R. Madhavan’s dream project Rocketry: The Nambi Effect , the biopic on Nambi Narayanan the scientist from the Indian Space Research Organisation falsely accused of espionage, will premiere at the Cannes Film festival later this month.
Madhavan is over the moon. “I couldn’t have asked for more.Rocketry is by far the most important film of my career. It tells a chilling story of character assassination which had to be told. That I was chosen to tell it, is my good fortune. Recounting the story of Nambi Narayanan Sir has been the most enriching and illuminating experience for me.”
Madhavan whose last feature-film release Maara in Tamil went straight to Amazon Prime Video, was warmly received by the audience. “It was a film I stole time to do. My last six years have been devoted to Rocketry. Now when it goes to Cannes, I feel my hard work is paying off.”
His OTT series Uncoupled where he played a foul-mouthed no-holds-barred misogynist earned him further fame and newly-earned flak. “Playing this guy I was able to do and say things I’d never do in real life. So yeah, it was fun and liberating. As for it being controversial, nowadays everything becomes controversial, even Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs.”
Not only does Madhavan play the lead in Rocketry he also turns director for it. “I don’t know how other actors do it. For me serving two functions on the sets was like looking after very demanding twins. I feel acting and direction are both full-time jobs.For this project I had no choice but to be the actor and director. But in future I would just like to be the actor.”
