The Vaccine War review: Realistic, Patriotic and Thrilling

By Shivangi Shukla

After the success of The Kashmir Files, Vivek Agnihotri is back with another theatrical release, The Vaccine War, which is a comfortable watch for the entire family. The plot revolves around how Indian scientists developed the country's indigenous vaccine Covaxin. The movie provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges and triumphs that accompanied the creation and deployment of this vaccine during the global pandemic.

The Vaccine War is a medical thriller film directed by Vivek Agnihotri and produced by Pallavi Joshi. The film features Nana Patekar, Pallavi Joshi, Raima Sen, Anupam Kher, Girija Oak, Nivedita Bhattacharya, Sapthami Gowda and Mohan Kapur.

3 things you need to know

• The Vaccine War is marketed as India's first bio-science film.
• Nana Patekar made his big screen comeback after 5 years.
• The Vaccine War highlights the efforts of the unsung heroes of the Indian science community. 

Hot Take

The movie starts off with Nana Patekar, who plays the role of Balram Bhargava, former Director General of ICMR, being tasked with developing India’s first vaccine against Covid-19. From that point onwards, Agnihotri keeps the ball rolling with many twists and turns. Raima Sen plays the perfect antagonist as Rohini Singh Dhulia, a science editor with a news publication that questions every move of the scientists. Though lagging in scientific jargon in the middle, the movie does pick up pace towards the end.

Does The Vaccine War live up to the hype?

The film effectively explores the complexities of vaccine development, focussing on the unique challenges India faced in creating its own vaccine to combat COVID-19. The storyline melds scientific discoveries with human stories, emotions and sacrifice. We get a deep dive into the lives of men and women behind the vaccine. The scientists not just saved Indians but citizens of 101 countries. The movie highlights how a certain anti-India narrative was used to play down India’s achievement in developing Covaxin.

At a time when India has made history with the success of Chandrayaan 3, The Vaccine War shows India’s scientific community is no less than the best scientists globally.

Women power and sacrifice

The Vaccine War brings to the fore how Indian women scientists stepped into the battle lines when India was facing an unprecedented health crisis. The film highlights the sacrifice they made for the nation and it is illustrated with their personal struggles at home.

Real-life heroes

At the exclusive premiere of The Vaccine War, the real-life heroes of the film interacted with the audience. The bespectacled scientists from ICMR and the National Institute of Virology at the premiere applauded how the actors portrayed their characters and the storyline close to reality. 

(The Vaccine War is India's first bio-science film | Image: YouTube Screengrab)

Watch it or skip it?

The movie is a must-watch for all who want to know about the true story behind Covaxin. The direction and narration of the documentary strike a balance between presenting factual information and engaging storytelling.

Bottomline

After The Tashkent Files and The Kashmir Files, Vivek Agnihotri presents to his audience the bitter reality of the pandemic. The movie is both poignant and inspirational and will surely leave you with an afterthought.  

Rating: 3.5/5