On the second ever ISRO Day, India gets the opportunity to commemorate their remarkable journey from modestly carrying rockets on bicycles to groundbreaking interplanetary missions. It is a time to admire the visionaries who dared to dream beyond Earth, consider our place in the cosmos and gaze up at the stars.
We’ve chosen a selection of audiobooks and movies to capture the wonder of space, the spirit of exploration and the tenacity of human imagination. From Carl Sagan’s poetic reflections to Stephen Hawking’s mind-bending theories, from ISRO’s real-life triumphs to exciting science fiction, these are stories that remind us why reaching for the stars is as much about humanity as it is about science.
To Listen:
Pale Blue Dot
Carl Sagan gives listeners the opportunity to rediscover our small, precarious home, the “pale blue dot” floating in a vast universe across time and space. Blending history, science and philosophy, Sagan guides us from the humble beginnings of geocentric belief to contemporary planetary explorations amid our ongoing cosmetic quest for cosmic perspective today. Along the way, the author reminds us of our responsibility to protect Earth and concludes that space travel is not a luxury but rather a necessity for survival whether from environmental collapse or asteroid collision threats.
Zero G
In this sci-fi adventure, 12 year old Zero finds himself awakened 105 years too early on a massive colony ship bound for a new world, while everyone else remains sound asleep in stasis. Initially, the endless corridors and zero-gravity environment are great fun until the thrill quickly fades when a motley group of space pirates seize the ship to hijack it. Alone yet resourceful, Zero outsides the invaders using only his ingenuity, a few household items and unlimited bravery. This audiobook is as if Home Alone meets Passengers, with a space-faring twist, presenting it, heart and a full ensemble of voice actors that bring every moment to vivid life.
A Brief History of Time
In this exploration of the universe, Stephen Hawking invites listeners on an odyssey from the explosive birth of the universe in the Big Bang to the mysterious depths of black holes and into the mind-bending realms where relativity meets quantum mechanics. The book addresses fundamental questions of what is time, where did it come from and what lies ahead, using everyday language, humor and relatable analogies. It is a captivating blend of wonder and intellect, turning the vast, complex universe into a remarkable story that feels profoundly intimate and irretrievably interesting.
Rocketry: The Nambi Effect
Rocketry- The Nambi Effect is a biographical drama that chronicles the remarkable life of Indian aerospace scientist Nambi Narayan (R. Madhavan). From the hallowed halls of Princeton University to leading India’s cryogenics program at ISRO, Nambi’s dedication to India’s advancement propels revolutionary breakthroughs, until charges of espionage tarnish his reputation. Written, directed and starred in by R. Madhavan as Nambi Narayan, Rocketry explores the scientist’s brilliance, the betrayal he experienced and the toll his struggle for dignity and justice took on him personally.
Mission Mangal
Mission Mangal is a Hindi film based on the incredible real-life story of the ISRO scientist who designed India’s Mars Orbiter Mission. After a first rocket launch attempt fails, project director Tara Shinde (Vidya Balan) devises an unconventional plan to use orbital manoeuvres on a limited budget to reach Mars. Teaming up with Rakesh Dhawan (Akshay Kumar), they lead a diverse team including Krithika Aggarwal (Taapsee Pannu) and Ekta Gandhi (Sonakshi Sinha) that overcomes personal struggles, professional doubts and doubts from the scientific community to defy the odds. With tenacity, collaboration and poignant moments, India achieves its first interplanetary accomplishment, a proud moment for the nation.
Tik Tik Tik
When a giant asteroid sets course for India, the government enlists escape artist Vasu (Jayam Ravi) to lead a daring expedition into space that includes stealing a missile from a Chinese space station. Vasu must accomplish this impossible space heist with the help of two eccentric misfits Venkat (Ramesh Thilak), Appu (Arjunan) and the hard-nosed officer Swathi (Nivetha Pethuraj). As Vasu executes the mission, matters go from bad to worse when a gang kidnaps his son to blackmail Vasu for leverage, putting his bravery and loyalty to test. Blending sci-fi spectacle with emotional stakes, Tik Tik Tik is a Tamil space thriller that races against time where saving the world comes at the cost of Vasu’s heart.