Film ‘I am Kalam’ screening for Mumbai Dabbawallas only!

Pitobash

The dhabawalla of award winning film I am Kalam, Pitobash (Shor in the city), met the Mumbai dabbawallas for a special screening of the film for the Dabbawalla Sangathan. Present for the screening along with Pitobash were the President and Ex-President of the Dabbawalla Sangathan. I am Kalam is the first feature film in India to be produced by an NGO– Smile Foundation, and has already won 1 National Award and 11 international awards. The film is slated for a theatrical release on August 05.

Pitobash plays the role of Laptan – assistant to Bhati, the dhaba owner (played by Gulshan Grover) in I am Kalam. Pitobash, a critically acclaimed actor, has also acted in recent films like 3 Idiots ,99 ,Mirch, Shor in  the City.

I am Kalam is Pitobash’s  his first film though the others were released earlier. Talking about the film Pitobash said “I am Kalam is special to me for various reasons. Besides being my first film, I am Kalam is an entertainer that is also meaningful and conveys an important message. I got to work with Gulshan Sir. He is extremely professional and has taught me a lot. I am glad that the film is releasing.

Such small budget films usually get shelved but thanks to Smile Foundation; they have worked very hard to make sure their effort  reaches people. I am Kalam has done excellently well internationally and there is a lot of curiosity about the film even in India. I am sure it will get similarly appreciated in India too. I am very excited.”

All enthusiastic after watching the film, President of the Dabbawalla Sangathan Yamuna Sakaram Ghule said “It is a very good film. It was a very nice gesture of Smile Foundation to screen the film for us. We have been made to feel really special. And on behalf of the entire family I wish this film and Smile Foundation best of luck.”

I am Kalam is the feature debut of director Nila Madhab Panda The cast of the movie includes Harsh Mayar, Gulshan Grover, Pitobash, Husaan Saad, and Beatrice Ordeix among others. I am Kalam is the story of a child and his struggles to pursue his dreams and to surpass the boundaries of reality. It is a story of redemption, of the need to provide education to the underclass and to equalize social inequities. Set in Bikaner, Rajasthan, the film revolves around the struggles of the protagonist – Chhotu, and is symbolic to the struggle of millions of such children in the country and how the civil society looks at the depravity but does not lift a finger to do anything about it. What is unique about the film is that while focusing on the grave issue of child labour, it is not preachy and boring. It is a very mainstream bollywood film with a fable like simple narrative of a Prince and a pauper, and does not follow the clichéd way of pitting the protagonist against a slave driver. Instead, the story draws its strength from the protagonist’s friendship with the local prince his age and their learning from each other.