The Vaccine War thrilled me with its heartfelt salute to India’s scientists and gripping drama, earning a solid 7/10… but could have been a stellar 9/10 with tighter focus.
This docudrama vividly captures India’s race to develop Covaxin, led by Dr. Balram Bhargava (Nana Patekar), amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Vivek Agnihotri’s direction delivers intense lab scenes and a powerful tribute to unsung heroes, especially women like Dr. Priya Abraham (Pallavi Joshi). Nana Patekar’s commanding performance and Joshi’s nuanced portrayal shine, with Sapthami Gowda’s energy adding spark.
The script, based on Bhargava’s Going Viral, honors scientists’ grit, especially women, but falters with a bloated 160-minute runtime that drags with repetitive moments. It leans into preachy propaganda, with Raima Sen’s one-dimensional caricatured journalist and conspiracy tangents undermining credibility. Anupam Kher’s role feels flat, missing emotional depth.
A tighter edit, balanced perspective, and richer supporting characters could’ve elevated it to a powerful, resonant epic.
The Vaccine War is a compelling nod to science but stumbles with pacing and one-sided storytelling, falling short of its potential.
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