The documentary “Yanam” can be described as special as it deals with space and is in Sanskrit, one of the world’s ancient languages in which several works on astronomy have been written.

The science documentary eagerly awaited by people recounts the story of India's Mars Orbiter Mission or Mangalyaan which was successfully launched in 2013. It will be shown to a select audience on August 21 in Chennai.

The premier will be launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman S. Somanath at a function, which will be attended by former chairman of the space agency K. Radhakrishnan and the present Vikram Sarabhai Space Station, Director S. Unnikrishnan Nair.

The documentary has been directed by national award-winning filmmaker Vinod Mankara. He informed that the film is based on Radhakrishnan's book "My Odyssey: Memoirs of the Man Behind the Mangalyaan Mission".

Talking to PTI Mankara said: "The objective of the documentary is to project the potentials of the ISRO and the capabilities of its scientists before the world. It explains how the Indian scientists have overcome all the limitations and made the complex Mars mission a huge success in the first attempt itself.”

The entire script and dialogues of this 45-minute-long “Yanam” is in Sanskrit. Mankara said, majority of the ancient texts of the sub-continent including that of space and astronomy were compiled in Sanskrit and so what is wrong in using that language as medium in a movie which tells about the country's Mars mission.

The film will be screened for scientists and in universities and colleges. A global premier of the documentary is also planned.