Panda desperately seeking Aamir Khan

National award winning director Nila Madhab Panda whose debut film I Am Kalam, advocating child literacy, caught the attention of the former president Abdul Kalam and won its young protagonist Harsh Mayar a National award, is desperately seeking Aamir Khan. Panda is on the verge of releasing Jalpari: The Desert Mermaid, his film on female foeticide. He is of the feeling that Aamir’s attention would substantially aggravate the eyeball quotient for his message-oriented film. Says Panda wrily, “I realise my film is not Joker in terms of star value. And though we’re coming on the same Friday, I’m not even trying to pitch Jalpari against Joker. But, we haven’t even been able to get some decent shows in the multiplexes that we were expecting. It’s a pity because those who have seen it in previews feel that it’s better than my earlier film I Am Kalam.” Anxious to get an audience, Panda has been desperately trying to reach Aamir Khan. “He champions the cause of meaningful cinema. And when he asks audiences to see a film, they follow him. Also, Aamir cares about the female child. He has done a very moving segment of his television show Satyamev Jayate on female foeticide. If we go by this segment of his show and by his general empathy for social issues, then Aamir is the right person to take Jalpari to a wider audience,” opines Panda. Ever since Panda saw Aamir addressing the issue of female foeticide on Satyamev Jayate, he has been trying to contact the conscientious actor. “But unfortunately, I have not been able to talk to Aamir. I’ve tried every possible route but to no avail. Now my film is just hours away from release. I still want Aamir to just give the film a little thought.” The urban audience needs Aamir Khan to tell them about Jalpari. Would he oblige?