Popular photographer and filmmaker Pranab K Aich, who took India to the global stage with Manayun and Torch, has once again made the country proud with his latest docu-drama titled Nanda Master’nka Chatasali . It is based on ‘Nanda Master,’ the 104-year-old Prusty, who provided free education to children and villagers in the Kantira village of Jajpur district, Odisha, at a roofless school for seven decades until his demise. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to education and social service, he was awarded the Padma Shri in 2021.
After getting its world premiere at the 29th Kolkata International Film Festival on 7 December 2023, it became the first Odia film to be presented at the Bharat Pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival 2024. As the filmmaker is promoting his debut docudrama at the ongoing Platform Busan 2024 – the prestigious sidebar of the Busan International Film Festival, in an exclusive interview, Pranab shared the journey of making Nanda Master’nka Chatasali, his thoughts on narrating Indian stories and more. Edited excerpts from the interview: Journey of making Nanda Master’nka Chatasali (Nanda Master’s School) So it should, be more than a short film.
And the producer had to do it. He wanted it to be a feature film. So we went on to make it a feature film.
And, we also discussed on making a picture on it. But, because Nanda Sir is a real man, and I’m more known as a documentary maker. And, the magnanimous personality that Nanda Sir is, an.