Nah, we are not speaking of any notoriety committed or that 'special treatment' meted out to Nila Madhab Panda, film director of 'I Am Kalam', in Tihar Jail.

But Nila Madhab Panda, as with his well intentioned film was at Tihar Jail for a special screening of his film 'I Am Kalam' for the adolescent inmates at the infamous jail.

A special screening of 'I Am Kalam' was organised by Smile Foundation at Tihar Prison complex for the adolescent inmates on July 20th at 4.00 pm. The film screening was attended by Director General Prisons Sri Neeraj Kumar IPS and more than 200 inmates.

The main venue for the film screenings was the Tihar Correctional Institution. In addition it was also relayed in all the TV screens inside Tihar premises. The National Award winner of the film child actor, Harsh Mayar too attended the screening along with the director Nila Madhab Panda at this maximum security prison, which houses the most wanted criminals in the country.

But as part of the Jailhouse mantra of being transformative and humanising the prison walls, the authorities decided to show the inspiring film 'I Am Kalam', so that it constructively and creatively open the minds of prisoners to the beauties and possibilities of life and looking ahead to a life after the prison term.

Initially the director and Harsh were apprehensive since they had heard about the notoriety of the 'mob culture' in jails, but soon their doubts were laid to rest by the new perspectives on policing and life by the jail authorities. In fact Harsh was so upbeat that the talented kid danced and performed impromptu for the inmates.

'I Am Kalam' is 'Fable' Like Narrative, of a prince and a pauper in the setting of Rajasthan palaces and locales, entertaining with universal appeal. 'I Am Kalam' starts with an inspiring line of APJ Abdul Kalam 'Great Dreams of great dreamers are always transcendent'.

The story is about Chhotu who in spite of abject poverty has an inventive mind, tall aspirations and dreams and a never say die spirit. It's the story of the underdog, 'Chottu', a helper in the roadside dhabha, who watches APJ Abdul Kalam on TV, and is inspired to be like him.

He is inspired by the fact that APJ Abdul Kalam distributed newspapers to pay off his fees and though his sheer grit and determination achieves his dreams. Following the screening of the inspiring film 'I Am Kalam', there was a panel discussion, wherein a visibly moved inmate recounted that if he had seen the film earlier, he would have thought differently and like 'Chottu/Kalam' in the film would aspire to have his own identity and would not have taken into crime.

In fact the inmates admired Harsh Mayar, who himself was brought up in the slum in real life, and at a young age got a National Award because he dared to dream and aspired to create his own identity like 'Chottu' in the film, who was inspired by APJ Abdul Kalam.

Truly at the end, 'I Am Kalam' inspired the inmates of Tihar Jail to look ahead in life and have a dream. For any hopeful transformation that takes place, the film partner Centuryply's campaign line 'Har Kalam Ko Apna Salaam' proves itself to every word!!