The Vaccine War Review
The Vaccine War - A Mixed Bag of Science and Sentiment
Director: Vivek Agnihotri
Cast: Nana Patekar, Pallavi Joshi, Raima Sen, Anupam Kher, Girija Oak, Nivedita Bhattacharya, Sapthami Gowda, Mohan Kapur
"The Vaccine War," directed by Vivek Agnihotri, attempts to shed light on the heroic efforts of India's scientific community in developing the indigenous COVID-19 vaccine, 'Covaxin,' within a remarkably short span of seven months. Based on Prof Balram Bhargava's book 'Going Viral,' the film delves into the intricacies of the vaccine's creation, but its narrative takes a sharp turn, attempting to defend the government's response to the pandemic.
The film's 2-hour-and-40-minute runtime unfolds in two distinct halves. The first diligently explores the lives of scientists, presenting their struggles and achievements. The latter part, unfortunately, transforms into a government-centric narrative, attempting to counter criticisms of the central government's handling of the pandemic. This shift in focus dilutes the film's sincerity and emotional impact.