“When 108 kids signed up for my workshop, I was overwhelmed,” Jagadeesh Kanna smiles, recalling that moment of unexpected success. “I only had a box of paper planes and stories. There was no big budget or fancy tools – just passion and an idea that science can be fun and magical.” This unassuming beginning in small halls sparked what would become Vaayusastra, an educational initiative that combines aeronautical science, mythology, storytelling, and theatre – bringing science alive for schoolchildren in ways textbooks never could.
Rooted in Gandarvakkottai:
Jagadeesh’s journey starts far from the world of wings and paper planes, in the quiet town of Gandarvakkottai, Tamil Nadu. Born to two dedicated government school teachers, education was both a foundation and a dream in his family.
“My parents always believed education could change lives,” Jagadeesh reflects. “They wanted to do more than teach – they wanted to transform the system. But they were limited by rules and bureaucracy.”
This desire for transformation quietly passed down to Jagadeesh, who pursued aeronautical engineering, earning his bachelor’s degree in Coimbatore, followed by a master’s in Chennai. Today, he is even pursuing a Ph.D. in education. But alongside the technical rigor, another passion was growing.
Introvert to Performer
“I was a shy kid,” Jagadeesh admits. “I couldn’t even speak English properly when I first came to Chennai.” Yet, his love for poetry and dance helped him break out of his shell. A senior from college introduced him to Sheriff Dance Academy, where he honed his dancing skills.
His passion didn’t stop there. Jagadeesh stumbled into theatre almost by accident when he saw an audition notice for The Little Theatre’s pantomime and Yog Japee’s Theatre Y. Despite his limited English, his martial arts and dance background helped him land a role.
“Theatre changed everything for me,” Jagadeesh says. “It was like stepping into a new world where I found my voice. Over five years, I acted in over 40 plays and 250 shows. It wasn’t just all about acting, but learning how to express and connect with people .”
Paper Planes, Mythology, and Science
He started small. Writing, directing, and acting in short plays at college fests and theatre circles. From stage to stage, Jagadeesh built his world around theatre.
“I used to be very shy,” Jagadeesh smiles. “But theatre changed me. I became more confident, more expressive. I guess it made me… me.”
Then came that one unexpected call – an assistant director had seen one of his plays and wanted to cast him. And just like that, film offers started trickling in. Around the same time, Jagadeesh had also taken a leap of faith – quitting his job as an R&D engineer. “I just knew theatre was what I wanted. So I left. No backup plan or anything,” he laughs.
He made it to the silver screen as a theatre artist. But behind the scenes, things weren’t so glamorous. He had no steady income, no job to fall back on – and no way to tell his family what was going on. “My mom would ask, ‘You studied aeronautical engineering… and now you’re in cinema?’ I didn’t want to worry her.”
There were days when things felt overwhelming. “I was broke. I didn’t know what to do next. I remember ranting to my friends – I just needed something to survive.” That’s when they hit him with an idea – “Why don’t you do workshops for kids? You love science. You love storytelling. Just combine the two.”
That little spark lit a fire. Jagadeesh began building it out – using science fiction plots, aerodynamics, space exploration and creating them into fun, story driven workshops for children.
Fast forward a bit – another friend nudged him to pitch this idea at IIT Madras’s RTBI and Incubation Cell. “I was nervous,” Jagadeesh admits. “But I prepped hard. I knew this could work.”
And it did. The response was overwhelmingly positive, affirming his vision that science education could be transformed by experiential, story driven learning. “Getting validation from IIT was a huge boost,” he says. “It gave me the confidence to take Vaayusastra forward.”
Vaayusastra was born out of this vision, an innovative platform to teach basic science concepts, particularly aeronautics and aerospace, through mythological storytelling, hands on model making, and theatrical enactments designed especially for schoolchildren. His first workshop had 108 registrations overnight and that wasn’t something he expected.
The Turning Point
Faced with this overwhelming response, he quickly sat down with his four member team. “I told the boys, this could be a prank, and it might fail – but let’s prepare anyway.” Three theatre artists were hired, one for each age group, along with an admin staff. He took on the role of supervisor. The workshop was a hit and kids were hooked. Word spread fast. “We started getting too many calls – so many that I had to open a new batch the very next month,” he says.
Soon, there were new batches every month. With this growth, IIT informed him that investors were showing interest and advised him to do a valuation. When offered a list of mentors, he chose Dr. S. Ravichandran, the former MD of TTK Prestige. “Everyone asked why I picked someone with no background in aeronautics. I told them, he pulled a company from zero to number one. I don’t need someone with technical knowledge. I need someone who understands how to build a company from scratch.” His detailed explanation convinced the mentorship panel.
Vaayusastra was one of the few startups incubated at IIT with no founders from IIT, no business background, and no high education credentials. By the end of 2019, the company was valued at ₹15 crores. In January 2020, IIT granted Vaayusastra ₹10 lakhs. They had generated ₹55 lakhs that year.
Innovation through Storytelling and Science
What set Vaayusastra apart was its inventive approach. Jagadeesh made science more of an experience than simply just teaching it. Children built paper planes and kites to understand aerodynamics. Lessons were framed within captivating mythological and sci-fi stories. They acted out parts of the stories, turning learning into a theatrical event.
“Combining arts and science helped children absorb complex ideas without even realizing it,” Jagadeesh explains. “It was learning disguised as play.”
The Setback of COVID-19 and Adaptation
Like everyone else, Vaayusastra took a hit when the pandemic started. Overnight, all the workshops they’d carefully built up had to stop. “It was really tough,” Jagadeesh says honestly. “For a while, I had no clue what to do next.” But sitting still wasn’t an option. He started experimenting with online sessions – taking the same stories, the same science, and bringing them into living rooms and laptop screens. What he didn’t expect was what happened next. “We suddenly had kids registering in from everywhere – the US, UK, Saudi… It was wild,” Jagadeesh smiles. “We’d only been thinking local till then. But this? This changed everything.”
That unexpected reach kept them going. And once things opened up again, they were ready. “We didn’t just bounce back,” he grins. “We came back with more energy, more ideas – and a bigger audience in our heads.”
Looking Forward
From those 108 kids in a small hall to workshops in schools and cultural festivals, Vaayusastra has grown steadily, gaining recognition for its extraordinary educational approach. Jagadeesh has also balanced his work in theatre and film, with roles in notable projects such as Naalu Peruku Nalladhuna Edhuvum Thappilla (2017), all while expanding Vaayusastra’s reach. “I want every child to experience science as a living, breathing adventure,” he says. “Education shouldn’t be seen as a chore, but should spark joy and excitement.”
His dream is to partner with schools across Tamil Nadu and beyond, embedding Vaayusastra’s model into mainstream education and inspiring the next generation of innovators.
A Dream Rooted in Family and Passion
“My parents’ dream to transform education is what drives me,” Jagadeesh reflects. “I’ve faced doubts and struggles, but every smile from a child who understands a new concept makes it worth it.” From a boy in Gandarvakkottai to a performer, engineer, and educator, Jagadeesh Kanna’s entrepreneurial journey is a reminder that with creativity and heart, even paper planes can take you to the skies.
