MUMBAI: Nila Madhab Panda‘s I AM Kalam has bagged three prestigious awards - for best feature film, best director and best child actor (Harsh Mayar) at the Silent River Film Festival (SRFF).

Said director Nila Madhab Panda, "I only got to know about our film‘s hat-trick of triumphs at the Silent River festival when the Festival‘s director Kalpana Singh-Chitnis called up to tell me about it. It‘s sad I couldn‘t be there. But the film has already been to 50 festivals and won 14 international awards."

The plot revolves around Chhotu, a poor Rajasthani boy, who is inspired by the life of former President of India, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, and his strong desire to learn to read.

The film that premiered at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival on 12 May has been showcased in various film festivals and has bagged various awards.

Panda sees the film‘s latest triumph at the Silent Film festival as a victory for independent cinema. "No one thought it was possible for me to complete I Am Kalam. I had to sell our home to make the film. It was traumatic for my family. But finally it was worth it."

The Silent Film Festival at Irvine, California celebrates and honours independent cinema.