R Madhavan on Rocketry: The Nambi Effect completing three years of its release: We wanted to change Google's algorithm..
As the film completed a year of it's release yesterday on July 1, Madhavan was ecstatic and reminisced the making, 'When I started writing the story of Rocketry in 2016 and 17, whenever I Googled Nambi Narayanan, it used to spit out the ISRO spy case or the Maldivian woman affair or something negative about Nambi sir. And while writing the script, I told Vijay, my producer, that, 'you know what, we should make a movie that will change the algorithm on Google to spit out more the right facts about Nambi Sir'. Basically I wanted to change the algorithm about how sir was being perceived by Google- and we have managed to do that. It's been three years since then, can't believe how the time flew.'
It was therefore a deeply personal project for Madhavan, who also turned director with Rocketry. He produced the film too. His decision to take creative and narrative ownership has redefined his legacy. It brought the overdue recognition to Nambi Narayanan's immense contributions to India's space program.
Released in multiple languages and celebrated globally, the film struck a chord for its sincerity, emotional depth, and purpose. Its impact was acknowledged when Rocketry was honoured with the National Award for Best Feature Film at the 69th National Film Awards.
Currently, Madhavan is gearing up for the release of his film Aap Jaia Koi. He also played a pivotal role in the recent Kesari Chapter 2, which fetched him appreciation.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
33 minutes ago
- News18
Smriti Irani Hits Back At Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi Criticism: ‘The Show Spoke Of Marital Rape'
Smriti Irani, who has successfully juggled a career in politics and media, reflected on her return to acting after several years. Smriti Irani is unbothered by those who say Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi promoted patriarchal values. In fact, she believes the show was ahead of its time, tackling bold and complex issues that mainstream media hesitated to approach. As the second season of the iconic series gears up for its release, Smriti has opened up about the criticism in a new interview. 'Couldn't care less, because the criticism was not constructive or informed," Smriti told NDTV. 'The show spoke about marital rape 25 years ago. The show spoke about adult literacy 25 years ago. The show spoke about euthanasia 25 years ago. Those were issues that were not even touched by mainstream cinema, and we did it commercially in a television slot which was meant for family viewing." She also highlighted the show's progressive stance on gender equality within the industry. 'One needs to understand 25 years ago there was nothing called pay parity. We brought pay parity where one's talent and not gender decided how much one would get paid. Ektaa Kapoor was given 10:30 slot, which was a dead slot and we created prime time." Smriti Irani, who has successfully juggled a career in politics and media, reflected on her return to acting after years. 'For a 49-year-old to have a 25-year run, not only in media, but also politics… That is a blessed run," she said. 'And more so, if you're a woman to be at the top of the game continuously for two and a half decades in media and politics is no mean feat." The revival of Kyunki comes with much anticipation. The show, which originally began airing in 2000, redefined Indian television and turned its cast into household names. The reboot promises to retain the original's emotional heart while introducing new, modern themes to connect with today's audience. Filming for the new season is already underway. The promo song was recently shot at a studio in Vasai, and Smriti's first look was officially unveiled today. Joining her and Amar Upadhyay are Hiten Tejwani and Gauri Pradhan, adding more nostalgia to the mix. Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 premieres July 29 at 10:30 PM on Star Plus and streams on JioCinema. First Published: July 08, 2025, 21:57 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
NDTV
38 minutes ago
- NDTV
Ciao Shux! Astrophotographers, Amateurs Capture ISS's Flight Over India
New Delhi: As the International Space Station flew over India, astrophotographers and amateurs alike turned their cameras to the skies, possibly mirroring the awe-filled gaze with which Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla must have been looking at his country from the cuppola of the orbital lab. While the football field-sized ISS passed over Delhi-NCR on Monday night, sightings will continue till July 12. Among the earliest glimpses of the ISS's passage over Delhi was captured by renowned astrophotographers Ajay Talwar and his wife Neelam Talwar. As the ISS flew over Delhi at a break-neck speed of 28,000 kilometers per hour, Mr Talwar, armed with his Canon camera and fish eye lens, manoeuvred conditions like cloudy skies to capture over 90 images, which were later stitched together to create one stunning composite image of the orbital lab from the Earth. India joins @ndtv for the Watch Party wave to astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla as he passes over India. This dramatic video is by @ajaytalwar & @TalwarNeelam Join in @Axiom_Space @isro Ciao Shux! Astrophotographers Amateurs Capture ISS's Flight Over India — Pallava Bagla (@pallavabagla) July 8, 2025 "It was a very proud moment for me when I looked up through the monsoon clouds that are prevalent in the National Capital Region. The faint brightness of the International Space Station appeared on the western horizon and steadily grew brighter and brighter as it approached the zenith. My camera was ready and it was continuously capturing this epic moment. I lovingly waved towards the space station while I wondered if Shubhanshu Shukla was looking at India," he told NDTV. Mr Shukla, nicknamed Shux by the Axiom-4 crew and the astronauts on the ISS, is India's first astronaut on the orbital lab. The ISS follows a special trajectory to complete multiple orbits of the Earth in a day. Several apps give its precise location, like NASA's Spot the Station app or the ISS Detector App. As per the Talwars, a stargazing couple that has been photographic celestial bodies for 25 years, patience is key when it comes to astrophotography. Mr Talwar recounted his first tryst with astrophotgraphy. "Although I have lost the slide, I still remember it vividly. I had gone to a place called Neb Sarai on the outskirts of Delhi in 1987 and exposed an entire film for a night. The slide film had 36 frames, but just a couple had stars visible in them," he said. The film was about to be disposed as it was found to not be exposed at all, but one frame shone through - one of a sky full of stars with a very evident Omega Centauri cluster. Mr Talwar stressed the role of patience in getting the perfect frame, a feat few could manage when he began photographing the skies 25 years ago. "In one night, the entire film of 36 frames would not even be complete, so you were forced to go out again a week or month later. Finally, the film would be complete and then you would go and get it developed. So you would get to see the fruits only about a month later and still run the risk of making a mistake," he said. Digital cameras, he said, changed the game. "You can preview your images instantly, make corrections and come back home with at least a few good shots. Even now, with advanced digital cameras, patience is required as you are photographing all night in some cases," he pointed out. The ISS fly over India repeatedly in the next few days and can be sighted streaking across the sky, often visible for as long as five to seven minutes. Here is quick guide to spot the ISS in IST: July 8: 4.59 am to 5.05 am; 7.59 pm to 8.06 pm; 9.38 pm to 9.41 pm July 9: 4.10 am to 4.16 am; 8.48 pm to 8.53 pm July 10: 3.22 am to 3.27 am; 4.58 am to 5.04 am; 7.59 pm to 8.05 pm July 11: 2.34 am to 2.36 am; 4.09 am to 4.15 am July 12: 7.59 pm to 8.03 pm Those who miss the sighting can have another shot between July 24 and August 1. By then, Mr Shukla and the Axion-4 crew will be back on Earth, if all goes per schedule. At NDTV, an active watch party is celebrating the success of 'India's Cosmic Leap' and several photographers have been sending their images. Among them is the capture by Dr Chrisphin Karthick, a scientist at Indian Institute of Astrophysics in Tamil Nadu's Kodaikanal. Another view of the ISS's passage over Delhi was by NDTV video journalist Azam Siddiqui. ISS Spotted over Delhi skies: The International Space Station (ISS), Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's home away from home, was captured on camera at 5:42 am on July 8, 2025, around skies over Delhi's Sainik Farms, using an iPhone 16. Courtesy: @azam24x7 — NDTV (@ndtv) July 8, 2025
NDTV
38 minutes ago
- NDTV
"It's An Indian Jhoola, Not Gothic Swing!" Internet Slams Foreign Artist's Post
Days after Prada was forced to acknowledge India's Kolhapuri Chappal as the inspiration behind its latest footwear line, another Indian invention appears to have been westernised. A recent post by a foreign artist has drawn the ire of Indian social media users after she shared an image of a traditional wooden swing and described it as a "hand-carved antique solid wood Gothic living room swing". "Please do join me on the hand carved antique solid wood gothic living room swing," the woman captioned the post. The swing showcased in the viral post is commonly known in India as a 'jhoola' in north India or 'oonjal' in south India. As soon as the post went viral, it was slapped with a community note, providing additional context about the swing, which has Indian roots. "Needs a little context! This is an "Oonjal" or "Jhula" which originated in India. Not a "gothic living room swing" Calling it Gothic takes away its rich cultural context/background," read the community note. please do join me on the hand carved antique solid wood gothic living room swing — Anne Chovy (@AnneChovy2) July 6, 2025 Social media reacts Meanwhile, a section of social media users slammed the OP for cultural appropriation, while others recalled how common it was to see such jhoolas in Indian households back in the day. "Scandinavian scarf, turmeric latte, golden milk, Christian yoga, beaded Y2K maxi skirts, and now they're out here calling JHOOLA a "hand carved antique solid wood gothic living room swing"? white people pmo so bad," wrote one user while another added: "Babe wake up they're calling jhoola 'gothic living room swing'" 'scandanavian scarf', 'turmeric latte','golden milk', 'christian yoga', 'beaded Y2K maxi skirts', and now they're out here calling JHOOLA a 'hand carved antique solid wood gothic living room swing'? white people pmo so bad — ✧ anj ✧ (@anjulaaaa) July 7, 2025 A third commented: "This is an Indian Jhoola not a gothic swing. We had a little jhula just like this, years ago. Back in the day, almost every Indian home had one, simple joys that stayed with you forever." A fourth said: "Temu sellers fitting as many keywords as possible in their product name."
