I Am Kalam Director to Make Biopic on A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

Nila Madhab Panda, who directed I Am Kalam, a film inspired from the life of former President of India, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, said that he is planning to make a biopic on the Missile Man. The director said that he has been planning for the biographical film on ex-President, who passed away in Shillong on Monday, from quite long. “I have been thinking about it (a biopic on Kalam) for a long time now, but I never got the opportunity to discuss it with him. For him, it was important that his motivational messages reach far and wide and so, I am sure he would have never objected to a film being made on him”, he told Mid-Day.

The director continues, “Now is the right time. I have started my research and am already in talks with people to back my project. However, I will be able to begin work on it once my upcoming film releases. I will announce the cast then”. Panda also revealed that he met Kalam two month back and they talked for quite some time, then.

The director shared the experience of showing I Am Kalam to the Missile Man. Panda said, “I was fortunate enough to meet him in person on four or five occasions. However, I now realise that I have only one picture with him. For my generation, he was an icon. I remember when we met him after a screening of my film and he was enjoying the company of kids. He was happy to see his dream to reach out to kids and spread his thought was fulfilled through the film”.