Nominations

Politiken Audience Award, Buster Film Festival, Denmark

Cinekid Lion Award (best feature film), Cinekid Film Festival, Amsterdam

Cinekid Audience Award, Cinekid Film Festival, Amsterdam

"Indian frame Showcase" at MAMI (Mumbai International Film Festival)

Official Selection

South Asian International Film Festival (USA)

International Film Festival of India (Indian Panorama)

In Competition

Asia Pacific Screen Awards

Giffoni International Film Festival, Italy

54th BFI Times London Film Festival, London

Montreal International Children's Film Festival (FIFEM)

Cinekid International Film Festival, Amsterdam

Barbican London International Children's Film Festival

29th Oulu International Children's and Youth Film Festival, Finland

Kinder Film Festival, Vienna

Festicinekids, Columbia

New York International Children Film Festival

Estonia Children's Film Festival

The Heartland Film Festival (USA)

Al Kino, Youth and Children International Film Festival, Poland

International Film Festival of Kerala.

International Vilnius Film Festival for Children and Youth/ LITHUANIA]

International Children's Film Carnival (ICFC) 2011, Hong Kong

Kristiansand International Children's Film Festival; Norway

Cine Jeune Film Festival-France 2011

Hidden Gems Film Festival 2011

SYNOPSIS:

In spite of being born into abject poverty, Chhotu an inventive child with a cheerful disposition does not let his grim circumstances defeat him.  In order to support his family, he works in a small road side food stall during the day; however spends his evenings voraciously reading books he has somehow managed to gather. He someday dreams of getting an education, and commanding his own destiny.

On a hot sultry day, Chhotu encounters the local prince. The pauper is captivated at the sight of the crisp tie that the prince sports. He is immediately drawn towards it. The prince eyes the camel the pauper has tamed, and is instantly mesmerized. Thus an unlikely friendship is struck between the two, which dares to defy the stringent class barriers of the village.

One day, upon hearing a speech from Dr. Abdul Kalam, the former President of India, Chhotu vows to change his future. Just like him, the former President too suffered great hardships as a child, but through sheer determination, perseverance and hard work mapped his own course.

From that day forward, the enterprising lad drops the name Chhotu-a tag used to identity countless laboring boys across India , and adopts the alias ‘Kalam’.  Like the former President, Chhotu pledges to become a hero someday. He is aided in his mammoth quest by his loyal friend Prince Ranvijay.

 ‘I am Kalam’ is an inspiring tale of a quick-witted boy’s journey to make his impossible vision a reality.