The two-time Indian National Award-winning filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri is known for making films which, despite their non-mainstream topics, garner critical acclaim as well as box office success.
His past works include successful and gripping films like ‘Buddha in a Traffic Jam’ (2014), ‘The Tashkent Files’ (2019) and, more recently, ‘The Kashmir Files’ (2022). Back with yet another such compelling story, Agnihotri’s latest directorial offering – ‘The Vaccine War’ – is due to hit cinemas worldwide at the end of this month.
The film – based on real events – is described by the makers as India’s first ever ‘bio-science’ film and depicts India’s commitment towards developing its own indigenous vaccine during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Featuring an ensemble cast of National Award-winning artists like Nana Patekar, Pallavi Joshi, and Anupam Kher along with other talents including Raima Sen, Girija Oak, Nivedita Bhattacharya and Sapthami Gowda. The film’s trailer – which dropped recently – has already garnered over ten million views on YouTube with the audiences lauding the makers for honouring the scientists and doctors who work tirelessly during the pandemic.
Talking about the film in a recent interview with ANI, Joshi – who has also produced the film – said: "The Vaccine War as the name suggests is a film based on the vaccine made by India in record time. This was a big achievement by our scientists... The pharma lobbies are so strong that they don't wish to allow any country to become a vaccine superpower.
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“India fought against this and made its own vaccine in record time...It is a story which celebrates their (scientists) victory, hard work and how they went about making an impossible thing a reality for India."
On casting Patekar, director Agnihotri said: “We wanted to cast someone who has always put his heart and soul into the making of films. Suddenly, Nana Patekar struck my mind. He is one actor in our industry who has never played a bad role in his career. He is the one actor who has always been dedicated to his craft. I approached him for the film with great fear considering his stature, but he agreed."
The trailer definitely promises a gripping film, with performances from Patekar, Joshi and Kher looking impressive and powerful as usual.
(*With ANI Inputs)