Rocketry: The Nambi Effect was released this week with good reviews audience applauded R. Madhavan for a brave attempt in which he’s done most of the work. The highly anticipated film of this year seems to have lift-off on a good margin but we’re yet to know what are the official numbers the film brings.
Meanwhile, for people who have already watched Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, if you loved it you might probably want to check out these films too, for good reason.
Here are our recommendations
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Based on the biography of Novel Price Winning Mathematician and Economist John Nash directed by Ron Howard, the film focuses on the life of John Nash played by Russell Crowe who while studying at Princeton University begins to develop paranoid schizophrenia and delusional episodes while watching his wife suffering due to those episodes because of him.
The film was a huge success critically and commercially. It was nominated for 8 Academy Awards and ended up winning 4, one of them being Best Picture. It still, to this day stands as one of the finest Russel Crowe films.
The Imitation Game (2014)
Based on the biographical novel titled Alan Turing: The Enigma by Andrew Hodges. The film is a historical drama based on Alan Turing’s life who, during World War 2 decrypted German Intelligence messages for the British Government. The film also focussed on Alan’s sexuality and how during that time, being homosexual was considered a mental illness and the government tries to treat that with hormonal therapy.
Benedict Cumberbatch (known for Sherlock and Doctor Strange) starred as Alan Turning with Keira Knightley and Matthew Goode in the supporting cast. The film received 8 nominations at the Oscars and ended up winning 1.
The Man Who Knew Infinity (2015)
Based on the biographical novel of the same name by Robert Kanigel, the film is based on the life of the Indian Mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan who after growing up poor in Madras, India gets accepted to Cambridge University in Mathematics during World War 1 and his journey of becoming a mathematician of international merit and ultimately dies at the young age of 32. The film starred Dev Patel in the lead role and it was a critical and commercial success. The film also stands to tell one of the many great minds that came from India and earned recognition.
Fun Fact: There’s also another film about Srinivasa Ramanujan that’s actually made in India. Titled “Ramanujan” and released in 2014 and shot in Tamil and English, it was a great attempt.
The Theory of Everything (2014)
Adapted from a memoir titled “Travelling To Infinity: My Life With Stephen” by Jane Hawking, the film is based on the life of Stephen Hawking but tells the story of Jane Hawking’s relationship with her ex-husband Stephen Hawking, about the diagnosis of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis).
The film stars Eddie Redmayne as Stephen Hawking and Felicity Jones as Jane Hawking, the film roared upon release and was applauded for its musical score and cinematography. It was nominated for 5 Academy Awards and Eddie Redmayne won for Best Actor.
The Quantum Indians (2013)
This 53-minute documentary focuses on three brilliant minds of India, specifically Satyendra Nath Bose, CV Raman, and Meghnad Saha who were the pillars who revolutionized Physics and were responsible for introducing Bosons, Raman Effect which won India’s first and only Novel Prize.
The Quantum Indians is a story about the forgotten minds of India to make us remember that while we look at minds far down the west, there’s quite amazing talent present in the backyard of our own house.
October Sky (1999)
Based on the memoir of the same name, directed by Joe Johnston the film tells the story of a coalmine’s son named Homer Hickam who is inspired to build rockets after seeing the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957. The film is based on the trials and events that led him to become a NASA scientist who went against his father’s wishes and just wanted him to join him in the coal mines.
The film is not a lot on the technical side rather it’s wholesome entertainment with a bag full of optimism and the cast is perfect for it. Jake Gyllenhaal is the leading man in the film and he has done it so beautifully. The film was a big success critically but when it came to the boxing office, it was moderate.
Hidden Figures (2016)
Loosely based on the non-fiction book of the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly about African American Mathematicians who worked at NASA during the Space Race between cold war rivals the United States and The Soviet Union.
Starring Taraji P. Henson (Known for Empire) as Katherine Johnson, Octavia Spencer (Known for The Help) as Dorothy Vaughn, and Janelle Monáe (Known for Rio 2, Dirty Computer) as Mary Jackson. The film was a critical and box office success portraying African Americans’ contribution to The United States. The film was nominated for 3 Academy Awards but did not win any of them.
These are some of the films that we think are a must-watch if you liked Rocketry: The Nambi Effect.