The Covid 19 pandemic will always stay in our memory forever. The arrival of the vaccine gave most of us a ray of hope against this deadly variant of the corona virus. The Vaccine War revolves around the making of India’s first Indigenously manufactured Vaccine ‘Covaxin’ in collaboration with Bharat Biotech and National Institute of Virology(NIV).
The film, based on the book ‘Going Viral’ by Prof. Balram Bhargava, the Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR), is actually paying tribute to the scientists of our country for their undying spirit and commitment in developing(mostly by woman scientists) this vaccine.
The film takes you on a journey of how this vaccine was made. It showcases the emotions, the obstacles, the dilemma, the criticism, the dominance of media houses influenced by overseas pharma companies in spreading false news and information, the political conflict, the achievement, triumph and glory in coming out with the Vaccine. It jibes on a one-sided view of typecasting the entire media fraternity as being supportive of ‘India Can’t do it’ instead of ‘India Can do it’. This, I feel, was not the case. Many media did support the mission of India making its own vaccine.
The movie keeps you engaged throughout, thanks to Vivek Agnihotri(the director) and the stellar performances by Nana Patekar(who plays Prof. Balram Bhargava), Pallavi Joshi(who plays Dr. Priya Abraham- Director of NIV), Girija Oak Godbole(who plays Dr. Nivedita Gupta of ICMR), Raima Sen(who plays the journalist non-supportive to India can do it), Anupam Kher(who plays Cabinet Secretary), Mohan Kapur(who plays Dr. Raman Gangakhedkar of ICMR), Suhita Thatte(who plays Mousi to the journalist) and all the other co actors.
The Vaccine War educates, informs and encourages. It is a must watch(now showing on Disney+Hotstar) to appreciate the dedication, efforts of our scientific community and to a nation that throws no stone untoward to become a self-reliant economy in almost every field.