Season 2 – Rocket Boys

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Sharang L @Scribe187 10/05/2024 Not as taut as the first season. Still, makes for engaging watching. See more Hemant S @RT50421404 05/22/2023 It had been long overdue for someone to bring onto screen an underlined story about India's first venture into nuclear technology and rocket science (no puns intended) and the men and women behind it. "Rocket Boys" across both seasons, does a great job at that. To start with it's a series based on real people and real events in the spotlight, over the history of the world across the ‘50s, ‘60s and 70s. The threading together of facts has some amount of fiction too, mostly to add some dramatization into the flow events. With the first season being aired in the beginning of 2022, the recalling story starts with the first encounter of two of India's leading men of science at the Indian Institute of Science – Dr Homi J. Bhaba and Vikram Sarabhai (played by Jim Sarbh and Ishwak Singh respectively), both protégés of the genius Dr. C. V. Raman. Bhaba, a senior to the younger, more timid Sarabhai guides and nudges him in the right direction, including with wooing his future wife, the adept and attractive Mrinalini Swaminadhan (Regina Cassandra). Bhaba, himself a rebellious and free spirit, meets Parvana "Pipsy" Irani (Saba Azad) and develops an intriguing relationship with her. Parvana is seemingly a fictional portrayal of Phiroza "Pipsy" Wadia, who was a strong yet platonic presence in Homi J. Bhaba's life. The two men continue on their ventures as they eventually come into the focus of India's founding leaders, rivals, international organizations and their own protégés. The first season edges on their conflict towards the development of India's own nuclear weapons for defense purposes. And most importantly, the introduction of a very young and enterprising A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. The second season continues on seamlessly as the men age and mature on their journeys, foreign tensions pressing down as India looked to grow from a subversive nation and rolls into a beautiful conclusion. Jim Sarbh is excellent in projecting Homi J. Bhaba – the Parsi charm and eccentricity, flawless command over English, his brilliance and determination to press forward in strutting India's own nuclear muscle. I thought his scenes during two significant losses of life that Homi faced, projected sincerity. Ishwak Singh is firm as the peace-loving Vikram Sarabhai, who besides leading India's space program, initiated the foundation towards bringing television telecast across India. He (Sarabhai) had his own flaws, and the fact that the surviving members of the Sarabhai family including Mallika Sarabhai supported with building the story of Vikram Sarabhai, brings in much credibility. Regina Cassandra and Saba Azad shine as the women in the lives of the "boys", especially Cassandra as the strong, supportive wife and mother and a passionate classical dancer. A great supporting cast led by the talented Dibyendu Bhattacharya as Raza Mehdi, K. C. Shankar as Vishwesh Mathur and Namit Das as Prosenjit Dey – all fictional characters, along with Mark Bennington as CIA's Robert Crowley play significant players in reconstructing the stormy saga of India's nuclear program. Rajit Kapoor was a fine pick to play Pandit Nehru, and he has incidentally acted as Vikram Sarabhai in R. Madhavan's "Rocketry". I thought Charu Shankar was unrecognizable, but quite the spitting image as Indira Gandhi with her prosthetics and tone. Although quite understated, Arjun Radhakrishnan as A. P. J. Kalam deserves a special mention, and so does Abhay Pannu's direction. As far as science is concerned, there isn't too much jargon so it's not a difficult watch in those terms. There are bits and pieces of fictional drama scattered around, but considering the fact that I wasn't around to really recount or authenticate the events that are shown, I personally wouldn't make a huge hue and cry out of it. The relationship portrayed between Bhaba and Sarabhai is fragile, volatile yet beautiful. I think it's a great ode to those two unforgettable men of Indian history – polished, fine and understated and an equally great piece of teleplay to emerge from the Indian OTT factory. See more Read all reviews

Rocket Boys — Season 2

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