Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran 2018

The film narrates the gripping historical events surrounding the nuclear tests conducted by the Indian Army in Pokhran, Rajasthan, back in 1998. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1995, India found itself vulnerable, devoid of powerful allies, as Pakistan aligned itself with the US and China. The western powers pressured India into one-sided agreements aimed at undermining its military and economic strength.

In 1995, as China executed its 43rd nuclear test, Capt. Ashwat Rana (John Abraham), an officer in the Research & Strategy group of the Indian government, devised a plan for nuclear tests in a bid to fortify India’s position against both China and Pakistan. With an intent to maintain secrecy, Ashwat prepared his strategy cautiously, warning that any leaks could prompt an attack from the US. Unfortunately, his superior, Suresh Yadav ([Satinder Singh Gahlot]) ignored his cautions and the US satellites soon detected preparations for the tests. This led to a humiliating cancellation of the planned tests in 1995, sinking Ashwat into disgrace as he was scapegoated and subsequently dismissed.

Settling down in Mussoorie with his family, Ashwat found himself burdened, as his wife Sushma Raina (Anuja Sathe) became increasingly frustrated with his neglect towards family responsibilities. However, a political shift occurred in 1998 when the Vajpayee government rose to power, bringing Himanshu Shukla (Boman Irani) into a crucial position as Principal Secretary to the PM. Recognizing the failures experienced in 1995, Himanshu sought out Ashwat, who articulated the reasons behind the failure and explained the meticulous involvement of the Indian Space Agency regarding US surveillance.

Once again given a chance, Ashwat was tasked with assembling a competent team for the tests. He secured the involvement of Dr. Viraf Wadia (Aditya Hitkari) from BARC to facilitate the bomb construction, engaging Dr. Naresh Sinha (Yogendra Tikku) from DRDO for explosives, and Major Prem Singh (Vikas Kumar) to oversee logistics from the Army, along with Puru Ranganathan (Ajay Shankar) from the Indian Space Agency, and Capt. Ambalika Bandopadhyay (Diana Penty) from RAW for security and mission secrecy.

Gathered at the historic Pokhran Fort, Ashwat revealed the ambitious goal of testing six nuclear bombs within a brief thirty days. Major Prem highlighted existing sunken wells that could be utilized, while ensuring operational timings coincided with satellite blind spots. However, just when preparations were underway, the Vajpayee government faced jeopardy as coalition allies withdrew support, prompting Himanshu to curtail Ashwat’s progress.

Undeterred, Ashwat convinced Himanshu to execute the tests before a no-confidence motion could jeopardize their strategy. Under intense time constraints, the team worked double shifts amidst unfriendly weather conditions, all while being shadowed by both a Pakistani spy (Darshan Pandya) and a CIA operative named Daniel (Mark Bennington), who became suspicious of the ongoing operations.

Amidst emotional turmoil at home, with Sushma arriving to confront Ashwat during a pivotal moment, communications were inadvertently intercepted. The team faced further complications as they navigated the cat-and-mouse game against espionage efforts. Ultimately, Ashwat concocted a ruse suggesting an impending attack on Pakistan, which successfully diverted US satellite surveillance and granted the team valuable time to finalize preparations.

On May 11, 1998, having sidestepped numerous challenges and threats, Ashwat and his team achieved success, marking India’s entry into the nuclear club at precisely 3:45 PM. The film not only encapsulates a major historical milestone but also explores the intricate personal and political machinations that played out behind the scenes.