'Mission Over Mars': a manipulative title almost suggesting what's to come. The main intent of the makers is to repeat its motives: it is establishing the roles of the general Indian moms in making this 'MOM' successful. So ALT Balaji bends the tube and almost breaks it by making 'Mars Orbiter Mission', 'Mission Over Mars'. But who cares? After all, its MOM's show all the way!
But never mistake MOM as a soap-operatic version of true events. Ir don't draw in those similarities between 'Mission Mangal' and this series. Because the feature film was a nationalistic film which focused on hitting right the emotional buttons. But this series comes off as a different one. It lays more emphasis on the women behind the mission: it comes altogether with another set of four women: they have another set of stories. And, there are more real conversations and there are people who are actually discussing the pros and cons behind the mission and a mother who is actually worried about the possible outcome of each and every stage of this mission.
But the narrative lacks the adrenalin rush, the heft of drama, the right kind of emotional consistency or a genuine comical talent which made 'Mission Mangal' soar in style and bask in substance. The characters aren't rooted enough and the series is too long and silly to BE so. It also borrows the incredible silly matter of writing of male characters from the film.
But it is also a harmless watch that, if not anything, if extremely unpromising, is still a feminist take on a space mission where frequently the political ambitions of the men have been splattered and a jingoistic overdrive which we always want to avoid. Not perfect, but knows where the highs and lows lie.
Review of Mission Over Mars
