Nila Madhab Panda

Nila Madhab Panda is an acclaimed Indian filmmaker known for his impactful films. His work has earned international recognition and multiple awards, inspiring positive change through cinema. Panda transitioned to Hindi feature films, making a global mark with I Am Kalam (2010), which won 34 international awards & multiple national films awards. He later made few notable films include Jalpari (2012), Kaun Kitney Paani Mein (2015), Kadvi Hawa (2016), Halkaa (2018), and Kalira Atita (2020), the latter exploring climate change's impact on India's eastern shores. In 2023, he released The Jengaburu Curse, a 7-episode series on Sony Liv. He has made over 120 documentaries and short films. He was also jury chairman for national films awards.

Panda's work has earned him the Padma Shri(one highest civilian honor) in 2016, multiple national film awards, 54 International film awards and two honorary doctorates (D.Litt). Beyond filmmaking, he founded the International Screenwriters' Lab in Goa and The Green Screen Lab in Bhubaneswar, focusing on environmental storytelling. He has also contributed to global anthology projects like Interdependence and Interactions. He has authored two books, Returned to Innocence and River in my Vein, further showcasing his literary prowess and commitment to exploring deep themes.