How R Madhavan went to extraordinary lengths to make 'Rocketry: The Nambi Effect'

The actor produces, directs, writes and stars in the biopic based on an Indian scientist who was accused of espionage

R Madhavan as Nambi Narayanan in 'Rocketry: The Nambi Effect'. All photos: Tricolour Films

Madhavan makes his directorial debut with the film, which he's also written and produced.

The film tells the story of Nambi Narayanan, an Indian scientist who was accused of espionage, jailed and eventually absolved of all crimes.

Narayanan, who spent weeks in jail, was honoured with the Padma Bhushan, India’s third highest civilian award, in 2019.

'Rocketry: The Nambi Effect' was filmed across eight countries.

The film also delves on Narayanan's life at Princeton University, where he was a Nasa fellow.

Madhavan is one of a handful of actors who’s had wide success in Bollywood as well as in the Tamil film industry in South India.

To make the biopic as authentic as possible and to ensure its wide appeal, Madhavan says he shot it simultaneously in three languages - English, Hindi and Tamil.

A still from 'Rocketry: The Nambi Effect'.

'Rocketry: The Nambi Effect' premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May where it received a standing ovation.

Madhavan and Simran in the film.

Madhavan also employed the help of his celebrity friends, with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and South Indian star Suriya both making cameos in the Hindi and Tamil versions respectively.

Madhavan with Ron Donachie and Phyllis Logan in the film.

Madhavan says he decided to produce the film himself after finding few takers.

'Rocketry: The Nambi Effect' has been almost 10 years in the making.

Madhavan hopes his labour of love will inspire a new generation of Indians in the field of science.

Actor R Madhavan is the first to admit that when someone says they’re writing, directing, producing and acting in a film, it’s a “surefire recipe for a disaster”.

“All of them require specific skills because they are all extraordinary roles in putting together a film,” he says.

Yet, this is exactly what the beloved Indian actor has done with his latest project, Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, out in cinemas on Friday.

Almost 10 years in the making, the biopic is based on the life of Indian Space Research Organisation scientist Nambi Narayanan who was charged and arrested for espionage in the 1990s, for allegedly selling scientific data to Pakistan.

Narayanan, who spent weeks in jail, was eventually absolved of all crimes, and was honoured with the Padma Bhushan, India’s third highest civilian award, in 2019. An investigation into the involvement of authorities in the conspiracy is still ongoing.

But, as intriguing as Narayanan's scandal was, and despite his eventual exoneration, Madhavan believed there was more to the scientist’s life that had to be told.

Madhavan as Nambi Narayanan, the Indian scientist who was accused of espionage. Photo: Tricolour Films

“I realised that I wasn’t looking at the entire picture and that there was a much bigger story,” he recalls of his first meeting with Narayanan in 2013.

“He was still very upset when he was telling me his story. He had tears in his eyes and told me ‘If you Google my name, all you’ll see is stories about me being a spy’.

“Here was a real hero who’s done so much to help advance India’s space technology, who was accused of being a spy, and who, along with his family, is still living under that shadow today.”

Madhavan, one of a handful of actors who’s had wide success in Bollywood as well as in the Tamil film industry in South India, then decided to write the film himself, with the scientist as a consultant.

Then, after delving deep into his subject’s life story, from his early life as an engineer in Tamil Nadu to his time as Nasa fellow in Princeton University in the US, it soon became clear Madhavan would be the best person to direct the film.

“Everyone said they would stand behind me. So in a moment of bravado, I said ‘Yes’,” he recalls, laughing. “I still remember the first day of the shoot my wife telling me I couldn’t have made a more stupid decision.”

Finding someone to fund the film, the story of which takes place across eight countries, was another tale altogether, he adds.

Rocketry: The Nambi Effect' tells Nambi Narayanan's story, including his time as a Nasa fellow in Princeton University. Photo: Tricolour Films

“We approached many people and were often asked how many songs were in it and how many action scenes. So I just decided to put my money where my mouth is and produce it myself,” Madhavan says.

His “old friend” Vijay Moolan Talkies then joined the project as co-producer.

To make the biopic as authentic as possible and to ensure its wide appeal, Madhavan says he made another “stupid decision” to shoot it in three languages simultaneously — English, Hindi and Tamil.

He also employed the help of his celebrity friends, with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and South Indian star Suriya both making cameos in the Hindi and Tamil versions respectively.

The actor also went to extraordinary lengths to ensure Narayanan's transformation from age 29 to 79 was as authentic as possible. He says this included breaking his jaw and replacing all his teeth to show his character ageing. He, along with the rest of the main cast, had to also gain weight and then lose all of it in a matter of weeks, as the portions with the characters' later years were shot first.

R Madhavan at the Cannes Film Festival in May. AP

"We refused to use prosthetics, so there were no false beards or moustaches anywhere. By the end of it, all of us had become weight loss experts," he says.

Rocketry: The Nambi Effect premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May where it received a standing ovation.

Madhavan hopes his labour of love will inspire a new generation of Indians in the field of science.

“We’ve had so many films on war heroes and soldiers and stories about brave patriots who run into blazing fires. Those stories definitely need to be told.

“But there's another type of patriot who puts their life on the line every day. The kind of patriot who come to do their every day knowing very well that nobody will ever come to know about their sacrifice, or their achievements. This is one such story.”

Rocketry: The Nambi Effect is out in cinemas on Friday

India celebrated in Cannes as first ‘Country of Honour’ at the festival — in pictures

Cannes favourite Aishwarya Rai Bachchan returned to the festival as a L'Oreal ambassador. India is being celebrated this year as 'Country of Honour' at the 2022 Cannes Film Market. EPA

Actress Pooja Hegde on the opening day of Marche du Film (Film Market). Reuters

Oscar-winning composer A R Rahman on the Croisette as India is the 'Country of Honour' at Marche du Film (Film Market). Reuters

Director Rasika Agashe. Reuters

Pooja Hegde attends the Marche du Film opening party. Getty Images

Actress Tamannaah Bhatia at the Marche du Film opening party. Getty Images

Tamannaah Bhatia also attended the screening of 'Top Gun: Maverick'. AFP

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Eva Longoria at the screening of 'Top Gun: Maverick'. Getty Images

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan wore a Dolce & Gabbana gown for the event. AFP

Pooja Hegde at the 'Top Gun: Maverick' premiere. AFP

Hegde is attending the festival as a member of the Indian delegation this year. Getty Images

Director Shekhar Kapur, actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, politician Anurag Thakur, lyricist and scriptwriter Prasoon Joshi, actor R Madhavan, politician Vani Tripathi and musician Ricky Kej at the opening ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival. Getty Images

Bollywood actress Urvashi Rautela on the opening night of the Cannes Film Festival. Getty Images

Rautela wore a dress by Lebanese designer Tony Ward for the event. AFP

Beauty blogger Malvika Sitlani at the screening of 'Top Gun: Maverick'. Getty Images

Pooja Hegde during an interview at the festival. Reuters

Pooja Hegde being prepped for a photo shoot. AFP

Pooja Hegde attending a portrait session on the sidelines of the Cannes Film Festival. AFP

R Madhavan's directorial debut 'Rocketry: The Nambi Effect' will have its world premiere at the festival. AP

Madhavan also stars in his directorial debut 'Rocketry: The Nambi Effect'. AP