Nila Madhab Panda

Director, Producer

Nila Madhab Panda is a film-maker from India. Panda has made films of different genre, each of his story telling is a discovery to a new craft. Most of his films have unique insights drawn from his own life, the metaphorical distance that he has traversed from a small obscure village to different cities around the world. His first Hindi feature film, the highly-acclaimed "I am Kalam" has won 33 International & National awards.

His second feature film “Jalpari”, about female infanticide and gender inequality, was well received by audience and was highly acclaimed. It received the prestigious, MIP Junior award at Cannes 2013. His third feature film “Babloo Happy Hai”, based on Youths and HIV/AIDS was well appreciated by audience and critics in India. His fourth film “Kaun Kitney Paani Main”, a satire on the water crisis in India was released last year. His new feature length documentary is “God’s own people” is narrated by Mr Bachchan. “Kadvi hawa” received a national award this year, and it is based on the economical and emotional impact of climate change and global warming. He began shooting his new children film called “Halkaa” which is a sequel of “I am kalam” based on a child growing up in the slums of Delhi.

Panda founded the “International Screenwriters Lab” in India to create quality children’s film scripts in Asian Cinema.

He is the producer for the 60x60 programme, UK Arts Council-funded, to bring cultural connection between India-Pakistan and Britain. Apart from film awards he has been honored with “Longest Journey Award” from IIM-B & BC, UN award, “Karmaveer Puraskar-2011”, on his contribution on social issues through film medium, Living Legend, Odisha Icon, Asia-Pacific Entrepreneurship award, Honored with “Bharat Gaurav”. And in 2016 he was honored with “Padmashree” one of the highest civilian honors by the president of India for his work on arts and cinema.