{ "id": "epx1f0pkdx", "slug": "paper-rocket", "title": "Paper Rocket", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials", "label": "International serial drama and telenovelas", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia", "label": "South and Southeast Asian serials", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia.south_asian_web_serials", "label": "South Asian web serials", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia.south_asian_web_serials" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia.south_asian_web_serials", "label": "India · 2021 and later: South Asian web serials", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia.south_asian_web_serials", "path": [ { "id": "geo.ind", "label": "India", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021", "label": "India · 2021 and later", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials", "label": "International serial drama and telenovelas", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia.south_asian_web_serials", "label": "South Asian web serials", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia.south_asian_web_serials" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Paper Rocket (பேப்பர் ராக்கெட்) is a 2022 Tamil-language Zee5 web series written and directed by Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi, starring Kalidas Jayaram and Tanya Ravichandran; six therapy-group strangers take a road trip across Tamil Nadu.", "snippet": "Paper Rocket (பேப்பர் ராக்கெட்) is a 2022 Tamil-language Zee5 web series written and directed by Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi, starring Kalidas Jayaram and Tanya Ravichandran; six therapy-group strangers take a road trip across Tamil Nadu.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_south_asia.south_asian_web_serials", "markdown": "# Paper Rocket\n\n**Paper Rocket** (பேப்பர் ராக்கெட்) is a 2022 Indian Tamil-language streaming television series written and directed by Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi and released on Zee5 on 29 July 2022, with Telugu audio also available.[1](https://www.zee5.com/web-series/details/paper-rocket/0-6-4z5185904) It follows six strangers who meet through therapy and set out on a road trip across [Tamil Nadu](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-nadu), each hoping to fulfill a major wish on their bucket list.[1](https://www.zee5.com/web-series/details/paper-rocket/0-6-4z5185904) The series stars [Kalidas Jayaram](https://www.edgepedia.org/kalidas-jayaram) and [Tanya Ravichandran](https://www.edgepedia.org/tanya-ravichandran) in the lead roles.[2](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/paper-rocket-web-series-111357)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Premiere | 29 July 2022, on Zee5; available in Tamil and Telugu[1](https://www.zee5.com/web-series/details/paper-rocket/0-6-4z5185904) |\n| Format | 7-episode drama series, certificate U/A[2](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/paper-rocket-web-series-111357) • [3](https://www.fulloncinema.in/paper-rocket-series-review/) |\n| Creator | Written and directed by Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi, her first web series[4](https://www.theweek.in/theweek/leisure/2022/08/20/kiruthiga-udhayanidhi-on-how-she-made-the-hit-show-paper-rocket.amp.html) • [5](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/interviews/2022/Aug/02/kiruthiga-udhayanidhi-for-paper-rocket-my-kids-dont-see-me-as-a-boomer-33342.html) |\n| Production | Produced by Sreenidhi Sagar of Rise East Entertainment; cinematography by Richard Nathan[3](https://www.fulloncinema.in/paper-rocket-series-review/) • [2](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/paper-rocket-web-series-111357) |\n| Lead cast | Kalidas Jayaram as Jeeva, Tanya Ravichandran as Ilakya, Renuka as Valliamma, Karunakaran as Tiger, Nirmal Palazhi as Unni[6](https://nettv4u.com/about/tamil/web-series/paper-rocket) |\n| Audience rating | 7.7/10 on IMDb from 506 user ratings (unweighted mean 7.3)[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21325070/ratings/) |\n| Critical reception | 3.0/5 from The Times of India, 3/5 from Cinema Express, 3.5/5 from Ottplay[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/tamil/paper-rocket/season-1/seasonreview/93134988.cms) • [9](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/review/2022/Aug/01/paper-rocket-web-seriesreview-kalidas-jayaram-kiruthiga-udhayanidhi-zee5-33281.html) • [10](https://www.ottplay.com/review/paper-rocket-review-this-feel-good-drama-starring-kalidas-tanya-is-an-engaging-fare-thanks-to-relatable-emotions/4d86be9f79551) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Premise\n\nThe story begins when Jeeva, the lead character, loses his father to cancer, falls into depression, quits his job, and seeks help from a psychiatrist.[6](https://nettv4u.com/about/tamil/web-series/paper-rocket) At a therapy session, the psychiatrist tells the six individual patients, including Jeeva, that each is going through hardship and suggests they take a trip together to understand one another better.[6](https://nettv4u.com/about/tamil/web-series/paper-rocket) The six strangers, drawn from different age groups and backgrounds, then embark on a road trip across Tamil Nadu in a van, each wanting to fulfill a major wish on their bucket list.[1](https://www.zee5.com/web-series/details/paper-rocket/0-6-4z5185904)\n\nThe trip takes the group to places including [Tirunelveli](https://www.edgepedia.org/tirunelveli), where Charu's grandparents live, and [Karaikudi](https://www.edgepedia.org/karaikudi), where Jeeva, Ilakya, and the squad help Valliamma with an ancestral property issue.[1](https://www.zee5.com/web-series/details/paper-rocket/0-6-4z5185904) The characters carry distinct burdens: Renuka plays a cancer-stricken woman haunted by memories of her late husband; Gouri G Kishan plays a quadriplegic former swimming champion; Nirmal Palazhi plays a naive romantic with a brain tumour; and Karunakaran plays a depressed 35-year-old who feels unapologetic about his suicidal tendency.[10](https://www.ottplay.com/review/paper-rocket-review-this-feel-good-drama-starring-kalidas-tanya-is-an-engaging-fare-thanks-to-relatable-emotions/4d86be9f79551)\n\nThe seven episodes are titled An Incomplete Story, Circle of Trust, Be Like a River, Homecoming, Love in the Time of Tumour, Suffering Breath, and Celebrating Death.[11](https://www.komparify.com/entertainment/tvshow/paper-rocket)\n\n### Cast and characters\n\nThe ensemble includes Kalidas Jayaram as Jeeva, Tanya Ravichandran as Ilakya, Renuka as Valliamma, Karunakaran as Tiger, and Nirmal Palazhi as Unni.[6](https://nettv4u.com/about/tamil/web-series/paper-rocket) Nagineedu plays Jeeva's father, and Gouri G Kishan, Poornima Bhagyaraj, Kaali Venkat, and [Chinni Jayanth](https://www.edgepedia.org/chinni-jayanth) appear in supporting roles.[9](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/review/2022/Aug/01/paper-rocket-web-seriesreview-kalidas-jayaram-kiruthiga-udhayanidhi-zee5-33281.html) • [10](https://www.ottplay.com/review/paper-rocket-review-this-feel-good-drama-starring-kalidas-tanya-is-an-engaging-fare-thanks-to-relatable-emotions/4d86be9f79551) For the actor-comedian Chinni Jayanth, the series was his first appearance in a web series in an acting career of almost four decades.[12](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2022/Jul/22/kiruthiga-udhayanidhi-paper-rocket-is-a-travel-drama-subject-with-strong-performances-32950.html)\n\n## Production\n\n**Origin and writing.** Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi wrote and directed the series, her first work for a streaming platform and her first directorial release since the film *Kaali* four years earlier.[4](https://www.theweek.in/theweek/leisure/2022/08/20/kiruthiga-udhayanidhi-on-how-she-made-the-hit-show-paper-rocket.amp.html) • [5](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/interviews/2022/Aug/02/kiruthiga-udhayanidhi-for-paper-rocket-my-kids-dont-see-me-as-a-boomer-33342.html) She has said the idea predated the streaming boom: she conceived it before web series became common, set the script aside because it did not fit a feature-film format, and picked it up after a call from ZEE5.[5](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/interviews/2022/Aug/02/kiruthiga-udhayanidhi-for-paper-rocket-my-kids-dont-see-me-as-a-boomer-33342.html) She has described the story as personal, saying it grew out of childhood road trips with her father and her belief that journeys change a person's perception of life.[5](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/interviews/2022/Aug/02/kiruthiga-udhayanidhi-for-paper-rocket-my-kids-dont-see-me-as-a-boomer-33342.html)\n\nThe series was produced by Sreenidhi Sagar of Rise East Entertainment, with cinematography by Richard Nathan and music by Simon K King, Vedshanker, and Dharan Kumar.[3](https://www.fulloncinema.in/paper-rocket-series-review/) • [2](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/paper-rocket-web-series-111357) At the trailer launch in July 2022, Kiruthiga described it as a travel drama built on strong performances, and said she had honed her craft during the pandemic by assisting director [Thiagarajan Kumararaja](https://www.edgepedia.org/thiagarajan-kumararaja).[12](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2022/Jul/22/kiruthiga-udhayanidhi-paper-rocket-is-a-travel-drama-subject-with-strong-performances-32950.html) The trailer was released by [Kamal Haasan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kamal-haasan).[13](https://tamilscreen.com/paper-rocket-trailer-launch-news/)\n\nEpisode counts differ between sources: Zee5, Gadgets360, and reviews list seven episodes, while one Cinema Express report at the time of the trailer launch described the series as eight episodes long.[1](https://www.zee5.com/web-series/details/paper-rocket/0-6-4z5185904) • [2](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/paper-rocket-web-series-111357) • [12](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2022/Jul/22/kiruthiga-udhayanidhi-paper-rocket-is-a-travel-drama-subject-with-strong-performances-32950.html)\n\n## Reception\n\nCritics received the series as a feel-good drama with reservations. The Times of India gave it 3.0 out of 5, writing that the performances were decent and apt for the story, that the dialogues and writing added value, and that the director's intention to break stereotypes and male chauvinistic attitudes in every episode was evident, while noting that more effort on the technical aspects would have strengthened it.[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/tamil/paper-rocket/season-1/seasonreview/93134988.cms) Cinema Express, also at 3/5, called it a poignant take on grief, guilt, love, loss, and rage, praised the largely well-acted ensemble, and noted that although the series takes a contentious approach to mental health, it avoids offering overarching solutions.[9](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/review/2022/Aug/01/paper-rocket-web-seriesreview-kalidas-jayaram-kiruthiga-udhayanidhi-zee5-33281.html) Ottplay gave 3.5/5, finding the series high on light-hearted moments and inspiring sub-plots but calling the predictable story a drawback.[10](https://www.ottplay.com/review/paper-rocket-review-this-feel-good-drama-starring-kalidas-tanya-is-an-engaging-fare-thanks-to-relatable-emotions/4d86be9f79551) Gadgets360 rated it 3.8.[2](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/paper-rocket-web-series-111357)\n\nAudience response was positive. On IMDb the series holds a weighted rating of 7.7/10 from 506 user ratings, with most ratings coming from India, Sri Lanka, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia.[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21325070/ratings/) Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi later said she had never imagined such a large audience response.[4](https://www.theweek.in/theweek/leisure/2022/08/20/kiruthiga-udhayanidhi-on-how-she-made-the-hit-show-paper-rocket.amp.html)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Paper Rocket, Zee5 official page](https://www.zee5.com/web-series/details/paper-rocket/0-6-4z5185904)\n2. [Paper Rocket Web Series (2022), Gadgets 360](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/paper-rocket-web-series-111357)\n3. [Paper Rocket Series Review, Full On Cinema](https://www.fulloncinema.in/paper-rocket-series-review/)\n4. [Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi on how she made the hit show, Paper Rocket, The Week](https://www.theweek.in/theweek/leisure/2022/08/20/kiruthiga-udhayanidhi-on-how-she-made-the-hit-show-paper-rocket.amp.html)\n5. [Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi for Paper Rocket: My kids don't see me as a boomer, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/tamil/interviews/2022/Aug/02/kiruthiga-udhayanidhi-for-paper-rocket-my-kids-dont-see-me-as-a-boomer-33342.html)\n6. [Paper Rocket Tamil Web Series, Nettv4u](https://nettv4u.com/about/tamil/web-series/paper-rocket)\n7. [Paper Rocket (TV Series 2022– ), IMDb ratings](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21325070/ratings/)\n8. [Paper Rocket Season 1 Review, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/tamil/paper-rocket/season-1/seasonreview/93134988.cms)\n9. [Paper Rocket Web Series Review, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/review/2022/Aug/01/paper-rocket-web-seriesreview-kalidas-jayaram-kiruthiga-udhayanidhi-zee5-33281.html)\n10. [Paper Rocket review, Ottplay](https://www.ottplay.com/review/paper-rocket-review-this-feel-good-drama-starring-kalidas-tanya-is-an-engaging-fare-thanks-to-relatable-emotions/4d86be9f79551)\n11. [Paper Rocket Reviews and Where to Watch, Komparify](https://www.komparify.com/entertainment/tvshow/paper-rocket)\n12. [Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi: Paper Rocket is a travel drama subject with strong performances, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2022/Jul/22/kiruthiga-udhayanidhi-paper-rocket-is-a-travel-drama-subject-with-strong-performances-32950.html)\n13. ['பேப்பர் ராக்கெட்' டிரைலர் வெளியீட்டு விழா, Tamil Screen](https://tamilscreen.com/paper-rocket-trailer-launch-news/)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › International serial drama and telenovelas › South and Southeast Asian serials › South Asian web serials*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/paper-rocket", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/paper-rocket.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Paper Rocket\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/paper-rocket. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Paper Rocket](https://www.edgepedia.org/paper-rocket)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/paper-rocket](https://www.edgepedia.org/paper-rocket). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Paper Rocket\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/paper-rocket. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Paper Rocket is a 2022 Tamil-language Zee5 web series written and directed by Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi, starring Kalidas Jayaram and Tanya Ravichandran; six therapy-group strangers take a road trip across Tamil Nadu." }