WARNING: POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD!
This 15th August was Independence Day and the 50th anniversary of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO): the perfect date for the release of Mission Mangal.
The film is a fictional take on the behind the scenes preparation of roughly two years that went into India’s very first Mars mission- Mangalyaan.
A Powerhouse Cast
Starring stalwarts like Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan, Taapsee Pannu, Nithya Menen, Kirti Kulhari, Sonakshi Sinha, Sharman Joshi, and HG Dattatreya, the film is laced with plenty of science and humour- an unusual combination in Indian cinema.
The Value of Jugaad
From the beginning, there is an emphasis on the value of the Indian technique of jugaad, which means making the most of little.
In the movie, the Mars mission was initially written off as being out of India’s capabilities. It was assigned an inexperienced crew and tight funds, with which it had to be made successful.
However, using ingenious techniques of jugaad, the team manages to make the project a success.
Read More: As A Liberal Millennial, Did I Find Batla House To Be Another Jingoistic, Nationalistic Movie?
The ‘Poori’ Project
Here are a few examples from the movie that used jugaad for scientific purposes:
1. The Poori Project
Often referred to as the Poori Project, Vidya Balan’s character used the principle of occasionally heating the oil at strategic moments to fry multiple pooris instead of heating it continuously in order to combat the issue of limited fuel for their rocket.
2. Fitting Many Things In Small Space
Nithya Menen’s character has a knack for fitting various objects into limited space into her own house, something she uses to miniaturize components of the rocket to fit them into its small size.
3. Using Leftover Food At House
Chandrayaan 2 was postponed while Mangalyaan’s preparations were underway.
Instead of buying new parts for the Mangalyaan rocket, Vidya Balan’s character suggests reusing parts of Chandrayaan 2 that would otherwise go waste.
Akshay Kumar’s character observes this as similar to housewives reusing leftovers to make new dishes.
4. Self Repairing
Kirti Kulhari’s character finds a material that is capable of repairing itself on damage, making their rocket more sustainable and cost efficient.
5. Recycling Plastic
HG Dattatreya’s character hits upon the idea of recycling plastic in the ocean to make certain parts for the rocket, as it is proved that plastic can withstand all kinds of climatic conditions for years.
These are just a few of the jugaads used in the movie, which make it all the more relevant to the theme of ‘Make in India,’ as opposed to taking help from NASA.
Do you have any interesting jugaad stories? Share them in the comments below!
Image Credits : Google Images
Find the author online at : @samyukthanair_
