Rocketry ; Nambi effect directed by actor R Madhavan who also plays the central role, as per box office figures on Day 3 shows that the Kerala movie goers for whom Nambi Narayanan and his struggles is not unknown , has totally cold shouldered a biopic on him. Two days collections are in the range of Rs 8 lakhs total. Though Andhra too has dismal figures, the lack of interest in general public to see this film dubbed in Malayalam is something that is worrying. Nambi's real life story is more known in Kerala than in any other part of India. In fact, Nambi was a BJP campaign material to show how a man who put Indian space mission on the World map was wronged by a system ( Congress) and jailed . It was the Modi sarkar that gave him the Padma Bhushan and a compensation amount more than what the Apex court had told to give.
As a film critic, I found the first part about 1 hour and 40 minutes too boring to sit through. To establish the character of Nambi, too much of technicalities went in like debate between Kalam ( Abdul) and Nambi about liquid and cryogenic etc with Vikram Sarabhai as a spectator. There were also some hilarious dialogues like the Russian scientist team member ( woman) saying looks like he ( Nambi) knows the colour of our undergarment ( jatti in Tamil). Also the buildup reached a zenith with Nambi saying to his team members that he would go ahead even without any of their help.
The movie got into flow after the persecution of Nambi started and from there till the end, it was hell of a emotional ride with Nambi and Maddy who keeps you engrossed. Special mention of Simran - she just blows you with her act of a deranged wife. I felt if the first part was drastically trimmed and second half came in the first part, film would have done wonders. The film's trailor gives the audience that it of a saga of a wronged man who got justice and to reach that it takes cool one hour and forty minutes !!!
Now critics have given a good rating and that should not have stopped Malayalee audience to see biopic of Nambi who is familiar to them. Madhavan is no stranger to them and add to it Surya in a cameo. You cannot put it on the actor's box office pull as in Kerala, it works for an opening only. In Hindi, Day 2 and 3, the figures are rising from a dismal 10% occupancy and it is only on critics rating and mouth publicity. Modi does come in the portion of Nambi being conferred the national honors.
In Tamil, Madhavan is Maddy and though he has not been seen on big screen for a long time for Tamil audience, he still has a pull with the multiplex crowd ( especially in Chennai). Figures are impressive as it around Rs 1.5 crore for two day. Film is said to have cost Rs 50 crores and release got stuck as two waves of Covid played havoc. JAI HIND
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