Rashmi Rocket Review: Taapsee’s Film Managed To Reach The Finishing Line, It Is Necessary To Handle The Race Ahead

Director: Akarsh Khurana

Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Priyanshu Painyuli, Abhishek Banerjee, Supriya Pathak

Streaming Platform: Zee5 (stream from here)

Ratings: 3.5/5 (three and half star) [yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

Victory is the result effort is our job. With this intention, Rashmi Rocket brings to us a story inspired by true events that happened in the world of track and field athletics players. The film says that if injustice is being done to female athletes in the world, then why is it necessary that we also blindly support it. The matter of error is global but at least we can rectify the mistake here. Doping is a big issue in the world of sports and no one has a problem with the rules related to it, but gender tests are definitely under debate in the case of women. The male hormone testosterone is sometimes found in higher than average amounts in female athletes and this makes Rashmi a rocket.

Rashmi Rocket Review: The Story

Releasing on Dussehra on OTT platform ZEE5, the story of this film is of Rashmi Veera (Taapsee Pannu), born and brought up in Kutch, Gujarat. Since childhood, she is quick in running and does not lag behind even in beating up boys. The father calls him ‘Rocket’ but the death of the father in an earthquake during a race becomes a fetter in Rashmi’s feet. She stops running. But after she grows up, life takes a turn and meeting an army officer inspires Rashmi to run again but this time like a player.

Rashmi wins medals from state to country and then in international competitions. If success has a hundred partners, then the enemies are not less. At this point of success, Rashmi becomes a victim of a conspiracy in the National Athletics Association. People who doubt her ‘rocket speed’ get her a gender test done for their selfishness and ban her saying that Rashmi’s body has more testosterone than the prescribed amount, so she is less female and more male. Rashmi cannot be allowed to compete with women players. Now what can he do? How will you fight the strong chairmen of the association, the media throwing mud and the people talking as much? Rashmi’s career is over.

Rashmi Rocket lifts a ruthless curtain on the world of female athletes. First of all, the thinking of the society about girls is traditionally narrow. Even today his sportsmanship is not seen with very good eyes. The film brings forth the conspiracy of those who destroy the natural talents under the guise of rule book on it. The film tells how the careers of many female players have been ruined on the pretext of testosterone hormone. After this test, many times the family-society did not accept the girl and she even committed suicide. Nanda Pariyasamy has written the story and the screenplay is by Aniruddha Guha.

The writers do not let it remain the story of Rashmi only. The matter reaches court, and the film argues that the American world champion swimmer Michael Phelps, who won 28 gold medals at the Olympics, had arms longer and palms wider than the average person’s hands, if the world’s fastest sprinter Usain Bolt had feet. I have an extra muscle that helps him to build up his pace, if batsman Virender Sehwag has naturally good eye-hand coordination despite his poor technique, was he kicked off the field? By saying that nature has made them a little special. The film says that testosterone has nothing to do with the good performance of female athletes. Rather, scientific studies show that such women have to face many personal problems.

Review and Analysis

Rashmi Rocket is written with ample research, despite looking like a simple sports film. Especially its court side is excellent and it gives momentum to it. Taapsee Pannu’s performance as an athlete is great and she has molded herself into that form with a lot of hard work. His muscles and preparation shine on the screen. But there is no doubt that after the entry of Ishit Mehta (Abhishek Banerjee), who fought for him as a lawyer in the court, a new adventure arises in the story. The entire track of the court makes the film a success. Abhishek is in the best role ever.

Taapsee and Abhishek create a ruckus in the film by becoming two sides of the coin. Gagan Thakur, Varun Badola, Mantra, Supriya Pilgaonkar and Supriya Pathak have played their roles well. Rashmi Rocket is a different leaked film made on an untouched subject but it has a deep impression of Bollywood. He could not show courage in Rashmi Rocket, director Akarsh Khurana, who made the best film free from Bollywood imprints like Caravan (2018). Despite this, those who like films on sports and fans of Taapsee Pannu will like Rashmi Rocket.

Rashmi Rocket Review: Star Performances

Talking about the performance, Taapsee has done justice to the character of Rashmi Veera. However, in some emotional scenes, she is seen repeating herself. The tone in which Taapsee speaks the dialogues does not support the background of her character. However, the kind of physique required for Rashmi’s character according to the theme of the film, one has to praise Taapsee’s hard work.

Supriya Pathak, who played the role of a domineering Gujarati woman in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film Goliyon Ki Raas Leela Ram Leela, is good in the role of Bhanuben, Rashmi’s mother. A glimpse of Dhankor Ba’s awe is seen in Bhanuben, who is handling the business after the passing of her husband. However, Bhanuben is a more homely and loving mother, who is Rashmi’s inspiration and strength. Priyanshu Painyuli has done his job well in the role of Gagan Thakur. The consistency in Rashmi’s sambal and Priyanshu’s body language as an army officer impresses.

Abhishek Banerjee appears in the role of lawyer Ishit Mehta just after half the film is over, but his arrival adds an extra tinge of entertainment to the film. Abhishek has done a balanced and effective job in the cross-examination scenes in the court and was equally supported by Judge Supriya Pilgaonkar.

Varun Badola has been impressive in the negative character of Deepak Chopra. Mantra as Koch Mukherjee and Miloni Jhonsa as Niharika are fine. There is also a problem with Rashmi Rocket that the writer-director’s focus has been limited to the main characters, which did not give a chance to the supporting characters. However, there seems to be a lot of potential in this.

Rashmi Rocket Review: The Final Words

You must see Rashmi Rocket. Many viewers may not be interested in sports drama, but they too will be able to enjoy this film. Another good thing is that you can watch this film with your family. Rashmi Rocket is a film of about 2 hours and no attempt has been made to forcefully drag any scene. Talking about acting, along with Rashmi Rocket, one more arrow has been added to the quiver of Taapsee Pannu’s hit list. Taapsee has worked hard physically for this film. Taapsee was trolled some time back for her transformation, but after watching the film you will also be able to understand that the taunts given to Taapsee on social media were her real praise. Abhishek Banerjee and Priyanshu Painyuli have also given many stellar performances in the past and their streak goes ahead with this film as well. At the same time, Manoj Joshi in the role of Rashmi’s father and Supriya in the role of mother has also done a good job. Supriya Pilgaonkar and Shweta Tripathi are seen briefly in the film and are seen doing justice to their characters.