Rashmi Rocket

As it confidently dashes to the finishing line, Rashmi Rocket makes sure to remove any hurdles that might confuse or alienate viewers. Akarsh Khurana’s movie, which is out on Zee5, is stacked with a doughty heroine, a charming supporting cast, light comedy, and a rousing score. The 129-minute movie skims the surface, but nevertheless manages to leave a mark. Rashmi is played by Taapsee Pannu, delivering one of her most focused performances since 2018’s Manmarziyaan. Although Pannu’s modish Rashmi is nobody’s idea of what used to be called a tomboy in the old days, she is considered to have ticked some of the conventional boxes.

It’s not just the push-and-pull of keeping it grounded while ratcheting the high drama quotient. You also have to get past the film throwing constructed spanners in the works: often a flimsy scene or situation feels inserted, or a dialogue underlined, and the incessant background music keeps calling attention to itself. A few eye-roll moments threaten to derail things: why would a pregnant couple, having heard a doctor saying ‘thoda risk hai’ go out and do the exact thing that has been deemed risky? But then you return to Rashmi fighting the good fight, for herself and for other athletes who have been done against in similar fashion, and you want to cheer. For keeping sporting women on top, and for the very worthy cause.