ITV

Tag: I Am Kalam

  • ‘Kaun Kitney Paani Mein’ partners #fame to spread awareness on water crisis

    ‘Kaun Kitney Paani Mein’ partners #fame to spread awareness on water crisis

    MUMBAI: I am Kalam director Nila Madhab Panda has partnered the live video entertainment app #fame to promote the upcoming film Kaun Kitney Paani Mein, which is set to hit the theatres on 28 August.

     

    The film is a satirical take on the scarcity of water. As the Official Live Video Partner of Kaun Kitne Paani Mein, #fame created more than 15 hours of live video content including exclusive trailer launches, interviews with the film’s cast, city promotional tours, press events and customised live content around the film created by talent performing on the #fame app. #fame beamers from respective cities followed the cast throughout the promotional tour to create content and engage fans with all the buzz around the film.

     

    Apart from live beaming, #fame also produced customised content like #Bajaoed and Why to Watch with the cast of the film.

     

    #fame CEO Saket Saurabh said, “#fame is glad to be associated with Kaun Kitne Paani Mein as the film highlights an issue like shortage of water, which normally people tend to ignore. Our younger generation should be aware of it and #fame is happy to spread KKPM’s message. With this tie-up, the enthusiasm of Kaun Kitney Paani Mein climbed up further with the trailer launches, promotional tours, special events and fan interactions with the cast all being captured live. Our aim is to bring the best live entertainment to every smartphone user.”

     

    “Good content will work no matter where it is displayed and if the content is live, it is all the more exciting. We are happy with this tie-up because viewers constantly look out for stars when a film is about to release and #fame is exposing the cast of the film to viewers in real time. The exclusive Live Chat of Kunal Kapoor on #fame was watched by fans from various countries and Kunal was happy to answer individual questions. He unveiled the trailer on the app and spoke about the film. During the Bhubaneshwar trip, #fame reporters were constantly following the star cast as they went to various places in the city. This is definitely a great step in film promotion to be able to give something new and exciting to the viewers,” said Panda.

  • Nila Madhab Panda returns to the celluloid with a comedy

    Nila Madhab Panda returns to the celluloid with a comedy

    MUMBAI: He surprised everybody when his first film I Am Kalam bagged the National Award for Best Child Artist in 2011. Director Nila Madhab Panda, who created the child artist, is back to create another magic – this time in the comedy genre.

     

    After giving out a social message with I am Kalam, Panda has directed – Babloo Happy Hai, a light comedy featuring youngsters.

     

    Talking about the film during its promotions in the capital, Panda said, “It is rather difficult to make comedy films. Hurting somebody is easy but making a person laugh is a tough task. I hope to be successful. Even if I could make one person laugh with this film, I’d succeed.” 

     

    Babloo Happy Hai takes you on a journey through the breathtaking mountains, and through the lives of a set of memorable characters. It is a story set in the fast-paced times of today and focuses on the lives of the youngsters.

     

    The film that stars Sahil Anand, Sumit Suri and Preet Kamal releases on 7 February, 2014.

  • Panda approaches Gere for film on food security

    Panda approaches Gere for film on food security

    MUMBAI: With both his debut film I Am Kalam and Jalpari-The Desert Mermaid having won rave reviews, Nila Madhab Panda is making a film based on the issue of world food security.

    The film, which will span from 2001 to 2010, will be like a realistic version of Avatar.

    Panda has approached Richard Gere to star in the film. If Gere accepts, he will play the sutradhar, that of a foreigner who comes to India and gets involved with the socio-political setup of a village in the India-Australia joint production.

    The director has also proposed Harrison Ford’s name for the film.

    “We’re talking to a lot of people. Nothing is confirmed yet, but this film will be much bigger (compared to his past films),” observed Panda.

    Talking about Jalpari-The Desert Mermaid , Panda averred, “It’s more than just a children’s film. It falls in the family adventure space.”

    Panda is gearing up to release Jalpari on 28 July through producer-distributor Ultra Distributors.

    The distributor has already received distribution offers from far flung countries like Korea, Taiwan, Germany and Far East.

  • Panda ropes in Richard Gere for international project

    Panda ropes in Richard Gere for international project

    MUMBAI: I Am Kalam director Nila Madhab Panda has roped in Richard Gere for an international film based on the problem of world food insecurity.


    It is reported that Panda got in touch with Gere through a common friend about his script based on the problem of world food insecurity. It is said that Gere liked the script and is looking forward to begin shooting.


    The film will have Gere play a foreigner who comes to India and gets involved with the socio-political set up of a village. I Am Kalam star Harsh Mayar will play the village boy who interacts with him.


    It is also understood that Will Smith is keen to co-produce the film. A Netherland -based company will handle the production.


    The pre-production work on this film will begin in January 2012.

  • Ultra making Jal Bin Jalpari with Panda at helm

    Ultra making Jal Bin Jalpari with Panda at helm

    MUMBAI: Ultra Distributors, the Rs 3 billion film production, distribution and restoration company headquartered in Mumbai, is in the process of making a children‘s film titled Jal Bin Jalpari directed by Nila Madhab Panda, known for his debut film I Am Kalam.

    Ultra group CEO Sushil Kumar Agrawal said, “After watching I Am Kalam, I was fascinated about the film, message and the director‘s vision. When Panda, narrated me the story of Jal bin Jalpari, I was very much confident of his vision and thought that this is the best opportunity to be socially active through mainstream cinema.”

    The film will tackle issues like increasing water scarcity and the skewed child sex ratio through the children‘s viewpoint.

    The cast of the film comprises of Parvin Dabas, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Suhasini Mulay, VM Badola, Rahul Singh and Harsh Mayar of I Am Kalam.

    The film will be shot in one single schedule in November-December in various locations in north India, including Haryana and Delhi.

    Two Delhi kids, Lehar Khan and Krishang Trivedi are playing the protagonist duo of Shreya and Sam, while Salman and Hebron from NGOs Salaam Balak Trust and Ummeed will play other vital child characters along with Harsh Mayar.

    Panda, recently back from Cinekid International Film Festival, Amsterdam, said that buyers from countries like Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, Taiwan and Argentina have evinced great interest in the new film considering that I Am Kalam did very good business in these countries.

  • I Am Kalam script in Oscar library

    I Am Kalam script in Oscar library

    MUMBAI: The script of Nila Madhab Panda‘s National Award winning film I Am Kalam has made it to the Oscar library.

    Commented Panda, “They wrote to me asking for the script. I recently got a mail saying the script is now part of their library. But this is just the start of things. Our movie is in the race for being India‘s official entry to the Oscars.”

    I Am Kalam revolves around Chhotu, a poor Rajasthani boy, who is inspired by the life of former President of India, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam and his strong desire to learn to read.

    The film, showcased in various film festivals, has bagged several honours and awards.

     

  • I Am Kalam bags three Silent River film fest awards

    I Am Kalam bags three Silent River film fest awards

    MUMBAI: Nila Madhab Panda‘s I AM Kalam has bagged three prestigious awards – for best feature film, best director and best child actor (Harsh Mayar) at the Silent River Film Festival (SRFF).

    Said director Nila Madhab Panda, “I only got to know about our film‘s hat-trick of triumphs at the Silent River festival when the Festival‘s director Kalpana Singh-Chitnis called up to tell me about it. It‘s sad I couldn‘t be there. But the film has already been to 50 festivals and won 14 international awards.”

    The plot revolves around Chhotu, a poor Rajasthani boy, who is inspired by the life of former President of India, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, and his strong desire to learn to read.

    The film that premiered at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival on 12 May has been showcased in various film festivals and has bagged various awards.

    Panda sees the film‘s latest triumph at the Silent Film festival as a victory for independent cinema. “No one thought it was possible for me to complete I Am Kalam. I had to sell our home to make the film. It was traumatic for my family. But finally it was worth it.”

    The Silent Film Festival at Irvine, California celebrates and honours independent cinema.

  • Ketan Mehta’s Rang Rasiya to open Chicago fest on 30 September

    Ketan Mehta’s Rang Rasiya to open Chicago fest on 30 September

    MUMBAI: The Chicago South Asian Film Festival has selected Ketan Mehta’s film Rang Rasiya to open the festival that starts on 30 September.


    The film is the story of artist Raja Ravi Varma‘s passions, obsessions and his fierce struggle for creative freedom. He hurt the religious sentiments of the people by painting nudes of Indian mythological characters. Later on, his muse Sugandha inspired him to create exquisite paintings based on mythological themes and classic literature.


    As many as 27 films have been selected across a variety of genres such as comedy, drama, romance, fantasy, and reality. Among them are Athula Liyanage‘s Bambara Wallala, Geeta Malik‘s Troublemaker, Moinak Biswas and Arjun Gourisaria‘s Spring In The Colony, Hemant Gaba‘s Shuttlecock Boys, Anu Rana‘s Ring Laila, Harjant Gill‘s Roots of Love, Nasir Khan‘s Made in Pakistan, Pankaj Johar‘s documentary Still Standing and Shelley Saywell‘s documentary In the Name of the Family amongst others.


    The much appreciated Nila Madhab Panda‘s I Am Kalam has been selected as the centerpiece of the film festival. It is a heartwarming story of a 13-year-old slum boy who aspires to be like former president of India, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.


    Amole Gupte‘s Stanley Ka Dabba will also been screened in the feature films category of the festival.


    The short film category will have Snehal Patel‘s The Eggie Files Director, Gursimran Sandhu‘s Homecoming, M.S. Srikanth‘s The Bridge, Vivek Shraya‘s Seeking Single White Male, Abi Varghese‘s The Return Address, Rakesh Chaudhary‘s The Eclipse of Taregna, Jason Wang‘s Second Best, Sofian Khan‘s Small Voices, Sandeep Sharma‘s A Portrait in Bombay and Kenneth Lawrence‘s Ronnie.


    The festival will end on 2 October.

  • ‘Apes’ makes Rs 59 mn in opening weekend

    ‘Apes’ makes Rs 59 mn in opening weekend

    MUMBAI: Despite not having released in multiplexes, Fox Star Studios said its latest film in the Apes saga: Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes has grossed Rs 59 million in its opening weekend.


    According to the studio, the James Franco-Freida Pinto visual effects extravaganza has been running to packed houses across India and has received a bumper opening in not just English but all its regional languages: Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.


    Fox Star Studios India CEO Vijay Singh said, ” Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes is a powerful film with a gripping storyline and splendid performances. The film, in fact, has grossed far more than all the other Bollywood releases that opened along with it.”
     
    The films that released along with the Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes are I AM Kalam, Chala Mussadi Office Office, Aagah-The Warning and Chutanki.


    Touted as one of the most entertaining films of this year, Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes has already gathered a lot of Oscar buzz in Hollywood for its spectacular special effects by Oscar winning agency Weta Digital, and Andy Serkis‘ performance as Caesar the ape.

  • Singham races to Rs 767 mn in two weeks

    Singham races to Rs 767 mn in two weeks

    MUMBAI: The three films released on Friday – I Am Kalam, Chala Mussaddi Office Office and Agaah-The Warning – have fared poorly.


    Singham has continued to hold its own in the second week by collecting Rs 251 million, taking its two-week total to Rs 767 million.
     
    Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara has performed well to add another Rs 121 million in its third week. The film has mopped up a total of Rs 735 million in its three-week run.
    Murder has taken its tally to Rs 481 million in four weeks. Delhi Belly, on the other hand, has collected Rs 549 million in five weeks.