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| Chhotu (Harsh Mayar) and Bhati (Gulshan Grover) in I am Kalam. |
By John Esther
Now it its 9th year, the Indian Film Festival Los Angeles (IFFLA) is the most successful film festival of its kind in the country, if not the world. Dedicated to bringing Indian culture to Los Angeles via cinema, IFFLA offers contemporary Indian film along with panels, parties and awards from April 12-19, 2011.
This year, IFFLA opens up with a lighthearted tale of a young boy on a mission, I am Kalam.
Blessed with pop star good looks and a remarkable intellect, 12-year-old Chhotu (Harsh Mayar) is pawned off to Bhati (Gulshan Grover) by his beautiful-looking, but crass mommy (Meena Mir) who is in debt. Put the boy to work
"School is not in our destiny," she tells Bhati.
Thanks to the boy's hard work and knowhow, Chhotu quickly endears himself to everybody around him -- except a wannabe "Godfather" (Pitobash) -- including the local prince (Husaan Saad) who is the same age as Chhotu.
Chhotu is not really his name, but it plays as a metaphor of sorts while Chhotu searches for the right role model/identity, someone with a similar background who now "wears a tie and people salute him."
Directed by Nila Madhab Panda, there is hardly any doubt from the opening shot where I am Kalam is headed within the next 87 minutes. There is some decent acting along the way, but there are also quite a few unnecessary scenes, contrived tropes and an ending that seems to fly in the face of the film's general attitude toward educating underprivileged youth.
Certainly not the best IFFLA Opening Night film ever, I am Kalam assures us that all is best in the best of all possible worlds, which may be nice if you can(dide) subscribe to that sort of thing.
I am Kalam screens April 12, 7:30 p.m., ArcLight Hollywood. For more information: http://www.indianfilmfestival.org/
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