Hold on, Mathur.
Hold on.
Okay. Now.
Insert the fuel element, Atulya.
The fuel element is being inserted in position P5.
Pull up the control rods.
The reactor is critical.
Send the invitation to bhai.
Sir!
Sir, Bhabha has sent a telegram from Bombay.
Send the inauguration invitation to West Bankura's MP Raza Mehdi, quickly.
His presence is of utmost importance.
Okay, sir.
You?
How did you come inside?
Who let you inside?
I have heard your Cyclotron has failed once again.
How does it concern you?
But I must say...
...you defeated Panditji at the Lok Sabha so wonderfully.
But did you gain anything?
I don't want to talk to you about all these things.
Who are you? Get out!
How did you come inside...
Security!
Who let him come inside?
- Security! - All of them have left.
Shankar.
Dibyendu.
Isn't that your security guards' names?
And what is your assistant's name?
Kaustubh.
Everybody has left. Only both of us remain.
Don't be afraid of me.
I am your friend.
I want to help you.
I can get you the funds that can help you complete your research.
Why?
What will you gain?
You will find out when the time comes.
For now it's important for you to know that your enemy...
...Homi Bhabha is our enemy too.
What do you mean by 'our'?
You ask too many questions.
Just do one thing for me.
When Panditji calls you to Bombay, say yes.
Why will Panditji call me to Bombay?
Perfect timing.
Pick up the phone and say yes.
I will tell you the rest of the things later.
Hello.
'Sir, PMO had called.'
What does he want?
'Sir, on the 4th of next month,'
'he wants you in Bombay.'
'He has sent you an invitation,'
'for the inauguration of the nuclear reactor in Trombay.'
Sir, an applicant has come for an interview.
Govind, if he is like your other applicants, then I am not interested.
Sir, meet him once. He seems quite interesting.
He has come from far. From South.
Ramanathan, do you have some time?
I have a meeting to attend at CSIR.
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
The list of institutes that have rejected you...
...is as big as your name.
Who mentions rejections in his resume?
That's a bit eccentric even for me.
Sir. I have heard so much about you, sir.
Anyway, you would have come to know about it.
How would I have come to know about it, my friend?
Sir, you know everybody everywhere.
I appreciate the honesty, Kalam...
...but your grades are rather low.
You don't have the dean's recommendation letter.
Leave alone the dean, you don't have...
...anybody's recommendation letter.
It says that your dream was to join the IAF...
...but you couldn't get through.
So tell me, my friend, why should I hire you?
Sir, it doesn't mention that there were only eight seats in IAF.
And I stood 9th.
Sir, on paper my record is ordinary.
But in college I had built my own glider, sir.
India's first glider.
Despite building India's first glider...
...nobody gave you a recommendation letter?
Sir, CV Raman sir took you in IISc...
...because you had a recommendation letter...
...or because you had the potential...
...to perform India's first balloon experiment?
Vikram, it's Homi's call.
It's urgent.
We will continue this interview.
Yeah.
Kalam.
Where are you going?
Sir, I cannot join PRL.
You covered a long journey from Madras to Ahmedabad.
You completed 25 formalities.
You waited the whole day to meet me.
And now, you are saying you don't want to join the institute?
Sir, you are not working on your rocket program now, right?
Well, not currently.
Sir. Sir, I respect you a lot.
Because of your lectures, your papers and your vision...
...I mustered the courage to come here, sir.
But, sir, here I am seeing that like everybody else...
...you have also taken your dream project...
...and put it in one box and shut it.
Sir. I will take your leave, sir.
There will be one more rejected centre in my resume.
But no problem, sir.
Mr. Kalam.
You are still here.
I thought you must have boarded...
...the train to Madras by now.
No, sir. The train is in the evening.
Evening.
Sir, I am also thinking where to go next.
Go somewhere in the west.
Sit. Sit.
Sit.
Lot of space programs picking up.
I was also thinking of starting a certain program.
Something of a scientific committee sorts.
What program, sir?
India's first space program.
Really?
Ya.
I thought I will hire some young scientists...
...who have the hunger and drive...
...who want to do something new...
...who land up at their dream interview and then reject it themselves.
Do you know any such insane person?
Sir, now you are pulling my leg.
Sir, I will be honoured to join you.
Can I offer you a position?
Sir.
Mr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
Welcome to India's first space program.
Thank you, sir.
Thank you so much.
Gentlemen, welcome to Trombay.
Welcome to the AEE.
On this historic day, India...
I am sorry.
Welcome to Asia's first nuclear reactor's launch.
Sir.
- Yes. - It means...
...now electricity will also be produced.
No. It's a research reactor.
The path from nuclear reactor to electricity...
...is a bit longer than your expectation.
But you can say that the successful launch of this...
...swimming pool reactor will be the first step towards...
...energy independence.
And we will be far ahead of other countries.
Yes.
Sir, as per my research, it's a highly unstable reaction.
Are you prepared for any untoward events?
Apart from irreversible radiation poisoning...
...I think you should be fine.
I am joking.
- Or am I? - Sorry.
I am joking, gentlemen.
Everything will be a 100% safe...
...except maybe for this gentleman.
Rest of the questions after the launch.
Thank you.
- There is a small problem. - What problem?
Mathur, we ourselves checked everything in the morning.
Perhaps we shouldn't have done that.
What do you mean by control rods are not detecting fuel heating?
- Why? What happened? - I don't know, Homi.
Seems like something is wrong with the testing.
We are trying to figure it out.
We are unable to control the power of the reactor.
I don't think we can turn it on.
We will have to check the core grid.
The core grid is inside a 10 meter deep pool.
Yeah.
Yeah. It means, it will take hours to empty it...
...check it and refill it.
Look, we have an idea.
What if we start at 100 KW?
No, full capacity.
Homi, please be practical.
We can operate without the control rods...
- ...by inserting one fuel element. - No. Full capacity.
If it doesn't work at full capacity...
...it's better that it at least starts at limited capacity.
Do you get Cherenkov glow at 100 KW capacity, Mathur?
Obviously not.
But that's just a fucking presentation, Homi.
And that fucking presentation, Mathur...
...that fucking glow is everything.
In a swimming pool reactor that doesn't actually give power.
Do you think the reporters or Raza will ignore...
...the big 1 MW button?
What do we do?
We will have to operate the rods manually.
What?
- Wait, Homi. - Sir.
Hold on.
- Are you mad? - No, not yet.
You know that's not possible, Homi.
Why? Why isn't it possible?
That's because we will have to perfectly coordinate the teams.
- We will do it. - And even if the miracle does take place...
...all control rods' sensors are not damaged, right?
- Mr. Mathur. - Hold on.
- It's very important. - This is also very important.
Look. If we operate it manually...
...and if a sensor functions automatically...
...all the calculations will go wrong.
It's not possible.
- Then there is only one way. - What are you doing, Homi?
- Homi sir. - No, Homi, no.
- Homi sir. - What is it?
Sir, Panditji has entered Trombay...
...and Raza sir has also come with him.
Go home. You are fired.
Mathur, handle it.
Actually, wait. Wait. Wait. You get me a screwdriver.
- Yes, sir. - Atulya, I need...
Mathur!
Don't forget the garlands.
- Atulya. - Yes, sir.
- The hydraulic mechanism... - Yes, sir.
...for the control grids.
Make sure it's off.
I don't want them coming on for the next 10 minutes.
Give it to Mr. Raza.
Enough. Enough.
Give him more.
- He is like kin. - Enough.
- Give him some more. - Enough. Enough.
- Very good. Very good. - Hey!
Panditji, Homi is just a bit occupied.
He might just be a tad bit late.
Just routine checks.
Aren't five years enough, Mr. Mathur?
You know how he is, Panditji.
Yes. Always the perfectionist.
Thank you. Panditji, let's go.
Sir. Sir, this is really dangerous, sir.
Do you doubt my technical abilities or my swimming?
- Sir, please. Just think with a calm mind. - We just need to remove the sensors.
- Yes, sir. - It's easy. It's very easy.
Sir.
You wanted the screwdriver.
You are rehired.
Sir, the positions of the control rods are...
I5, 11 and 14.
- See you soon. - Yes, sir.
Hopefully.
Mr. Shastri, please have tea.
Have you invited us for tea, Mathur?
Panditji, any moment now.
Just...
40 seconds. Why isn't he coming up?
90 seconds.
Panditji...
...I admit I have never made a reactor.
But what could be the final check of something...
...that can be started with a switch?
The switch must have got damaged.
I feel bad to see you waiting like that.
- I will go with Mathur and see... - Homi.
Bhai
Sorry for the delay, gentlemen.
- All fine? - Still alive.
If you would follow me, gentlemen.
Shall we go, Mr. Raza?
Seems like the switch has started working.
This is the main control panel on deck.
But actually, the magic is happening in that room.
The pool is about eight meters deep.
Do you see the core grid there, at the centre?
This way, brother.
Will you do the honours?
Atulya sir.
- Yeah! - Yeah!
Yes! Yes!
'Double good. Good one. Good one'.
'Boys'.
Brother.
'We have done it'.
'Brilliant'.
'Yeah'.
Yes!
This is a historic day for our country...
...because we have taken an important step towards self-reliance.
'Wow'.
'Yeah'.
And this glowing reactor made in India will be called...
...Apsara.
Do you want to take a dip, Homi?
It's very dangerous.
It's beautiful.
Really impressive.
Thank you, Raza.
So finally, you did it.
I didn't have much expectation from you.
Come. Sit.
- No. No. - Do you want a drink?
- Do you drink? - No. No. No.
I just felt like seeing it again. So I came here.
I knew, I would find you here.
Today is your day.
Your day. Homi.
Cherish the moment.
I will see you soon.
And honestly congratulations.
Raza, why...why do we do this?
- What? - This...it's been 15 years.
15 years is a long time.
AEC board needs you.
We could use your expertise.
Is some radiation leaking?
B*****d.
Actually, I came this close.
I thought so.
Think about it.
The country's best scientific minds should all work together.
Country's best scientific minds.
And AEC wants to work with me.
We need you.
- What are you drinking? - Whiskey.
Do you want?
Why not?
Ice?
No ice.
Thank you.
Cheers.
To Apsara.
She looks really happy.
- She does, doesn't she? - Yes.
Come sit.
I will just come.
Where did he go?
The ceremony is just beginning.
These boys I tell you.
Mrinalini, I have always told you...
...you are much too good to be with a rocket scientist.
Hello, Kamla.
Hello, Vikram.
I knew you would be here.
I don't know. Perhaps I shouldn't have come.
Why? Why do you think like that?
Please don't feel that way.
You are a part of the family and...
...I am really glad you are here.
Homi didn't come?
He said he will come.
But...I don't know.
This ceremony is called 'Warding off the evil eye'.
The groom's mother wards off the evil eye on the bride.
It's to ward off the evil.
Now they are going to break eggs.
I can't stand the smell of eggs.
Drink up.
Don't feel that way.
Kamla!?
What a pleasant surprise!
I didn't know you were going to be here today.
Mrinalini...
Yes, I was just..to.
Kamla is here for some work.
The traders' association meeting.
She was here for that.
So I invited her for the wedding.
Will you also make Kamla like yourself?
Come. Let's enjoy the wedding.
No, I am really fine over here.
Come. You are like family. Come.
WEDDING RITUAL PRAYERS
After this they will throw rice at each other.
The one who throws first will rule the house.
Homi.
What's happening?
Is someone getting married?
I am glad you came.
She looks familiar.
She does make for a pretty bride, doesn't she?
That she does.
Honestly how are you feeling?
I am great.
I love weddings.
Why didn't you tell her?
There was always enough to make me keep coming back to her.
Not quite enough to make her stay.
Well, I guess the poets aren't right after all.
It's not all about love.
'Sputnik 1. The first artificial earth satellite...'
'...was launched into an elliptical low earth orbit.'
'A wondrous achievement for mankind.'
Did you hear?
'The news came in just now in a broadcast by Moscow radio.'
'And it confirms that they have successfully launched...'
'...the world's first earth satellite.'
'Sputnik 1.'
'Which in Russian means fellow traveler.'
'It reached an elliptical low earth orbit.'
'This is indeed a wondrous achievement for mankind.'
'As we finally venture into space.'
'Opening a bright new chapter in mankind's conquest...'
'...of the natural environment.'
What, sir?
First time.
It happens.
- Good morning, brother. - Good morning, sir.
My mad scientists.
And who is this young man?
Sir, that's A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
One of the brightest minds of his generation.
That's exactly what he had told me about you.
We tend to exaggerate when we want something, brother.
Homi.
What is it that you want now?
We need a quick approval.
Vikram has got a proposal.
India's space program, sir.
That's enough of jokes now...
...but let's get down to some serious talks.
Brother, we are serious.
Panditji, India needs its own indigenous space program.
Currently our needs are something else, Vikram.
There are real problems that we are fighting.
And the solution...
Is in space exploration?
- Yes. - Perhaps, not immediately.
But definitely in the long term, sir.
Telecommunications.
Satellite navigations.
Weather mapping. Meteorology.
All of this will be possible.
Our telecommunications and satellites...
...are not for entertainment.
It will be used to provide information...
...to farmers in famine areas.
It will be a big boon for the agricultural industry, sir.
We have also identified an ideal site for this, sir.
It's a small fishing village called Thumba...
...very close to Trivandrum.
It's also right on the magnetic equator.
We won't be able to justify this ambitious project, gentlemen.
Neither in parliament nor on behalf of the people.
Homi, you know that.
Sir...can we justify it in the name of national security?
What do you mean?
Sir, maybe parliament has no interest in predicting weather patterns.
But they will be interested in strengthening the country's military.
Search and rescue operations.
Navigation and data analysis.
Missile development.
It's all linked to space research, sir.
"Indian National Committee for..."
For Space Research.
INCOSPAR.
I can only give you a recommendation, gentlemen.
But...the proposal must go through the CSIR.
- Certainly. - Certainly, sir.
Unlike the Russians, we are a democracy.
- Absolutely. - And let me tell you...
...the odds are still against us, Vikram.
Mr. Kalam.
That's a risk we are willing to take, sir.
After all, we are your mad scientists.
Now it's time to match steps with the world.
Now sky cannot be our limit.
It must only be our beginning.
At least today you should have cut your hair, Kalam.
Sir, I was thinking of growing it a little longer.
So what news of Panditji?
Sir, I got a call from Delhi.
He might not be able to come.
And Homi?
He is not coming.
I thought you knew.
I am sure he has a pretty good reason to miss this.
Sir, I have bad news.
Today in the morning the Chinese...
...have crossed the LoC.
We are at war.
- Hello. - 'Sarabhai.'
Hi, Homi.
'I need you in Bombay.
Why? What happened?
'We are at war.'
What happened, sir?
'As per the latest news, the Chinese army...'
'...has attacked the Indian army.'
'The attacks took place at Aksai Chin Valley...'
'...and Namka Chu river simultaneously.'
'China attacked the Gurkha Rifle Regiment...'
'...moving northwards and even open fired on them.'
The Indian posts of Dhola and Khinzemane along the McMahon line...
...in the NEFA have fallen to the Chinese yesterday.
What are you saying, Homi?
What is all this?
Gentlemen, it's the proposal to make India's first 'atom bomb'.
As members of the country's most respected scientific council...
...no doubt, we should contribute to war efforts in every way possible.
Yes.
But while staying within the limits of peace policies...
...not by building an atom bomb.
We can end this war.
And we can stop any other country from ever even thinking of...
...attacking us again.
But for that, I need all of you.
Done enough.
'Homi, how can you in good conscience do this?'
You may not trust me, but I trust you.
Please trust me.
What you're doing isn't right.
The consequences will be very ugly.
I hope you remember this.
You're blind, Vikram.
We are at war.
Do you know what they call a soldier who deserts their battalion?
Fugitive!
Traitor!
So be it, Homi.
But I won't join hands with you to destroy our country.
Consider this my resignation from AEC.