Unlike most people who are watching the movie (and Kashmir Files before this), I was not completely unaware of the injustice meted out to Dr. Nambi. I was also aware of the tragic and sudden deaths of more than 12 nuclear scientists of India, and had read the paper that explained the American connection behind these deaths. Nor was I unmindful of the question that Nambi sir asked at the end - If I am innocent, someone is guilty. Who is that?
But about Dr. Nambi, did not have the details presented in the film.
Like with all biographical films, the viewing of the movie was followed by a rigorous fact check. (Wikipedia is not opened during that fact check). It is sad that very little of Dr. Nambi's achievements and academic background is available in the public domain.
Most institutions have a link to the resumes of all its scientists. I could not find such a link on the ISRO website.
But I was surprised to find that the story, as told, is largely authentic - no embellishment, no exaggeration, no 'creative freedom'.
The job of a story teller is to tell a story so no one wants to get up.
With Rocketry, that is exactly what Madhavan has done. He could have made it a biography story - starting at the beginning and going towards the end. But he chose to start with the climax, and weave the past and the future around that. What is extremely interesting is the format - an interview with the scientist, conducted by an actor, playing himself.
The story of his life and family integrates into the story of his professional success as it can only for an Indian. Watching this movie helped me realise a beautiful aspect of Indian society yet again - the work is not separate from the individual. Our entire Varna system is based on the chosen profession. Our social identity is based on our profession. Unlike the choice that Dr. Crocco had to make, in India, the interdependence of the workplace and the family is implicit.
If I have to give full marks to one person, it is the locations and set director. The locations are so well chosen, particularly where the team is shown in France and Princeton. (except, perhaps, the scene where they strategise how to get into a department - in the middle of the street, that, if it really did happen that way, is illustration of truth is stranger than fiction).
The art direction comes next. But every single technical department truly excels. Costumes, hair, cars, and the volume of traffic on the road - they got all of that right. In all the street scenes, I was only wondering with dropped jaw - How did you find so many working cars of these vintage models? How did you do this?
Even sound deserves a mention - esp. in the shots related to rocket testing - the sound effects, subtle, but well designed, made the experience of watching the rocket testing that much real for us.
The background music was subtle and hit all the right chords without intruding upon the storytelling process.
To summarise:
It is a well directed film. It has an excellent technical team, and a small, but good cast.
The story is well told and well edited.
An actor would have ended the film with the spotlight on himself. A director put the spotlight on the real hero - Dr. Nambi Narayanan. And that, is what makes Madhavan a star. I have never before seen a director do this - bring the real person to close the narrative in his own words. (Dr. Nambi is an articulate person. His interviews in the promotions of Rocketry are quite impressive).
And, in case you are interested, here are the details of the Indian scientists who have died mysteriously, and whose stories still remain untold. If we look at this list, Dr. Narayanan must have been really special, to avoid this fate.
BARC has reported 680 employee deaths during the last 15 years. \
92 persons employed with the Indira Gandhi Center for Atomic Research Kalapakkam have died.
Within a 15 year period, 684 deaths have occured at ISRO.
Here is a list:
1. October 2013: K K Josh and Abhish Shivam
2. 1966 - Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha
3. 2009 - Lokanathan Mahalingam
4. 2011 - Dr Uma Rao
5. Feb 2010 - Mahadevan Padmanabhan Iyer
6. June 2009 - Umang Singh and Partha Pratim Bag
7. 2012 - Mohammad Mustafa
9. 1971 - Vikram Sarabhai
And here are interesting takes on the NN case itself:
https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/here-s-the-real-story-of-isro-spy-case-that-rocked-the-nation-in-1990s-118091600109_1.html
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Mystery-behind-Vikram-Sarabhais-death/articleshow/3910516.cms
https://indiafacts.org/list-of-indian-nuclear-scientists-who-died-mysterious-deaths/
https://asiatimes.com/2019/07/indias-vanishing-nuclear-scientists/
http://www.sunday-guardian.com/news/pmo-unconcerned-about-scientist-deaths - This link has been removed.
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/11-indian-nuclear-scientists-died-unnatural-deaths-in-4-years-1229793
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/11-nuclear-scientists-died-in-mysterious-circumstances-in-4-years/articleshow/49272275.cms
https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2021/01/06/from-the-archives-when-several-indian-nuclear-scientists-died-mysteriously.html
https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/tapan-misra-is-not-alone-isro-scientists-have-died-mysterious-deaths-faced-espionage-charges-531398.html
And Indians are not alone:
https://listverse.com/2016/08/09/10-leading-scientists-who-died-in-suspicious-circumstances/
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