After the international success of I Am Kalam, which won over 20 international awards and one national award and went to over 55 film festivals around the globe, Nila Madhab Panda's new feature film Jalpari - The Desert Mermaid, produced by Sushilkumar Agrawal of Ultra Distributors Pvt Ltd, started its international journey with a screening on the Marche Du Cannes (Film Market) of the continuing Cannes Film Festival.
The first market screening of the film, which had its theatrical release shortly, got an implausible response from buyers and other participants of the festival on May 17, and already there was an enthusiastic response from more buyers for the second one screening which was on May 23, Agrawal said here.
Both Panda and Agrawal are busy meeting people searching for products/services and movie festival curators at Cannes, and the film will soon start its journey within the festival circuit. Talking in regards to the film Panda says, "My new film is set. Because the film was not complete earlier, I COULDN'T send it for official selection in Cannes, but we brought it to the market and got an incredible response here. We've got invites from many festivals already".
"The story of Jalpari is largely in response to the problem of female foeticide, nevertheless it was treated as an adventure thriller and journey film. Indian children's cinema is now attracting numerous interest in foreign markets, and prefer I Am Kalam, Panda's Jalpari may even surely be a super success," added Agrawal.
The film will see the debut of Delhi kids Lehar Khan and Krishang Trivedi within the role of the protagonists, while Harsh Mayar, who won the National Award for the most productive child actor for his performance in I Am Kalam, essays crucial character too.
The senior artistes within the film comprise a highly-talented ensemble of Parvin Dabas, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Rahul Singh, Suhasini Mulay and V M Badola. Jalpari will release in Indian theatres on July 20, 2012.
