A small-budget film with rich production values coupled with not-so-famous star cast and off-the-beaten track storyline gives me a solid high! After all, its such films that might not boast of a high budget or big stars but still deliver a brilliant and at times thought-provoking product. There are countless such films and I’m sure as you are reading this, few such films have already crossed your mind! Now it’s time to add I Am Kalam to this list! Based on child labour and denial of education to the underprivileged, I Am Kalam at places doesn’t boast of good execution, editing and camerawork. The rest of the film however is a brilliant fare that keeps you hooked and draws you into the world of Chhotu and his dreams!

The story of the movie: Chhotu (Harsh Mayar) is sent by his mother (Namrata Dixit) to Bhati (Gulshan Grover) to work in his roadside dhaba somewhere near the deserts of Rajasthan. Being very sharp, intelligent and of a joyous temperament, Chhotu soon learns all the culinary skills and also keeps the patrons at the dhaba happy and entertained, most of whom were foreign tourists. But being extremely poor, he is not able to go to school even though he loves to read and write. Yet, that doesn’t upset him and he dreams of making it big one day. Inspired by Dr Abdul Kalam’s speech, he changes his name to Kalam! At the same time, he befriends Kunwar Sa Rannvijay (Husaan Saad), a local prince of his same age, even though Rannvijay’s father has strictly told him to More >