‘Oscar or not, Kalira Atita should get the attention’
Kadvi Hawa (2017), I am Kalam (2010) and now Kalira Atita — Nila Madhab Panda’s filmography is replete with films that talk about the planet and environmental causes, instead of just focussing on monetary gains.
“Entertainment bhi chahiye logon ko. But people should get conscious, too. Many films are made on women empowerment, rape... but its surprising that the whole world, which has developed science so much, was shut down by a virus for one year. That can be your reflection and realisation,” says the filmmaker.
Panda’s latest, Odia film Kalira Atita, which means yesterday’s past, is about the rising sea level in a district in Odisha, and is eligible for Academy Awards in the Best Picture category. “People think that climate change is happening, but not to them. Seven villages have been wiped out there. The film talks about the impact of climate change, no one has attempted that. The media is talking about it, and this is how the Oscar campaign happens. Our Prime Minister says, ‘Local to global’, so a small film like this should create news. We have the attenJay tion of people, Oscar or not, it doesn’t matter. It’s an important film of our times,” he says.
Talking on how he was inspired to take up issue-based films, he recalls his childhood that was spent in a village sans petrol or diesel. “I’ve seen the ecosystem... From there, to Delhi, to world over, I saw how we are damaging the world. There is no planet B. It affected me badly as an artiste, and I felt that I need to tell such stories to the world,” he says.