I Am Kalam

This is one of the best movies I have seen so far. So simple, yet so touching.

It inspired me to think of our people, of our great country and our incredible culture (as depicted in the Rajasthani styles). Need me to say that the Rajasthani setting was just apt and everything was sown in very creatively.

I hope this movie sets the trend for many more such movies. It is worth every penny and every second of yours.

It brings me to think of the state of millions of children out there who have so much of aspirations but not the means.

I wish the government officials (all of them) see this movie and get inspired by it.

Tonight, I attended a screening of I AM KALAM, starring Gulshan Grover, along with a superb cast. It is a charming story that speaks to the truth that one's life is guided much more by one's actions than by a predetermined destiny...The main setting, at a roadside snack stand near Delhi is, at once, mundane and exotic, as the workers and foreign visitors interact on a daily basis. And, glimpses inside the private quarters of a royal family are nothing less than eye candy for viewers.

The meat of the story derives from the delightful performances of Mr. Grover and the charming young actor who plays Kalam with fearless truthfulness. Even Laxmi, the camel, draws us in with her gentle ways.

As of this writing, the film lacks a US distribution company...some smart executive should pick it up and get it to American audiences!

Now here we have a film which helps to maintain faith in Bollywood. Clearly the strongest part of the film is its script. After completing it I was wondering whether it was meant for a short film and then converted in to a feature film. It employed a lot of elements in between which made me think so, but they were so nicely placed that I did not even for a moment think of their significance while viewing. The story seemed to flow very smoothly all the time.

However I did notice some plot holes but they don't matter much when we are given films like cocktail in present day bollywood. Apart from the screenplay what made the film great to watch was the acting of KALAM alias chhotu. His acting always looked real, mature and at par with other actors. The film explores sentiments in a new direction with a very soothing atmosphere all the time. The ending is incredible and couldn't have been better. Clearly the director wants to take Indian cinema to greater heights and it can be achieved by making strong screenplays or at least by films based on a subject matter other than Love and Romance. Looking forward for more films like this.

MESSAGE: "Believe in working rather than destiny."

VERDICT: "A must watch for all the Indian Viewers at least."

Well the movie has something in it. It may start without a hope and continues as a normal routine but the way the child strives to fight his destiny with hope and hard work will never be calculated. People who recognize the talent and can do much to help this kid reminds us a current society we are living in. The child being truthful ready to take responsibility for his actions not neglecting his passion and hard work to get a hold on education reminded me of how unlucky most kids are in the third world countries this is not a lesson to kids but a realization for all the elders that he can be a successful person not materialistic wealth wise but he will achieve what he loves.

A small note : the letter which was addressed to Kalam in the climax was simple but full of words that can get through anyone.

As I am talking about the film "I am Kalam", it simply reminds me of the lines which former president of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam wrote in his memorable book "Wings of fire":

"I am a well in this great land

Looking at its millions of boys and girls

To draw from me

The inexhaustible divinity

And spread His grace everywhere

As does the water drawn from the well."

And I think the director Nila Madhab Panda was superbly taken this valiant poetry forward by transpiring this into a inspirational plot. Offcourse he created a fable, a fairytale along the line of Prince and Pauper but the thread that keep this tale magical was this poetry. Before I give any actual review I must tell that this is really a great film not only for its message but also because it chooses a leader (who has proved ability to inspire) from new bright colorful India, beyond B&W eras of Gandhi and Nehru (though apart from Dr. Kalam, we really have long 64 years of drought of the leaders who we can count on). Every generation needs a leader to inspire its young people to put aside their sorrows and guilt and ascend towards where the sky is. This time its our beloved Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.

"I am Kalam" is a story of a two child one who is from 'havenot' class and other from 'have' class. Former is alive with his all innocence and aspires to become what he can not in normal circumstances. He has examples of Dr. Kalam and Lal Bahadur Shashtri to follow. Other is a Prince-with all the palace to wander, but is lonely. His heart too is innocent. So when they meet they simply bond with each other. They simply complement each other. And at the end they both write their own destiny. So how it is inspiring? It is where the spin of fairytale was yarned that shows the determination and perseverance of one side to acceptance and true friendship of other side.

The film is brilliant and optimistic. No doubt about it. But is this fun to watch? The answer is yes. The writer and director both has put a great effort to never slip in regression of darkness which is cliché in Indian Cinema esp for plot like this. So between those pivotal characters they splattered color, harmony and light so precisely that this film comes as worth watchable.

And this movie sends a clear message to all the people that as Panda said in an earlier interview:

"The idea of the film is to give a message that every child should go to school which is relevant to the right to education and that effort is more powerful than fate. It also urges the privileged masses to join the effort to educate the children and help them to dream and turn their dreams into breathing reality,"

and as writer Sanjay Chauhan said: "Every child has the right to live his childhood, childhood way."

As for the acting everyone does his/her job according to their role.

So for this Indo-French collaboration I will give 9/10.