Text Credits: Shibul Pavithran

The first scene of the film, which shows the detonation of a nuclear bomb as celebration rather than destruction, Parmanu makes its intentions very clear. This is going to be a jingoistic piece, dedicated as it is to its soldiers, scientists and engineers of India, which will project a dangerous national blunder as a moral and technological achievement. In the first five minutes, you can either walk out of the film (if its moral offenses feel so unforgivable), or you can hang on, if you don’t feel as strongly about them – or even better, if you don’t see them at all.

The problem with a nationalistic film is nothing but their nationalism, which at times is consumed by large sections of society – creating a pride which can be dangerous for others who don’t quite agree with measures or imposing techniques used by some to instill the feeling of patriotism. And then there are some who just believe in having no borders at all, wish peace and live to oppose any thought of violence in any form, even if it comes at the cost of nationalistic pride. Remembering the words of one of the greatest scientist ever known to this world, can give us an insight about the different kind of take on patriotism: “Nationalism is an infantile thing. It is the measles of mankind,” said Albert Einstein. No matter how one manipulates it, or how virtuous the intent is, history tells us that everyone eventually gets hurt. Especially, in India we have been seeing the effects of hyper nationalism being forcefully imposed on different sections of the society in the last few years.

John Abraham’s inability to act and show emotions works in his favour as he plays the muscular nerd, IAS Ashwat Rana,  in one of the scenes he is trumpeting his patriotism. ‘India should become a nuclear state’, he says, handing his boss, the principal secretary to the prime minister, a report of the detailed plan. John is shown as he loves his nation beyond any reasonable doubt, and failed to get into the army because of flat feet. We still can’t fully understand the relevance of Diana Penty in the film, but female representation in an all-male setup is always refreshing.

Even the music which runs in the movie demolishes the serious tone, all along being surrounded by dangerous nuclear weapons and having a romantic a feel in between is highly offbeat. Some of the  scenes in the Parmanu look like some random picnic happening in the middle of the desert.

In the darkness of the night, a scientist involved in the mission sneakily takes the plutonium out of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in a van to transport it to Pokhran. As the vehicle jerks and boxes quiver, he says with concern, “Agar yeh phatega toh pura sheher tabah ho jayega (If this explodes, then the entire city will be destroyed)”. He then smiles sarcastically, and proudly declares, “Made in India”. The irony of those two dialogues epitomises the film’s agenda: to uncritically take pride in the nuclear tests and justify it as patriotism. Even the factual information is somewhat distorted and customized for creating sensationalism in the film.

For a film whose climax is already known, it does a commendable job of sustaining the tension; the attention to detail and research keep you invested in the mission’s outcome. Abhishek Sharma’s film has all the ingredients to be a propaganda film – from “desh ke liye shaheed (martyred for the nation)” dialogues to portrayal of the enemy (American CIA and Pakistani ISI) to hiding facts and oversimplification of a complex mission.

It may also sound highly coincidental at some places where one wonders that nationalistic film like Parmanu which hails the achievement of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government back then, finds its footing in the current reign of the BJP in our country (could be opportunistic stunt as well). And releases at a time when the threats of nuclear war with Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un as the Supreme Leader of North Korea are taking real shape. Taking something so destructive to give it an inspirational cover with high amount of nationalistic bullshit is really the need of the hour? Period.

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