I Am Kalam

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.

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."

After seeing the movie it simply reminds us of awe-inspiring book "Ignited Minds".

It also reminds me of the famous quote "Fortune favor's the brave" and think that "brave and witty" should be added in it, as the movie clearly depicts that the imagination of a child cannot be kept under wraps by the mere present circumstances he is facing!!!

The direction of the movie and cast is brilliant, their is a real-life touch to the little love-story added. I think that the movie should be screened all over India and not only in tier-1,2,3 cities, as it is the rural population which could be maximum beneficiary. The foundations like "SMILE"," Against Child Labour " should be supported. The government should take initiative and support the film by promoting it in one of their child welfare programs.

The movie is simply awesome.

Nila Madhab Panda's 'I Am Kalam' tells the inspiring tale of an impoverished boy, Kalam, forced by circumstances, to work at a local tea shop owned by Bhatti. Kalam looks at life with a pinch of salt and optimism. He's a fast learner and befriends the customers. His dream is to wear a school uniform and tie and go to school. This dream seems to come close to becoming true when he befriends a young prince but trouble soon follows Kalam.

'I Am Kalam' has both a fairy tale feel and a feel of realness. It is the director's splendid fusion of the two that makes this little film a magical experience. The direction, the score and Sanjay Chauhan's writing are quite simple yet sincere and the story is very easy to relate to. It also has a very lyrical feel to it. The score is mostly a combination of simple sound created with simple instruments (with the exception of the traditional Rajasthani song that takes place in the palace) but it's mesmerizing and among the best I've heard in recent times. The cinematography effectively captures the beauty of Rajathan and the art direction is pleasantly colourful and authentic.

The performances are outstanding. Gulshan Grover delivers one of his finest to date. The rest of the supporting performances by Pitobash, Beatrice Ordeix and especially Hussan Saad are excellent. However, where acting is concerned, the most outstanding performance comes from Harsh Mayar. Extracting a good performance from a child couldn't have been easy but Panda has done it and Mayar delivers one of the most natural performances on screen.

'I Am Kalam' is light and optimistic. It carries the simple message that every single child must be educated and deserves the right to live like a child. The film never preaches this but merely demonstrates it through the story. There is not a single melodramatic moment for it is evident that 'I Am Kalam' comes straight from the heart. Simple, Sincere, Uplifting, Inspiring and Spellbinding are at least five words to describe this precious little gem.