Space Gen: Chandrayaan Review: An honest look at ISRO’s triumph, told without enough depth

Space Gen: Chandrayaan Review: An honest look at ISRO’s triumph, told without enough depth

• Space Gen: Chandrayaan tracks ISRO's progress post Chandrayaan-2's 2019 crash
• Series showcases teamwork, perseverance, and sacrifices behind Chandrayaan-3.
• Strong performances and emotional storytelling make it inspiring despite flaws.

Did our AI summary help?

(‘Space Gen: Chandrayaan,’ directed by Anant Singh ‘Bhaatu,’ began streaming on JioHotstar on 23 January and stars Prakash Belawadi, Shriya Saran, Gopal Datt, Nakuul Mehta, Danish Sait, and Uday Mahesh.)

A story of challenges, hopes, and fears

Based on true events, ‘Space Gen: Chandrayaan’ follows ISRO’s pursuit to send Chandrayaan-3 into space. The series focuses on what happened at ISRO after the crash landing of Chandrayaan-2 in 2019 and the relentless effort of scientists to make Chandrayaan-3 a success. The show is gripping, though it tries to cover a lot in just five episodes of around 35 minutes each, which leads to some important events being skimmed over. It could have explored the mission in greater depth, especially the moments that led to the successful landing of Vikram and Pragyan on the moon. Despite this, the series manages to hold your attention and keep you invested in the story, giving a sense of the challenges, hopes, and fears the team faced.

Success born out of failure

The series begins with the nation waiting eagerly for the landing of Chandrayaan-2, only for the dream of over a billion Indians to collapse when it crashes about two kilometers from the lunar surface. Sankaran Nair (Uday Mahesh), chairman of ISRO, and Rakesh Mohanty (Gopal Datt), principal scientific advisor to the government of India, are stunned by the failure. The responsibility is placed on Project Director Yamini Mudaliar (Shriya Saran) and Navigation System Expert Arjun Verma (Nakuul Mehta). This leads to the formation of a Failure Analysis Committee under Sudarshan Ramaiah (Prakash Belawadi), Director of ISRO at the Thiruvananthapuram center. Ramaiah treats the failure as a learning experience rather than a reason to blame or punish. After Sankaran retires, Ramaiah is elevated to the head of the space center, much against his wishes. As the team begins preparing Chandrayaan-3 with renewed determination, they face new challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s sudden announcement to launch its own lunar lander, Luna-25.

Professional and personal worlds overlap

Two parallel storylines drive the series. The first, focusing on ISRO scientists and their efforts, is engaging. The second, Arjun Verma’s personal story involving his father, does not add much and feels out of place. Ramaiah’s background and the discrimination he faced due to his low caste are better handled and add depth. The series could have been much stronger if it had gone deeper into the behind-the-scenes events and the challenges that led to Chandrayaan-3’s success. The show leans more on emotions than on sustained tension, but it succeeds in highlighting teamwork and camaraderie. Relationships between Jairam and Arjun, Yamini’s role as a kind mentor, and Ramaiah as a rational leader are all compelling and resonate with the audience.

Also Read: Border 2 crosses 2 lakh advance tickets at PVR INOX, signals strong opening

Strong performances drive the plot

The series also works because of strong performances. Most actors are believable and put in solid work. Shriya Saran shines as Yamini, the project director, delivering a calm and authoritative presence. Despite immense pressure, she remains graceful and composed. Prakash Belawadi as Ramaiah adds realism with his grounded portrayal of leadership. Nakul Mehta plays Arjun Verma, the navigation expert, bringing energy to the series, though his performance sometimes borders on overacting. Gopal Dutt as Rakesh Mohanty steals the show. He is humorous, intimidating, calm, and friendly, often in the same scene. A standout moment is when he mistakenly uses hand wash instead of face wash at a Johannesburg hotel.

Inspiring but imperfect

‘Space Gen: Chandrayaan’ is neither a perfect series nor a poor one. It succeeds in capturing the spirit of the people who made India proud in space exploration. It honours and celebrates the unsung heroes who remain largely unknown to the public. The series leaves you with a sense of pride in human perseverance and scientific achievement. It reminds us that behind every mission, there are countless untold stories of dedication, long hours, and teamwork. The series also subtly conveys the sacrifices these individuals make in their personal lives to pursue national goals. While it could have been deeper in places, it still manages to inspire and entertain, making it worth watching for anyone interested in space, science, and human ambition.

Rating: 3/5