While not directly based on the 2014 case between the IAFF and Dutee Chand, Rashmi Rocket is heavily inspired from that case, especially the allegations and subsequent ban Dutee Chand had to face when the amount of testosterone in her blood was found to be above an arbitrary threshold, thus disqualifying her.
Dutee Chand then went on the offensive and fights for her rights, and her ban was ultimately lifted because of lack of evidence supporting that higher testosterone could give an unfair advantage to female players.
The above case of hyperandrogenism, and the subsequent effects it has had on the world of competitive sports is an interesting and frankly far more ambiguous and exhaustive affair – especially the different rules being implemented, amended, addendum established etc.
On that regard, Rashmi Rocket should be applauded in bringing the existence of gender test as well as the existence of this condition to public focus.
But the film’s existence in being an original story and not an out and out biopic about Dutee Chand ultimately shows us Bollywood’s propensity into leaning in on sensationalizing events in order to convey a message.
While that is not a bad thing in hindsight, it is clear that Rashmi Rocket is really not interested about hyperandrogenism and its nuances in response to competitive sports, instead focusing on a contrived plotting about internal politics as well as jealousy and personal agenda between competitors that force Rashmi out of the competition.
It really makes for an emotionally charged affair, but it does look like a missed opportunity.
Still from Rashmi RocketThe first half of the film is the typical origin story of Rashmi Vira, a young girl who is tomboyish, the apple of her father’s eye and has a contentious relationship with her mother. She grows up to take over her father’s business of a tour guide in Gujrat; it’s all a well paced and a good, if somewhat predictable origin story.
The relationship between Rashmi and Captain Gagan, played by Priyanshu Painyuli is a sweet and mature one.
The movie becomes far more sensationalized when the hour mark approaches, and Rashmi is carted off to a medical centre to do a blood and sample test and unbeknownst to her, a gender test.
Here is where Akarsh Khurana as a director tries his best to elevate a frankly troubling sequence, and ultimately leading to the opening sequence of the movie, which grabbed headlines when it was shown in the trailer.
The image of Taapsee Pannu’s Rashmi being dragged by male officers from her hostel is definitely a sight designed to grab you and pull at your anger-strings.
Still from Rashmi RocketThe movie at the second half becomes a far more interesting affair when Abhishek Banerjee’s Eeshit enters the film, as a lawyer interested to fight Rashmi’s case.
Bollywood has been excelling at depicting court cases in movies as of late, and this film definitely can proclaim the court scenes to be the strongest.
Eeshit’s character being impulsive and a maverick lawyer is called out by the judge (a superb Supriya Pilgaonkar) as someone who is a fan of Bollywood movies and thus is far more impulsive than necessary. A clever call-out, but that’s what it all ends up being, a call-out, because it is a Bollywood movie where commercial elements and big monologues in court movies are somewhat essential.
At the end of the day Akarsh Khurana crafts a movie which is definitely an important one, and a project he and his team of writers have crafted definitely invites conversation.
It also helps that the central performances are universally sound.
While Taapsee’s acting prowess is settling into something far more familiar nowadays, her physical transformation as well as physical acting is top notch. Rashmi’s portrayal by Taapsee definitely makes the viewer believe in her athletic capabilites .
Rashmi Rocket at the end is an important movie that brings to light topics the general audience has little knowledge of. However, it chooses plot contrivances to push the narrative and thus makes it feels like a far different movie than what you were expecting.
It is a far more simplistic movie than the ambitiousness it aspires to execute.
Popcorn Rating – 
[2.5/5]
Rashmi Rocket releases on ZEE5 on 15 October 2021.
Watch an exclusive interview with Abhishek Banerjee discussing the Rashmi Rocket and more:
