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Here Be Dragons co-curated by Cressida Cowell and Toothless - opens 13 July. Admission included with ticket to the Galleries

1001 Stories Collection

I Am Kalam

1001 Iam Kalam
Added on 29th September 2020

Director Nila Madhab Panda
First relaesed 2010, India

Identity and fairness Friends
1001

A film which highlights the right of every child to have an education.

Story

A heart-warming story about friendship between two boys, one from royalty and one from poverty. Chhouti is sent by his mother to work in a roadside restaurant to escape famine in their village. In a chance encounter he meets a lonely Prince and the boys form a friendship forbidden by a society who believes that rich people should not mix with poor people from poor backgrounds. The two boys have lots of fun telling stories, playing games and dreaming of a future when children like Chhouti are allowed to go to school – something Chhouti wants more than anything in the world. But when their secret friendship is discovered will it survive?

Why we chose it

A modern fable about following dreams. A film which highlights the basic right of every child to have an education.

Where it came from

I am Kalam was produced by the Smile Foundation, an Indian organisation dedicated to changing the lives of underprivileged children. It is the first Indian film produced by a development organisation. Chhoutu’s story and struggle highlights the plight of millions of children in India who struggle to gain access to education. With the film the Smile Foundation wants to draw attention to the movement which works to provide an education for every child in India. To raise awareness they created a mainstream Bollywood film, which highlights an important cause in a modern fable.

Where it went next

The film won 23 national and international awards from the 40 prestigious film festivals from around the world.

Associated stories

The Smile Foundation organises an annual film festival for films made for children and young people.

Added on 29th September 2020

Director Nila Madhab Panda
First relaesed 2010, India

Identity and fairness Friends
1001