(tense music)
(Ramaiah sighs)
What do you think, Yamini?
Why did Vikram crash?
Sir, either the lander tilted mid-flight
or maybe the engine failed.
Is this just your hypothesis,
or do you actually have proof?
Cyberattacks were indeed launched from North Korea.
Yes.
But we don't have any proof
that those attacks caused the crash.
But did you have enough time to prepare for it?
Sir, I worked only on the rover.
The mission didn't even reach that stage.
So, I'll never know.
Then what's the reason?
Just be honest with me.
Did the simulation ever fail?
Not even once.
My program was perfect.
Had it been perfect, there would've been no crash.
(dramatic music)
Sir, are you suggesting
the crash of the lander was my fault?
You said you found the lander
based on the luminosity scan.
You didn't even wait till the data was verified.
Do you think you made a wrong call?
Sir, I thought it was a lander, so I said so.
Eventually, we did find a piece of the lander.
So how can you say it was a wrong call?
(tense music swells)
Whatever you are implying,
I followed what I believed and I believed that--
You've embarrassed us on a global level.
How could you not find Vikram's pieces
before the American Space Agency?
If you don't have an answer, you can leave.
(tense music)
(man over radio in English) What's happening with the manoeuvre?
I repeat, what's happening with the manoeuvre?
(woman over radio in English) Manoeuvre has malfunctioned.
I repeat, manoeuvre has malfunctioned.
(explosive rupture)
- (intense music) - (metals shriek)
(man over radio in English) The collision has created
a lot of debris that is heading towards other satellites.
We need to warn other countries.
(tense music continues)
All space agencies, be advised.
The debris from our exploded satellite
is flying in a lower orbit.
(woman over radio in English) Copy. Tracking the debris.
(metals clank)
Our assets are out of danger.
But one of India's defence satellites
is in the path of the debris.
Informing DRDO.
(man over radio in English) Indian Naval Base, this is DRDO.
The debris from our exploded satellite
is heading our way.
We're in touch with ISRO.
We might have to manoeuvre the satellite.
Please stand by.
(tense music)
(klaxon blaring)
(cell phone buzzing)
(Arjun grunts)
- Hello. - (Jairam) Arjun, it's code orange.
(tense music)
(man 1 over radio) Control, tracking here.
A debris object has been detected.
(man 2 over radio) What's the closest pass?
(man 1 over radio) The closest pass is less than one kilometre.
Over.
(man 2 over radio) Copy that. Tracking.
(klaxon blaring)
Flight, did you hear that?
(Shaheen) Our Navy satellite, Rukmini, is in the path of debris.
(Arjun) Our defence forces have only two dedicated satellites,
and this is one of them.
We can't afford to lose this.
When will it crash?
As per our calculation,
the trajectories of debris and satellite
will intersect each other after eight days.
Eight days, eight days. Okay.
I'll take care of it.
(man 1 over radio) Flight copies.
Comms, send an alert to the ground stations.
(man 2 over radio) Copy. Sending alert.
Arjun, you don't need to manoeuvre it right now.
We're still tracking the debris.
We'll move the satellite out of the debris's path when the time comes.
Why wait till the last moment, Shaheen?
I've got this.
It's a very old satellite, Arjun.
It has limited fuel.
We'll move the satellite only if we run out of options.
If the fuel is limited, the manoeuvre has to be precise.
It means manual manoeuvre. Okay.
I'll do it.
- (keyboard clicking) - (klaxon blaring)
(suspenseful music)
Him?
In that case, Arjun,
I'll call someone else from your navigation team.
No, I'm doing it.
Pramod can do it. Don't worry.
What do you mean "don't worry"?
I mean,
he's the best player on the team.
Wait a minute. Are you doubting him because of the FAC review?
(dramatic music)
Shaheen, I was summoned too.
- Jairam, please don't get into it-- - (Jairam) It's Pragyan...
By the way, what are you doing here? Who called you here?
We got a message on the office group,
so we came over.
- (dramatic music) - (klaxon beeping)
Do you think I can't?
I can't.
(dramatic music rises)
(dramatic music fades)
(Mohanty) The FAC was formed 20 days ago,
and you still don't know
what caused the Chandrayaan to crash
and whose fault it was.
How do we even announce the Chandrayaan-3 mission?
One more thing.
Dr. Sankaran will retire in a few days.
Hmm.
Along with the C3,
we need to announce the appointment of ISRO's new chief.
I'm sure Sankaran sir has someone in mind.
Luckily, we both have the same person in mind.
In fact, I'm talking to him right now.
Me?
I'm sorry, sir.
I love being in Thumba, launching rockets.
Leading a team in Bengaluru...
- I don't want all that. Please. - Dr. Ramaiah.
The best leaders were those
who never really wanted to lead.
(tense music)
But, Mohanty sir...
All the best, Dr. Ramaiah.
(Swami in Telugu) Ramaiah, don't leave your used glass here.
There's a separate glass for you.
(boy 1) You thought you'd be a monitor
because you built a machine?
This is mine. Give it to me.
(Young Ramaiah) It is mine. Give it to me.
This is mine. Give it to me.
(boys laughing)
Swami!
(thuds)
(boys laughing)
Do you know what event we are planning
before the Aayudh Puja this year?
(children) Ramleela.
(Madhvi) Ramleela!
- (boy 2) Madhvi Auntie. - Hmm?
What's Aayudh Puja?
It's a ceremony to honour machines.
- Machines? - Hmm.
- Shouldn't we worship God? - (Madhvi chuckles)
Tell me, why do we celebrate Dussehra?
To celebrate the triumph of good over evil.
Correct. In our daily life,
there are so many machines
which help us achieve success and triumph.
Anyway,
for ISRO scientists, their machines are next to God.
(female news reporter) So far, ISRO hasn't furnished
any reasons for the failure of Chandrayaan-2.
While other nations
are fast-tracking their missions to the Moon,
ISRO is still awaiting guidance from the FAC.
Will we be left behind in this space race--
Governments get formed overnight,
but you couldn't produce an FAC report in all these days.
Dr. Ramaiah,
right now, not just the Moon mission,
but its announcement is also a race.
If we want to win this race,
you have to give me the FAC report.
Along with the list of the Chandrayaan-3 team.
For right now, I suggest
remove the people from the C3 list who didn't make the cut for C2.
Sir, I feel we should use the same exact team as C2.
Sir.
I think
we should let the future chief decide this.
(pulsating dramatic music)
I'm not going to be the next chief.
Because
I know how machines work,
but I don't understand humans.
As for the FAC report,
you'll have it on your desk with the C3 team
before Aayudh Puja.
(Ramaiah) Mr. Arjun Verma,
why didn't you wait
till the luminosity scan was verified?
(tense music swells)
Like I told you before,
- I thought the lander-- - You thought
it was the lander because you hoped it would be!
But science doesn't run on hope. It runs on hard facts.
And you ignored facts because you had too much faith.
The fact was it was only one day left for the lunar night,
and you wanted Vikram intact.
You could see Vikram
because you were desperate to see Vikram.
Were you drunk that night, Arjun?
- Excuse me, sir. - Were you drunk, Arjun?
That's a very unnecessary accusation--
In the 11 years of your service,
have you worked on missions under the influence?
It is even worse.
You're making mistakes even in your senses.
Are you sure that Vikram did not crash because of you?
Sir...
How could you say
that your navigation program was perfect?
Are you even a scientist, Arjun?
Do you even belong here?
- (dramatic music) - (firecrackers crackle)
(man laughs)
Waiting for him is a futile exercise.
Your Lord
will not come here to rescue you.
You will be spending the rest of your life here.
- (actor laughs, stops abruptly) - (mobile phone ringing)
(indistinct chatter)
Did you forget your lines, Ravan?
(audience laughing)
- My friends! - (phone chimes)
I have never heard of this strange bird
in Ashok Vatika.
- (suspenseful music) - (audience laughing)
(Jairam) Arjun sir!
Where the heck is the director?
(audience laughing and clapping)
- (Arjun muttering) - (suspenseful music)
Shaheen.
Sorry, Arjun. You had to leave the Ramleela halfway through.
I was acting in that play.
He was just manning the light equipment.
Arjun sir, all the best.
May you be victorious.
Arjun, I called Pramod for the debris manoeuvre.
- But-- - But...
- Sir. - ...I needed my best man on the job.
Sorry on behalf of the team.
But we need you now.
All the best, Arjun.
Sir.
(intense music)
- (whoosh) - (metals shriek)
(man 1 over radio) Naval base, Visakhapatnam
to Defence Space Agency, Bangalore.
Rukmini, the Navy satellite
will be in the debris field in five hours.
Please reach ISTRAC, Bangalore at the earliest. Over.
(tense music)
Initiating collision avoidance manoeuvre.
Keep a check on fuel levels.
Control, tracking here. A debris object has been detected.
What's the closest pass?
- (Pramod) Buddy, sorry. - (man 2 over radio) Closest pass
less than 1 kilometre. Over.
(Pramod) When I came here, I realised
that the satellite has the same engine
that Vikram had.
(man 1 over radio) Copy that. Tracking.
Please handle it.
(man over radio) Flight, did you hear?
These five hours are going to be a nightmare.
All teams, please be on alert.
(tense music swells)
(Ramaiah) Are you sure that Vikram did not crash
because of you?
(Ramaiah's overlapping voice) There was only one day left
for the lunar night.
And you wanted Vikram...
Are you drunk, Arjun?
In the 11 years of service... How could you think?
Under the influence
Your navigation program was perfect?
But science... And you wanted Vikram intact!
Were you drunk that night, Arjun?
Your navigation program was perfect.
Under the influence!
Are you even a scientist, Arjun?
Do you even belong here?
(Shaheen) Arjun, what are you doing?
You only have five hours and a very limited fuel to figure this out.
Arjun, what happened?
(eerie music)
(Young Ramaiah in Telugu) Swami broke my things.
Not just this time, he's done it before.
He doesn't let me sit in the front row in the classroom.
Ramu, you'll come across many Swamis like this
in your future life too.
They'll always push you to the back.
Do you know why?
Because humans discriminate all the time
unlike machines.
So, just ignore people like Swami line:10%
and focus on this.
Don't spend your energy on getting to the front row.
Instead, focus on rising high in life.
Just like an ISRO rocket.
You want to see a launch?
- In Sriharikota? - Hmm.
Sure. Let's go.
(pleasant music)
Dad.
It's wrong for people to discriminate
against each other, isn't it?
Yet people indulge in such things. Why?
(Ramaiah's dad) Because some often do wrong things
and yet consider themselves to be right.
(inte music)
(tense music swells)
(Madhvi) What's wrong, Arjun?
(Arjun) I was called to do the debris manoeuvre,
but I panicked again.
I ran away from there.
I think I'm just a failure.
(Arjun scoffs)
A failure.
Do you remember our first meeting?
You were attempting JEE for the third time,
and you told me that very proudly.
You cleared the exam the same year.
I also texted you saying, "My lady luck worked its magic."
(Madhvi chuckles)
Yet, I didn't agree easily to go out with you.
You asked me many times before we actually went out.
You agreed at the fourth attempt.
(pleasant music)
You were tougher to crack than the JEE.
Exactly.
But you never gave up.
I just want to say
that the Arjun I know
never gives up.
You're a problem solver.
Not a quitter.
(joyful music)
(sighs)
(man over radio) All stations report ready.
Guidance nominal.
Sankaran sir.
Sorry. I'm back.
(man over radio) Attitude algorithms engaged.
Good.
(Sankaran) The Defence Space Agency is also here.
Jai Hind, sir.
- My father was also in the Army. - (man speaking over radio)
A war isn't limited to land, sea and air anymore.
(man over radio) Continuous monitoring active.
There is one more frontier.
- Space. - Yeah.
(man over radio) Parameters nominal.
That's why Defence Space Agency was created.
To defend India's interest in space.
And right now, we need to defend this satellite.
Good luck, son.
(man over radio) Power levels stable.
Batteries nominal.
Arjun, we've never attempted a manual manoeuvre
with such limited fuel.
This one has to be precise.
(uplifting music)
(man over radio) Forty-five minutes to collision.
(spacecraft shrieks)
(man over radio) Telemetry to propulsion team.
Keep checking fuel levels fast.
(intense music)
Arjun, I've sent you the new satellite position.
Propulsion to telemetry.
You have fuel to perform only one manoeuvre.
So it has to be perfect.
(intense music)
(spacecraft shrieks)
You have fuel to perform only one manoeuvre. Do you copy?
Arjun, we're waiting for your reply.
25 minutes to collision.
(dramatic music)
Tracking to telemetry.
The debris is moving faster
because of internal collisions among fragments.
(klaxon beeping)
Arjun, we've sent you the new time of collision.
You'll have to hurry.
The debris is moving towards our satellite rapidly.
(Vikram) India needs the best of technology.
For that you must become the best of scientists.
(dramatic music)
We'll run one of the engines at half the capacity
for a precise manoeuvre.
Normally, both engines are used for manoeuvring.
Since we're low on fuel,
we'll run one engine at half capacity
to generate precise thrust.
- Good. - Okay.
We'll put all this.
(metals shrieks)
(man over radio) Four minutes to collision.
(intense music)
(man over radio) Initiating collision avoidance manoeuvre.
Arjun, do you think this will work?
(Arjun) We'll find out in some time.
I've never done this before.
All teams on stand by, please.
(tense music swells)
(uplifting music)
(dramatic music)
(man over radio) Two minutes to collision.
(metals shriek)
(metals clank)
(metals shriek)
(tense music)
(man over radio) Successful!
(all clapping)
(indistinct chatter)
(Arjun sighs)
Thank you, Arjun.
And I'm really sorry for that day.
(indistinct chatter)
Before you leave,
could you please put today's progress report
- in Yamini ma'am's cabin? - Sure.
Your father would have been proud of you today, soldier.
(triumphant music)
Jai Hind, sir.
Jai Hind.
Okay, sir.
(suspenseful music)
(dramatic music)
(Jairam) Sir, driving in Bengaluru
without traffic feels so great, right?
What's wrong, sir?
I want to know why I was treated this way.
Why was I removed from the C3 list?
- I want to go meet Ramaiah. - No, no! Sir, sir...
Are you serious?
Yes? Sir.
That's what he accused you of in the first place.
You can't go there drunk.
Sir, we'll talk about this and everything will be sorted.
You don't need to solve this tonight.
Sir. Please, sir.
(police siren blaring)
(in Kannada) Sir, I'm an ISRO scientist.
But in the eyes of the law,
drunk driving is a crime.
Is it wrong to just sit in a car while drunk?
(traffic cop in Kannada) What are you talking about?
Despite being an ISRO scientist
how can you speak so irresponsibly?
(switches to Hindi) Sir, if you plan to drink,
leave your car at home.
Hail a cab or a rickshaw.
Hail a cab?
I will if a cab accepts the ride.
The rickshaw drivers charge
one and a half times than the usual fare.
Tell me, what do I do?
Sir, please let him go.
He's under a lot of stress.
We understand, ma'am.
Like you, we also fulfil our duty towards the nation.
Tell him, henceforth, he shouldn't drink and drive.
Or else, he won't get a chance to go to the Moon.
I won't get it anyway.
Right, ma'am?
I went into your cabin.
I saw the C3 list, and my name was missing.
I'm sure, this time,
you'll land on the Moon.
The Failure Analysis Committee
has removed the "failure" from the team.
You're right.
Absolutely right.
Arjun, I didn't prepare that list.
Whatever Dr. Ramaiah says,
you are an asset to ISRO.
No, ma'am.
I'm ISRO's biggest blunder.
(sad music)
It's true.
It is.
(indistinct chatter)
Sir, what are you doing here?
Yes.
No, we...
Actually, my father...
Greetings.
He never attended this Puja.
Sir, why don't you sit in the front row?
- The view is better from there. - Uh... It's okay.
I'm... I'm fine here.
It's not okay, sir.
Sir, please come forward. Please, sir.
(Yamini chuckles)
Thank you.
(soft music)
Um...
Sir. Uh...
Do you know that yesterday
Arjun saved the Navy satellite from space debris?
Huh?
(Yamini laughs softly)
He achieved that manoeuvre
by controlling the engine burn
and figured out a new way to do that.
You removed Arjun from the Chandrayaan-3 list
because you think he is emotional and not rational.
It's good
that you don't want to become the ISRO chief.
How can you lead a team
when you cannot take a stand for them?
Have you ever heard what an F1 car sounds like?
One of the most powerful engines.
Even those machines crash and fail.
But almost each time,
it is the driver's fault.
Sir, but cars don't win the race.
Drivers do.
We worship humans,
and we also perform ritual ceremonies for machines.
When the right person has the right machine,
only then does good prevail.
(sombre music)
She is right, Ramaiah.
(in Telugu) Dad.
- Didn't you always say... - Hmm?
"People discriminate against each other,
"unlike machines."
Well,
you've started loving your machines so much
that now you discriminate against people.
(switches to English) Learn to treat men also
like the way you treat machines.
How, Dad?
(spacecraft thrusts)
(Ramaiah's dad) With love, Ramaiah. With love.
(uplifting music)
Ramaiah, I want you to perform the Aayudh Puja today.
I hope you'll do it even in the future.
Hmm.
(soft music)
(uplifting music)
(man) Ramaiah.
Remember what Doctor sahab used to say?
Any task you do,
you'll always come across problems.
The problem should never become the captain of the individual
or the project's chief.
Project chief should always be the captain of the problems
and defeat the problems.
(triumphant music)
Mohanty sir,
I'll become the ISRO chief.
But I'll not change my team
for the Chandrayaan-3.
Thank you, sir.
(music fades away)
(phone buzzes)
(sombre music)
- Ma'am. - Hmm?
Ma'am, you need to see this.
(Saurabh) The biggest news yet.
Making waves not only in our country,
but across the globe.
Because Russia has announced the Luna 25 mission.
Let me say it poetically.
After a 44-year hiatus,
the seasoned stalwart of space is gearing up
to land on the Moon again.
This time, it's aiming for the south pole.
The same place
where Chandrayaan failed to land in its first attempt.
The announcement has led to a space frenzy.
The US, Japan, and China
have moved up the launch of their Moon missions.
But what's important for us
is that ISRO hasn't issued any updates
on the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
- Hello. - (Mohanty) I told you, didn't I?
That the mission announcement itself has become a race
and we just lost this race, chief.
What will you do now?
- (intense music) - (phone beeps)
(intense music continues)
(intense music fades away)