Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran (2018): Cast, Ratings & Box Office
Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran is a 2018 action thriller directed by Abhishek Sharma, starring John Abraham as Capt. Ashwat Rana, Anuja Sathe and Boman Irani. It runs 2 hours 9 minutes and earned $9.9 million worldwide on a $7.4 million budget. Critics gave it 33% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 7.6/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 9m (129 min)
- Director
- Abhishek Sharma
- Original language
-
Hindi
- Studio
- Zee Studios
- Budget
- $7.4M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran About?
The premise of Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In 1998, amidst rising global tensions, India secretly conducted nuclear tests in the Thar Desert. This film recounts the extraordinary and clandestine operation undertaken by a team of scientists, intelligence officers, and the military. Facing immense pressure and potential international repercussions, they race against time to prove India's capabilities and secure its place as a nuclear power. It's a thrilling account of courage, determination, and the high stakes involved in a pivotal moment in Indian history.
Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran Themes & Keywords
· 39 tags- army
- indian army
- nuclear test
- nuclear reactor
- raw
- india
- real footage
- news footage
- nuclear
- testing
- year 1998
- fight
+27 more Show fewer
- gun
- chase
- gunfire
- head dunked in water
- grabbed from behind
- running
- hand to hand combat
- explosion
- sandstorm
- boxing
- attack
- satellite
- conversation
- husband wife relationship
- father son relationship
- rajasthan
- foot chase
- action violence
- breaking a table
- grabbed by the neck
- struggle
- time freeze
- binoculars
- stylized violence
- cia central intelligence agency
- period drama
- based on true story
Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran Cast & Characters
John Abraham leads the cast as Capt. Ashwat Rana, with Anuja Sathe as Sushma and Boman Irani as Himanshu Shukla. Directed by Abhishek Sharma; 16 actors are credited in all.
- Director Abhishek Sharma
-
John Abraham as Capt. Ashwat Rana - Anuja Sathe as Sushma
-
Boman Irani as Himanshu Shukla - Aditya Hitkari as Dr. Viraf Wadia
Also Starring in Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran
· 12 more- Yogendra Tikku Dr. Naresh Sinha
- Vikas Kumar Major Prem Singh
- Ajay Shankar Puru Ranganathan
- Diana Penty Capt. Ambalika
- Darshan Pandya Pakistani spy
- Mark Bennington Daniel
- Zachary Coffin CIA Officer Stephen
- Arush Nand Prahlad
- Abhiroy Singh
- Rohan Khatri Sardaar Driver
- Prahlad
- Tan Raj Ghale
More from Abhishek Sharma
More films directed by Abhishek Sharma, best-rated first: Ram Setu, Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari, The Zoya Factor and Tere Bin Laden Dead or Alive.
Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran 33% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 7.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 57/100, strongest in character & emotion (75) and weakest in rewatch factor (40).
Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran Echo Score Breakdown
While Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran captures a sense of national pride through authentic reconstruction of historical events, it struggles with uneven pacing and inconsistent performances. Critics often cite a disconnect between the film’s patriotic momentum and its measured direction, while viewers praise its emotional underpinnings yet note moments of sluggish progression and flat dialogue. The blend of factual elements and dramatic flourishes yields a mixed impact. Ultimately, the film delivers a commendable premise but falls short of sustained engagement.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 60
In terms of art and craft, Parmanu offers striking production design and desert landscapes that evoke the era’s secrecy. The cinematography frequently achieves immersive wide shots during the tests, and the period set pieces demonstrate careful attention to detail. However, some editing choices contribute to uneven scene transitions, and direction occasionally loses narrative momentum. Overall, the film’s visual reconstruction is competent but marred by sporadic lapses in craft execution.
- Character & Emotion 75
When it comes to character and emotion, performances vary notably among the ensemble. John Abraham and Boman Irani bring a grounded presence, and supporting actors contribute authentic chemistry. At times, lead portrayals feel stiff, and emotional peaks do not consistently resonate, owing to limited character depth. In sum, the cast delivers credible intent but often falls short of sustained emotional engagement.
- Story & Flow 45
For story and flow, the narrative hinges on a blend of factual events and dramatization that occasionally feels forced. While the climax injects brief suspense and patriotic resonance, earlier scenes suffer from dilute pacing and predictable beats. Many plot points emerge with limited coherence, reducing overall engagement. In net, the storyline offers moments of intrigue but remains uneven in execution.
- Sensory Experience 65
In terms of sensory experience, the film’s visual style during the detonation sequences is immersive, and the score introduces Rajasthani motifs that align with the setting. Soundtrack elements enhance certain scenes, yet high-decibel effects during explosions can feel jarring. Overall, the audio-visual design achieves occasional cohesion but is undermined by inconsistent sound mixing and a largely average musical identity.
- Rewatch Factor 40
When evaluating rewatch factor, initial viewings benefit from patriotic themes and historical curiosity. The film’s factual basis and occasional dramatic peaks prompt appreciation on first viewing. However, recurring narrative lulls and uneven character development limit lasting appeal. Many viewers find the story satisfies once but lacks enough fresh nuances for repeated engagement. Consequently, the film’s replay value is modest.
-
IMDb 7.6 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 33% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 88%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
TMDB 70% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.1 /5
See on Letterboxd
Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran Plot Summary
What happens in Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The film narrates the gripping historical events surrounding the nuclear tests conducted by the Indian Army in Pokhran, Rajasthan, back in 1998. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1995, India found itself vulnerable, devoid of powerful allies, as Pakistan aligned itself with the US and China. The western powers pressured India into one-sided agreements aimed at undermining its military and economic strength.
Full summary
The whole story of Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran, scene by scene
Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran Box Office & Budget
Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran grossed $9.9 million worldwide on a $7.4 million budget, 1.3 times what it cost.
Worldwide gross
$9.9M
1.3× its budget
- International
- $9.9M
- Budget
- $7.4M
Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran.
How Well Do You Know Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
In what year did the events of the movie take place?
Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran Also Known As
18 alternative titles, including “Parmanu The Story of Pokhran” and “परमाणु: पोखरण की कहानी”.
- Also known as
-
- Parmanu The Story of Pokhran
- परमाणु: पोखरण की कहानी
- Parmanu: Pokhran Hikayesi
- 核弹英雄
- 波卡蘭核試爆
- Atom: Pokhran története
- Parmanu: A História de Pokhran
- Парману: История Похрана
- Parmanu: Povestea Pokhranului
- بارمانو: امتحان العزيمة
- Parmanu : l'histoire de Pokhran
- 波卡蘭核試
+6 more Show fewer
- 印度核试验:博克兰基地的故事
- Ατομική Βόμβα: Η Ιστορία του Πόκραν
- אטום: הסיפור מאחורי פוקראן
- ยุทธการปรมาณู ณ โปขรัณ
- اتم: داستان پوکران
- পরমাণু: দ্যা স্টোরি অফ পোখরান
Seen Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran?
Movies Like Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Paltan, Mission Majnu and Parvarish.
Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran FAQ: Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran?
Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran runs 2 hours 9 minutes (129 minutes).
When was Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran released?
Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran was released on May 25, 2018.
Who directed Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran?
Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran was directed by Abhishek Sharma.
More films by Abhishek Sharma Who is in the cast of Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran?
Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran stars John Abraham as Capt. Ashwat Rana, Anuja Sathe as Sushma and Boman Irani as Himanshu Shukla, among 16 credited actors.
How much did Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran make at the box office?
Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran grossed $9.9 million worldwide on a budget of $7.4 million.
How is Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran rated?
Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran has 7.6/10 on IMDb, 33% on Rotten Tomatoes, 70% on TMDB and 3.1/5 on Letterboxd.
Does Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran have a post-credit scene?
No. Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran in?
The original language of Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran is Hindi.
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