Bhubaneswar: Odia filmmaker Nila Madhab Panda's latest venture hit the screens on Friday. A number of people rushed to the city theatres to catch the first show of Halkaa, a unique take on a slum child's heroism, aspirations and dreams.
The child protagonist, Pichku, fights the open defecation problem in the film. It is his dream to make a toilet of his own so that he can have his privacy.
"We loved the film and the concept was very relatable. Moreover, it feels great that a movie like this has been made by an Odia," said film enthusiast Nigam Patra.
Shiv Nadar Foundation and Akshay Parija Producitons partnered with Nila Madhab Panda for the movie as it mirrored the core of the Foundation's belief that transformation begins with one person or one child addressing one issue at a time.
The light-hearted film, features child actor Tathastu as Pichku, and actors Ranvir Shorey and Paoli Dam essay the role of his parents.
"Cinema is the best way to entertain people and give a social message at the same time. My aim has always been to sensitise people through my films," Panda said.
After winning the Grand Prix De Montreal at the 21st Montréal International Children's Film Festival, the film also bagged another Grand Prix for the best film at the Kinolub Festival for Children and Youth, Poland.
Nila Madhab Panda, the director of two critically acclaimed films - I am Kalam and Jalpari: The Desert Mermaid, has time and again exhorted the need for more sensible movies for children. Panda's mainstream Hindi film on the issue of water Kaun Kitne Paani Mein starring Kunal Kapoor and Radhika Apte has been selected for Asia Pacific Screen Awards.
"We didn't have a set for Halkaa. We have shot the entire film in a real location. It was a slum near Pragati Maidan. This was a real challenge," Panda said.
No food for kids
The school and mass education department authorities have held up the salary of four teachers of a government-run upper primary school in Jagatsinghpur district on the charge of not providing noon meal to children on Teachers' day (September 5). Students were not provided with MDM in Khalagaon upper primary school in Balikuda block on the Teachers' day. The parents had later lodged a complaint in this regard.
