting the best out of the newcomers too. If there was anything left the last 5 minutes will completely blow whatever was left of your brain! Just amazing!

As is the norm after TASHKENT FILES,the filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri, has once again made a hard hitting and sensible movie based on actual facts with competent acting by almost everyone.

The takeaway(for me) from this movie was that up today we have this dreadfully dreadful situation where many Indians(for various reasons) are hell bent on disgracing their own motherland India for their own selfishly selfish motives and in turn don't hesitate to serve the vested interests of foreign countries which are intensely jealous of India's successes in different fields.

This movie needs to be judged in a different light as it does not seek to entertain the viewer,but to enlighten us from an Indian perspective,on what really happened during the Covid 19 crisis 8/10.

Don't miss. It's not a film it's reality. It helps you get awareness on false narrative and info war. Very entertaining and keeps you connected throughout. Everyone has done a great job. It was amazing to see Nana on screen after long time. OMG..Raima Sen! She has killed it. Vivek has taken a very safe path and tried his best to stay away from controversies. Lot more political aspects could have been shown. A small glimpse of Modi ji would have added more power to the film. But still 💯 times better than nepowood masala film. Very well researched and big thank you to all medical and science fraternity for helping the world during COVID.

The Vaccine War review :

Based on the book 'Going Viral' by Prof. Balram Bhargava of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), The Vaccine War narrates the intriguing development of India's indigenous vaccine called Covaxin with all the internal as well as external challenges encountered during its making...

Publicised as India's first bioscience film, producer- director Vivek Agnihotri and team deserve a huge applause for putting the spotlight on our unsung heroes - the scientists at ICMR and National Institute of Virology (NIV), who toiled day and night for months to combat the formidable enemy called Corona. The fact that majority of these scientists were women also makes it a pertinent subject of women power. The film is a must see only for that...

Vivek Agnihotri's political leanings are well known and no surprises, he layers his script with an elaborate sub-plot of an almost evil journalist (Raima Sen) plotting against the desi vaccine on orders of the foreign pharma conglomerates hell bent on arm twisting India. While a particular obscure media portal has indeed been indicted of spreading fake news, there were ten other major media channels promoting the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative at that time. The Vaccine War forgets this and instead paints the whole media as anti-establishment. In the climax, they are actually equated to terrorists, which is seriously not done!!

Assuredly, the casting is perfect and Nana Patekar and Pallavi Joshi, appearing together after three decades since Trishagni (1989), are truly outstanding. Girija Oak and Sapthami Gowda pitch in sincere performances. It is interesting as well as ironic to watch the extremely pretty Raima Sen in such a vicious role and boy, does she nail it. Kudos!!

The Vaccine War soars and roars till the time it stays true to its source content of how Covaxin was developed in record time and ended up saving countless lives across the globe. The minute it switches gears to the toolkit narrative, it somehow withers and dithers...

Nevertheless, this is a relevant film of our time which leaves us with a positive message that India CAN do it. Covaxin, Chandrayaan, G20... we have seen it happen in last few years. Three cheers to that!!

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.