I Am Kalam' director finds support from Karen Tenkhoff; movie to travel to fests
A still from 'The Motorcycle Diaries' (2004)
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It is such an optimistic irony that I am making a movie on global climate change, and I am based in Delhi," says director Nila Madhab Panda with a laugh, referring to the pollution cloud the capital has been reeling under lately. The National award-winning director's next, Kadvi Hawa, starring Sanjay Mishra, Ranvir Shorey and Tilottoma Shome deals with the emotional impact of global climate change.
"It sounds too far fetched an idea because climate change as a concept doesn't have as immediate an impact as love, or heartbreak. Yes, mine is an independent movie, but it isn't a boring art film. The flow is dramatic and every frame is like a painting," he says of the film set in the ravines of Chambal. The film traces the history of two men who live in abject poverty and how their lives are affected by climate change. "The paradox," says Nila, is that both have don't nothing to affect the ecology directly.
Nila Madhab Panda
He has on board Karen Tenkhoff, producer of cult film, The Motorcycle Diaries, who is the film's executive producer. "Karen and I had met in Mumbai a couple of years ago. She had seen my films and was keen to collaborate. When I got this story on hand, I called her. She was excited and instantly agreed. For her, it is a global issue. People like her are brands by themselves who add merit to your product. She is in talks with Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney and a few others, who have actively worked towards the cause. Hollywood stars endorsing the film will give it a huge impetus," says Nila.
Karen Tenkhoff
The director is trying
to widen the scope of the film's worldwide release, negotiating with distributors in China, Korea, Singapore, Dubai, USA and UK. For India, he has a strategy to take the message to every corner of India.