Press Information Bureau (24 November 2010)
Making an emphatic plea to people to get their children educated, Gulshan Grover, the famous actor said “every child has a right to get educated no matter what your circumstances are”. The actor along with the cast and crew of the film ‘I Am Kalam’ was interacting with the Press at the Media Centre here today. The director of the film, Shri Nila Madhab Panda said that 60 million children are still not going to school despite education being a right in the country. The film shot in Bikaner and Delhi is being screened in the Indian Panorama Section at IFFI, 2010.
The movie marks the debut of Delhi-based 12-year-old underprivileged child Harsh Mayar in the lead role. French theatre actress Beatrice Ordeix, Gulshan Grover and child actor Hussan Saad play pivotal roles. The film revolves around the life of Chhotu and celebrates the survival of the human spirit against overwhelming odds. It is an initiative to take the message of under privileged children’s education to the privileged society.
Chhotu starts his life as a skivvy in a roadside food joint and chances to strike a chord with Prince Ranvijay of the royal mansion. Chhotu doesn’t have an answer when people ask him his real name and it is this question which changes his life. He realizes he doesn’t want to be Chhotu like the thousands of Chhotus working in food joints and other industries across the country. “I am Kalam”, Chhotu finds himself saying. Why can’t he be Kalam? Chhotu saw on television that the former President of India too was a poor kid like him, selling newspapers. Chhotu is a dreamer and Prince Ranvijay will do anything to make his dreams come true.
The film is the first ever feature film produced by Smile Foundation, a development organization addressing the issue of children’s education in India. The film made its world debut at the Marche du Cannes (Cannes film Festival Market section, 2010).
The film is the feature debut of International Award winning director Nila Madhab Panda, who has produced and directed over 60 documentaries, short films, television drama and films for international and national broadcaster
Source: “Bad man” of Bollywood Pours his Heart out for the Right Cause I am Kalam Makes a Strong Plea for Children’s Right to Education