Rocket Boys 2 Review: It’s A Fab Show But Still A ‘Fictionalized’ Version of Facts; Remember, History Cannot Be Contained In A Series

Like Season 1, Season 2 of Rocket Boys is engaging, engrossing, and a thought-provoking show. It takes you back to Homi Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai’s era while giving you a glimpse of a lot of eminent personalities’ lives. 

Compared to the first season, Rocket Boys, this time has dived deep into politics and decided to get dirty and whenever possible, gloomy. While S1 was all about the boys, their intelligence, passion, and charm; S2 is about the challenges and difficulties they face in real lives while attaining those dreams. Because, the manifestation of their dreams depends on a lot of external factors like approvals from the Government of India, relationships with the US and USSR, Indo-Pak war, its consequences, and so on. It wasn’t easy for them to realise their wildest dreams, turning into reality of which was a necessity for the development of this country. 

In Rocket Boys Season 2, we still see Homi Bhabha adamantly working towards making India a nuclear power while Mr Sarabhai is still chasing peace over power. But what does India really need? Who were the decision-makers back then? What should they have supported? How their decisions might have changed the fate of India? There are a lot of questions that you will find asking yourself while watching Rocket Boys but here is where we should stop and remind ourselves that Rocket Boys, though based on real people, is still a work of fiction, and history cannot be contained in a eight or ten hour long show. There are many renowned personalities in the show whose contribution to this country or the lives of Homi Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai or their work cannot be limited. 

Also, when the makers say that creative liberty has been taken and fictional characters like Raza and Mathur have been introduced to weave the story in an interesting manner, the relying on the show for facts ends right here. Because these two characters have a major impact in the show on Homi Bhabha’s life and his work. As far as the conspiracy is involved, yes, that can very much be true but will also be a ‘theory.’ So, take everything with a pinch of salt. 

The Political Twist and Impact In Rocket Boys 2

Homi Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai’s work, as per the show, was hugely dependent on the politics of the country. The relationships they share with the leaders in power at their time of research and the respective leader’s point of view along with his/her support to their ongoing work or vision had a great impact on what they did professionally. Their intellect, time and again, kept falling prey to political agendas. That being true, the inclusion of Indira Gandhi (played by Charu Shankar) and the political scenario or let’s say, chaos at that time looked a little rushed and unnecessary. It looked like the show’s focus abruptly shifted from the protagonists to the political games and personalities, as if they tried to cover a lot of things in a short period of time. Nevertheless, it still remains a great show but at times, gets filmy and looks stretched for no reason. 

Homi Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai’s Personal Lives in Rocket Boys 2

These subplots are truly interesting. They are well-written and beautifully executed on-screen. Now again, Pipsy’s presence in Homi Bhabha’s life is shown to be limited but if you believe this article, she was his life-long companion and was also a part of his research. Also, after his death, she is said to have taken care of his personal and professional documents. Anyway, coming back to the show, their bond was beautiful. Though it is said to be questionable in real life, in Rocket Boys 2, it developed into a love that lasts life-long without any commitment. There is this particular scene in the second episode where Pipsy, who is pregnant with her second child attends Bhabha’s party. The moment she comes in, Bhabha keeps aside his aide, friends, and colleagues, including the then Prime Minister, Mr Nehru and sneaks away with her for a hearty chat. That is when he sits on the table right in front of her and asks her to keep his foot on his leg and starts massaging it. That is a blessing for a pregnant woman with all the torture her legs go through due to swelling and weight gain. It warms your heart. 

Speaking of Vikram Sarabhai and Mrinalini’s marriage, their almost broken marriage in S1 is revived in S2. The couple goes through long periods of no communication and piled up emotions from all the stress of maintaining a long-distance marriage with love for each other that is accompanied by betrayal, gloominess, and anger.  The couple then mends their way and this has not come out the way it should have on-screen. Cassandra Regina fails to deliver an impactful performance when it comes to putting the vulnerable side on display. She looks convincing as Mrinalini Sarabhai when the character is silent and is sulking inside but when it comes to supporting her husband or breaking down in front of him as to finally accepting him, she has drastically failed. 

Death of Homi Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai in Rocket Boys 2

In Rocket Boys 2, you will see a lot of personalities die. From Jawaharlal Nehru to our very own Rocket Boys, Homi Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai, played by Jim Sarbh and Ishwak Singh respectively. Every death in the show opens a can of worms. Though Homi Bhabha is shown to have died in a plane crash, cardiac arrest is shown to be the cause of Vikram Sarabhai and Lal Bahadur Shastri’s deaths. These officially announced as natural or accidental deaths come with their own conspiracy theories, in reality and in the show as well. 

With every great name comes a conspiracy. And yes, the constant fear of ‘getting killed.’ Rocket Boys did not cancel out any of the possibilities. 

With S2, Rocket Boys come to an end, for a good reason. After the death of Homi Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai in Rocket Boys Season 2, there is no scope for Season 3. 

All in all, a good show to binge this weekend. But yes, don’t rely on it for facts. 

ALSO READ: Rocket Boys S1 Review: This Show Has Its Own Personality; And It’s Charming!