Mission Majnu 2023
by
Shantanu Bagchi
India has always lacked the stomach to go ahead and actually ruin Pakistan. It seems like we actually do behave like a mother towards her child when it comes to dealing with them. While the film tells the first part of the woeful tale of India's meltdown, it winds itself up before telling the second part of the story.
Morarji Desai is rightly vilified as the PM who fell prey to Zia's smooth talk over phone calls and ended up divulging India's foreknowledge of Pakistan's nuclear plans. Through exceptional ground-work RAW had collected details about Kahuta research facility near the border where the nuclear project was being taken forward. Rather than permitting RAW to sabotage this project or asking IAF to carry out strikes in conjunction with the Israelis, Desai reportedly admonished Zia for this activity over a call which led to shifting of the site, packing the stuff underground and launching an offensive against possible Indian agents inside Pakistan. The film gets right the part where Indian spies had collected hair samples form barbershops in Kahuta to verify radioactive exposure, thereby proving nuclear activity in the area. It is alleged in the film that the Israelis had identified Quetta as the nuclear site, and were hell bent on carrying out strikes, but the site was actually Kahuta, and the strike was averted at the last minute due to Indian efforts.
What the film does not delve upon is that the Israelis actually offered to bomb the Kahuta facility in 1981 after similar strikes levelled Osirak Nuclear Facility in Iraq in June 1981. Israelis were to fly into Pakistan after getting refueled at Jamnagar. Indira Gandhi approved the strikes but later developed cold feet. Punjab and Kashmir were very hot at that point. Pakistan was a key American ally in Afghanistan, and as such had acquired fresh tranche of hi-tec weapons. India's backtracking allowed Zia to carry out his evil plans with nonchalance. The Iron Lady proved to be as indecisive as the Piss Man of India.
Coming back to the film, Rashmika was the weakest point of the film. Why was her character conceived as a blind girl, I do not quite understand. Sharib Hashmi, Zakir Hussain and Kumud Mishra are just OK. Sidharth Malhotra does well but lacks the presence to set the screen on fire. Rajit Kapur and Parmeet Sethi are also there. It is a watchable film, but lacks much historical or cinematic worth.
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