Jagadeesh Kanna
Jagadeesh Kanna is an Indian stage actor, playwright, author, film director, and entrepreneur. He is the author of the book Science with Young Hanuman and is best known for writing and directing The Stealer, an experimental film that utilizes the Rashomon effect.
Kanna made his acting debut in the crowd-funded Tamil film Naalu Peruku Nalladhuna Edhuvum Thappilla. He is the founder and CEO of Vaayusastra Aerospace, an educational firm incubated under IIT Madras's RTBI that combines theatre arts with aeronautical science.
Education
Kanna holds a bachelor's degree in aeronautics from Nehru Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore. He obtained a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from Hindustan University, and attended IIT Madras as a PhD coursework student in creative writing within the Humanities and Sciences department.Career
Entrepreneurship and Research
As CEO of Vaayusastra Aerospace, Kanna developed a curriculum combining theatre and aeronautics for children. Under his leadership, the company achieved "Space Tutor" status from ISRO and partnered with the Government of Tamil Nadu's "Naan Mudhalvan" program to train engineering students in drone technology.In 2025, Kanna became the CTO of "Drone Hub," an edutainment center at VGP Wonder World. He heads the R&D unit contributing to research in aerostats, space suits, and space food.
Selected Research Publications
- Rawal, S., Madhubalan, A., Manikandan, P., & Kanna, J.. "Study on the Design of Space Gloves and EVA Suits with Future Challenges". Textile & Leather Review, 5, 18–30..
- Mahalakshmi, D., Sankarganesh, P., & Kanna, J.. "Formulation... of a Calcium-enriched, Millet-based Freeze-dried Yogurt Mix... for Long-term Space Missions". Asian Journal of Dairy and Food Research..
- Manikanda Bharath, K., et al.. "Geo-pedological controls on soil erosion vulnerability... in diverse landscapes of Tamil Nadu". Remote Sensing of Environment, 332..
Entertainment
Kanna began his stage career with The Little Theatre and performed in Grand Rehearsals at The Hindu Theatre Fest in 2015. He wrote the play Never Give Up, inspired by Olympian Derek Redmond.In film, Kanna acted in Naalu Peruku Nalladhuna Edhuvum Thappilla and worked as an assistant director on Sarvam Thaala Mayam and 90 ML. He directed the short film Oru Cup Coffee, dealing with euthanasia, and the feature film The Stealer.