Rocketry: The Nambi Effect

R Madhavan takes up key episodes from his life and executes them in an entertaining manner. Audiences would be surprised to know that Nambi Narayanan had worked with APJ Abdul Kalam and that he had left Neil Armstrong and Cleaver Hughes, Rolls Royce CEO, impressed. Also, the fact that such a genius had to suffer for more than two decades over a frivolous case will leave viewers stunned and even agitated. On the flipside, at 157 minutes, the film is too lengthy. The first half is weaker and the use of complex rocket science language will leave audiences scratching their heads. The second half is better as it focuses on the struggles of the Nambi family after the traitor charges were levelled on him. However, even here, several questions are left unanswered. Lastly, the excitement is limited and hence, its box office prospects seem bleak.

The narrative gains poignancy when it examines the effects of the accusations on Narayanan and his family. Tortured in custody and shunned by society, Narayanan must draw on every last reserve of strength to pull through his nightmare. A stronger performer might have better conveyed Narayanan’s agony. Madhavan’s dedication, while undeniable, fails to challenge him to rise above his limitations and move beyond flat dialogue delivery and a handful of expressions. Among the noteworthy actors is Sam Mohan as Unni, one of Narayanan’s associates who learns the hard way that feelings cannot come in the way of progress. Shah Rukh Khan pops up every now and then to leaven a film that tells a necessary story but tells it shoddily and without curiosity.

Madhavan does an admirable job as Narayanan, moving from one emotion to another seamlessly. He transforms into Narayanan on screen and shines in the film. But his mettle as a director doesn’t match up to his skill as an actor. And who can forget Shah Rukh Khan, who plays himself, in the film? He acts as the catalyst in the film’s narration; asking questions the audience wants answers to and pushing the story forward. As an interviewer talking to Narayanan, SRK’s emotions will inevitably influence yours– a testament to his skill. Several side characters perform like they’re reading off a teleprompter and it undercuts many high-stakes scenes. It’s a film that had to be made but could’ve (and should’ve) been made better. Rocketry is a well-intentioned film and works purely because of the heroic and inspirational protagonist at its helm.

And even though an attempt has been made to prevent the film from turning into a hagiography — in a tragic incident involving one of Nambi’s colleagues (Mohan), the former comes off as a hard-hearted pragmatist solely invested in getting the job done — the film keeps patting Nambi on the back. Admiring colleagues Param (Ravindranathan), and Sartaj (Sahni) keep saying, ‘you’re the man!’ There’s no doubt in the movie’s mind, or in the way Madhavan plays him, that Nambi is a hero, even when he is being cruelly beaten in prison, or when he is trying to get his shattered wife (Simran) out of the fugue she has sunk into. Madhavan makes you believe in the character, even if there are times in the beginning when Nambi looks older than he should, even as a ‘senior’ Ivy League student, or when he is exchanging notes with his dear mentor Vikram Sarabhai (Kapur) and supportive ISRO boss, shoving aside all obstacles airily, and marching to his own tune. But the writing is stodgy, and the direction doesn’t quite make up for it.