Movie Review : I am Kalam

Rating : 4/5
Genre : Drama
Year : 2010
Running time : 1 hour 27 minutes
Director : Nilab Madhab Panda
Cast : Harsh Mayar, Gulshan Grover, Hussan Saad, Pitobash Tripathi, Sanjay Chauhan, Beatrice Ordeix
Kid rating : G

There are very few Hindi films made for children. To name a few : “The Blue Umbrella”, Makdee, etc. Mostly desi kids do with sports-oriented or super-hero films : Chak De India, Iqbal, Lagaan or Krish etc. “I am Kalam” is a rarity then, since it is centered around children and neither preachy nor containing overly sweet/sassy kids (which is quite nice – the nosy, supercilious kids of Hindi cinema can get to you).

Chhotu (Harsh Mayar) is a poor boy, left with dhaba owner Bhati (Gulshan Grover) by his mother to work and fend for himself. She tells him that he is a smart and nimble boy and will work hard for Bhati. Bhati, a kind-hearted man takes him on, and finds that the boy is indeed spry and learns quickly. Chotu fetches and carries, applying himself to tasks like making Bhati’s trademark tea as well as Bhati himself. His energy and spirit threaten Laptan (Pitobash Tripathi) Bhati’s other employee.

Chhotu perchance meets Prince Kunwar RanVijay Singh (Hussain Saad), the son of the erstwhile king Raja Rudra Pratap Singh (Sanjay Chauhan). Hearing of his ceremonial title “Kunwar” , Chhotu decides to change his name from the flippant “Chhotu” to the impressive Kalam; he has seen President A.P.J. Kalam on television and heard of his poverty-stricken childhood. One of the more endearing scenes in the film is of Chhotu looking in the mirror and copying Dr. Kalam’s (quite distinctive) hairstyle.

The Raja’s ancestral palace is now a luxurious hotel, but the Raja still lives in his royal world and forbids his young school-going son from hob-nobbing with “commoners”. So Chhotu and Vijay, now friends, meet in secret. Chhotu sees a different world, becoming exposed to the Prince’s privileged lifestyle. Seeing his friend’s curiosity and desire to learn, the Prince gifts him books and toys which Chhotu keeps carefully hidden. However Laptan sees them and grasps at an opportunity to get Chhotu out of his hair forever . . .

This is a simple but appealing tale; my kids enjoyed it very much. All the actors have done well, and I must commend the two young boys who play Chhotu and the Prince. Pitobash Tripathi (of “Shor in the City” fame) is excellent and Gulshan Grover is effective in an unusual (for him) role as a kind-hearted do-gooder. The director keeps the film interesting and at an understandable level for children, without resorting to gimmicky crowd-pullers. Without delving too deeply into the harsh realities of poverty he manages to show us Chhotu’s indefatigable spirit and sunny humor even in hard times. Very nicely done.

There is hope. Highly recommended.