Review: Space Moms
Radha Bharadwaj’s Space Moms is a film that slowly draws you in and then engrosses you so completely, even though you know how the story ends.
#SpaceMOMs #MovieReview
Radha Bharadwaj’s Space Moms is a film that slowly draws you in and then engrosses you so completely, even though you know how the story ends.
#SpaceMOMs #MovieReview
After all, that image of saree-clad rocket scientists and engineers with gajras in their hair, laughing and crying at the joy of having successfully accomplished India’s Mission to Mars remains with us, forever imprinted thanks to our television and newspapers of that time.
The characters of the three women protagonists, who lead their teams of scientists and engineers, are etched so delicately and yet with such steely strength that the ordinary transforms into the extraordinary before our very eyes.
Bharadwaj’s decision, to not burden and distract an inspirational movie with a star cast, works well as Bhavna Pani, MD Pallavi, Swati Das, Ananda Shankar Jayant, Mahesh Dattani, Jayant Dwarkanath, and others, hold your attention
and bring to the fore what is after all a powerful and ambitious story of so many anonymous people who drove India’s daring mission on a frugal budget.
Radhika Bhardawaj’s own cameo Farzana, imparts a touchingly poignant but forceful message. A teacher in a dusty, dilapidated mofussil school she inspires her class of little girls through Mangalyaan to see the world “not through the cry of a victim but the roar of a winner”.
Instead of the usual stereotypical drivel through which Hollywood sees us, Radha Bharadwaj who is a US-based filmmaker, wanted to make a film celebrating India.
In an interview to The Hindu, she said “Living in the West, I was concerned at the incessant negative portrayal of Indians in Western media and entertainment.”
Her idea however, found little support when she sought funding for the film in the US. No doubt, the image and narrative of caste, poverty, oppression will take some time to tear down.
Space Moms is indeed a Labour of Love.
With all its trials and tribulations, it has done just that – demolished the trope of weak, suppressed, victimised Indian women.
With all its trials and tribulations, it has done just that – demolished the trope of weak, suppressed, victimised Indian women.
However, it must be said, that this has been achieved by not taking the easy, cliched route of mainstream cinema but instead with an honest and brave depiction of real households with supportive spouses and extended families.
It has also dug deep and embraced -
“Our familial bonds, the push to excellence by parents who sacrifice everything so that we can get a good education: These are part and parcel of what it means to be Indian,”
“Our familial bonds, the push to excellence by parents who sacrifice everything so that we can get a good education: These are part and parcel of what it means to be Indian,”
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