R Madhavan Reflects on Rocketry: The Nambi Effect’s 3rd Anniversary and Its Deeper Mission
Three years after the release of Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, actor-filmmaker R Madhavan reflected on the powerful impact the film has had—not just in the cinematic world, but also in correcting the public narrative around ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan.
Speaking on the film’s third anniversary on July 1, Madhavan expressed pride in the mission behind the project. “Back in 2016 and 2017, when I was researching and writing the story, Googling Nambi Narayanan brought up the ISRO spy case and negative headlines. I told my producer Vijay, ‘We need to make a film that will change the Google algorithm—people should see the real Nambi Sir,’” he said.
The result was a film that not only humanized the aerospace scientist’s struggles but also reshaped his digital legacy. “It’s surreal to see how far we’ve come. It’s been three years, and the perception has changed,” Madhavan added.
Rocketry marked a turning point in Madhavan’s career. It was his directorial debut, and he also produced and played the lead role. The film’s global release in multiple languages and its emotionally driven storytelling earned widespread acclaim. It was honored with the Best Feature Film award at the 69th National Film Awards, cementing its place in Indian cinematic history.
Currently, Madhavan is gearing up for his upcoming film Aap Jaisa Koi and recently appeared in Kesari Chapter 2, a role that drew appreciation for his intense performance.
