‘The Vaccine War’ review: Vivek Agnihotri’s film earns praise for its unconventional approach

New Delhi: Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri’s much-anticipated film, ‘The Vaccine War,’ featuring Nana Patekar, Pallavi Joshi, and Anupam Kher in prominent roles, made its theatrical debut on September 28. With the first show already in the books, moviegoers and critics have flocked to social media to share their initial impressions and reviews.

Directed by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, ‘The Vaccine War’ is being touted as India’s first venture into the realm of bio-science cinema. The film delves into the lives of the scientists at the forefront of developing the indigenous BBV152 vaccine, more commonly recognized as Covaxin.

In an era where Bollywood often emphasizes entertainment over education, ‘The Vaccine War’ takes a refreshingly different path. Described as India’s first “bio-science film,” it fearlessly dedicates a substantial amount of screen time to scientific terminology and the spartan settings of the National Institute of Virology (NIV) labs, where mice and monkeys are used in trials.

Notably, the film abstains from any attempts to sensationalize the research process or glamorize the typically sterile environments where scientific breakthroughs occur. Instead, Agnihotri’s unwavering commitment to his subject matter, possibly with full cooperation and access from the government, occasionally steers the film toward the appearance and tone of a public service broadcast.

Twitter has become the stage for numerous fans to share their opinions on ‘The Vaccine War’ after the interval, and the response is noteworthy.

Here’s a glimpse:

Movie: The Vaccine War
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review: BRILLIANT#VivekAgnihotri delivers the most meaningful film that showcases the heroic tale of scientists’ hard work & sacrifices 👏#TheVaccineWar is a film for everyone. MUST WATCH #TheVaccineWarReview ✨ @vivekagnihotri… pic.twitter.com/XZYLZSVcJs

— Praneet Samaiya (@praneetsamaiya) September 28, 2023

Bharat Can Do It…

Love You… @vivekagnihotri Ji

5 Star Movie#TheVaccineWar pic.twitter.com/0HUfzsC32s

— Jaiswal Abhishek🇮🇳 (@abhi14354) September 28, 2023

Big congratulations @vivekagnihotri ji for an extraordinary film like “The Vaccine War”, movie with pure & real content.
I hope this movie will break all the box office records soon.

Must must must watch this film !#Pallavijoshi #NanaPatekar @AnupamPKher@GirijaOak @raimasen pic.twitter.com/WyLTlwZ0LO

— Mayur Sejpal 🇮🇳 (@mayursejpal) September 28, 2023

Must watch movie.Seen with entire family. First day first show #TheVaccineWar

— Raju (@Raju273409) September 28, 2023

#OneWordReview…#TheVaccineWar: POWERFUL.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️#TheVaccineWar is an important film that *should* be watched by one and all… It’s enlightening and inspiring, both… The ‘heroes’ here are our scientists and #VivekAgnihotri brilliantly showcases their sacrifices and… pic.twitter.com/hEXrXdSVoI

— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) September 27, 2023

The film also features Pallavi Joshi, Anupam Kher, Raima Sen, and Sapthami Gowda in pivotal roles. ‘The Vaccine War’ is set to hit screens on September 28, with releases planned in 10 different languages, promising to bring the story of India’s scientific excellence to audiences far and wide.