Iam Kalam

I am penning my impression about a movie which I saw recently after it made lot of news  in media and people perhaps as I am not a movie freak but I was apprehensive about watching this movie ‘Iam Kalam’ as the movie grabbing the maximum stars for its deserve. I like to candidly mention here that from peppli live to stanely ka dabba and Iam kalam these special subjects reflects about social evils existing  Indian society on screen and the practices which is on the decline in paper but flourishing in practice.

To recall peepli live was a different subject and stanely ka dabba was a creative theme highlighting the child labor but I am kalam more than problem oriented is an inspirational movie which somewhere excel stanely because of indomitable presence of Former president Dr APJ Abdul kalam and his inspiring message to success in life the need is to focus on actions than destiny by setting goal, getting education, working hard and having courage through application of righteous means than wishing destiny to do the means to take you towards end.

The characters in the movie have been immaculately portrayed as the central character chottu Viz Kalam who come with his mother to work in Dhaba which is attached to the royal heritage bunglow residence cum tourist hotel. The Dhaba is looked by ambitious Bhatti (Glushan Grover) who like to enhance his sales by luring the foreign visitors accepts Kalam on the request of his mother to meet their two square meals

Kalam is a child prodigy and learn things quickly and impress everyone with his pleasantries he make friendship with the female camel laksmi and start working with his senior lapton; Lucy is another character a music artist who plays a window of hope for  kalam’s life who promise kalam to take him to Delhi and teach him French also help to join him school; she is secret love of Bhatti Mama of Kalam who keep trying  to woe her but unable convey his feelings before knowing the reality that leaves him in no mans’ land.

The movie holds another important character Ranvijay a little royal prince who belongs to the same age of kalam but feel isolated and bored in his royal bunglow due to absence of friends. Ranvijay is equally important character to note how children became the victim of sophisticated parenthood who indulge in their business and miss the care needs for their children; his father who is the Royal highness and supreme instructs his child to make friendship only with royal blood is prejudices of society that how Indian society is one but in divisions. Ranvijay somewhere fuels kalam character in the contrast where he makes friendship with kalam and both the kids coming together and share their attitudes and belongings; the contrast between both kids especially kalam to learn English wish to go school, and meet President Dr. Kalam is not only wish of kalam but numerous children who are stifle in the child labour practice whereas ranvijay learning hindi, French and winning trophy in speech competition with the help of kalam get his ambition from kalam to open schools for children like kalam.

The contrast of both kids can be visualized how two nations existed in our one country with the shadow of vices before the picture the shinning India that every time effort to correct its shadow confront the cultural lag and ethnocentrism between the words and deeds to deliver for the most needed. The movie get into an abrupt climax by the manager of the hotel blaming kalam to be a thief for the gifts given by the Royal prince, though kalam pleads for his ignorance he is accused by everyone and in anguish kalam runaway to Delhi to meet Dr Kalam only to find his good promise friend coming in search of him and gifting his life his wish to educate and enlighten to work on the lessons of President Dr Abdul Kalam ending the movie into new beginning.

This is not the first time that Indian film industry has projected the sensitivities and social evils existing in practice under the veil of government in society, it should alarm the policy makers that much has to be done to make all well on ground particularly to bring children like kalam under ambit of education with right to education and sarva siksha abhiyan program the menace of child labor can punch out only if we not just watch movies but learn a lesson from it.  


The movie is well appreciated and good choice if selected as indian entry for the oscars honor however the NGO smile foundation producing the movie for better cause to highlight the problem is a good sign but I am also apprehensive that this should not became an alternative opportunity to divert the social welfare funds from the welfare pause to wealth cause.