Chotu’s mother sends her son away to work for Uncle Bhati, who runs a café next to a royal palace hotel, lived in by King Rudra and his son Prince Ranvijay. Having watched President Kalam on television and become inspired by his message that destiny can be changed by actions, Chotu changes his name to Kalam and begins applying himself in every area possible. A chance encounter with the young Prince establishes the foundations for a strong but secret friendship, with both children learning about life outside of their own worlds and the opportunities and perspectives that each of those worlds provide. The Prince starts attending a local school, without his father’s knowledge and with the begrudging acceptance of his personal servant, but it’s a high-risk enterprise, and the danger of being caught is always an issue. I Am Kalam is a captivating, upbeat film with more than just a passing nod to The Prince and the Pauper. At its heart is a valuable message about being able to break away from your expected role in life by working hard and creating your own destiny. Although obstacles stand in their way, both boys in the film forge an opportunity to achieve this. –BFI
This beautiful, magical, and emotional independant Indian film is reminiscent of Satyajit Ray and Ritwik Ghatak. Nila Madhab Panda takes a very serious subject (the education of children and the vast gulf between rich and poor) and treats it with such good humour, and cinematic wonderment. Exqusitely shot in Rajasthan, a wonderful film for children. Great performances from all, please watch this film.
