As Russians and Americans keep a hawk-like watch on India, and internal spies loom everywhere, the Rocket Boys race against time and diplomatic red tape to bring glory to India — that’s the crux of SonyLIV’s Rocket Boys 2. The series shows Vikram Sarabhai and Homi Bhabha at the beginning of Indira Gandhi’s term as Prime Minister.
The second episode shows how the question is about legacy, both scientific and political. The rise of science in India cannot be separated from the politics of the land. Created by Nikhil Advani and Abhay Pannu, who also directed the show, the eight-episode season is a heady mix of fact and fiction, history and imagination.
Career-best performances
The second season culminates in the demise of a red herring that spiced up the first season. It is the combination of Dibyendu Bhattacharya’s performance as the vilified Mehdi Raza and Pannu’s creative liberty that makes the character stand out. Extra credits go to the casting director Kavish Sinha for the choice of actors.
The chemistry between Ishwak Singh, who plays Sarabhai, and Jim Sarbh continues to uplift the show. Young APJ Abdul Kalam, played by Arjun Radhakrishnan with finesse, grows under the mentorship of Bhabha.
Sarbh is brilliant as ever and shines in moments of unadulterated joy. But he seems a bit muted this time. He translates how Bhabha is ageing but his vision is getting clearer, just like his wit is getting sharper. Sarbh has delivered his career-best performance in the show.
Ishwak Singh brings forth a range of emotions as Sarabhai—be it his guilt over cheating on Mrinalini (Regina Cassandra), the loss of a friend in Bhabha, or even the constant scrutiny of his work and budget cuts. Singh continues the streak of the first season’s performance and ups the game.
Cassandra is powerful as the quiet Mrinalini. She knows who she should blame for her ruined marriage and confronts the situation with confidence. Saba Azad gets a limited role this season.
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Humanised genius
Trying to portray multiple significant historical moments in the span of a season can be a double-edged sword. The pace of the plot does not quite give one the time to process how crucial they were in India’s history.
Despite conspiracy theories and moments of utter heartbreak that Pannu brings in, there are also light-hearted moments that make the show unique among other limited drama series. A tipsy Bhabha excited about making India’s first nuclear bomb or when he shares a moment of nostalgia with Pipsy continues to humanise the genius he was.
In Sarabhai’s case, the tough terrain of domestic troubles and constant confrontations make things difficult. But he has Kalam to lean on.
At the heart of it, Pannu’s ambitious screenplay of Rocket Boys 2 is as much about science as it is about the humans behind it. It never loses focus of the village that supports Bhabha and Sarabhai — who are at once scientists, partners, and friends. This is what makes the show an unforgettable viewing experience.