Nila Madhab Panda

Nila Madhab Panda is an Indian film producer and director. Panda has directed and produced over 70 films, documentaries, and shorts based on social issues, such as climate change, child labor, education, water issues, sanitation and other developmental issues in India. Many of his films are based on his own experiences. He has won several awards and received critical acclaim for his films which have been described as "entertaining yet socially relevant."

Early life Panda was born in Odisha, and studied Entrepreneurship at IIM Bangalore.

Career Nila Madhab Panda is an Odia director and producer involved in making Hindi films, documentaries, short films and public service advertising campaigns. He has served on the juries of national and international film festivals, such as International Film Festival of India (IFFI). He started his career by assisting director Robin Romanov and producer Barbara Broccoli.

His first feature film I Am Kalam won 34 international awards along with a national award. His second feature film Jalpari (Desert Mermaid) received the MIP Junior award at Cannes. His project Kadvi Hawa (Dark wind) was critically acclaimed and received a national award. This is one of the first films that brought climate change into Indian cinema. His feature-length documentary God's own people narrated by Amitabh Bachchan connects between people's faith with tree and God.

Halkaa (Relief), a musical film with children, narrates a story about the Swachhata Abhiyaan (Clean India Mission) and the importance of sanitation. It won Best Film at the Grand Prix in Poland. In February 2021, Panda announced that his First Odia language film Kalira Atita had been submitted to the Oscars 2021 in the General Category and was available for Academy screening. However, the film did not make the cut for Oscar nominations.

Direction

Feature films

Year Title Credited as Notes Director Producer Writer 2002 Swajaldhara Documentary 2010 I am Kalam 2012 Jalpari 2014 Babloo Happy Hai 2015 Kaun Kitne Paani Mein 2016 God's Own People Documentary 2017 Kadvi Hawa 2018 Halkaa 2019 Biju Babu 2020 Kalira Atita Odia film 2023 The Jengaburu Curse TV series on SonyLIV 2025 Spying Stars Premiere at the BFF

Film awards Jalpari won MIP Junior award for best film, 2012, Cannes People's Choice Award at the Montreal International Children's Film Festival, 2011 Best Feature Film award at Silent River Film Festival (SRFF), California, 2011 Best Director award at Silent River Film Festival (SRFF), California, 2011 Winner of the Don Quixote Prize of the International Cine Club Federations at the Lucas International Film Festival, Germany, 2010 "Special Jury mention" CineKid International Film Festivals 2010 "International Jury's Special Mention" at the Ale Kino International Film Festival, Poland 2010 Bronze Cairo for Best Feature at Cairo International Film Festival for Children, Cairo, 2012 The Prize of the International Center of Films For Children & Young People (CIFEJ) at the Cairo International Film Festival for Children, Cairo, 2012 Winner of "Best feature film" from the Indian Panorama by the Young Jury at the 41st International, Film Festival of India 2010 Best Debut Director – Aravindam Purashkaram, 2011 Golden Elephant Award for the Best Screenplay at 17th International Children's Film Festival, India,2011 Best Feature Film in CMS International Film Festival, 2011 "Audience Favorite choice" at the Barbican London Children Film Festival 2010 Audience Favorite at Barbican London Children's Film Festival, 2011 Best Feature Film, Dream Fest – Slatina, 2012 Best Film (Halkaa) at the Grand Prix in Poland, 2018 British Council - Creative Futures of India 2006 (Longest Journey award) UK Environment Film Fellowship 2005 Heroism in Cinematography, 2003 THP, New York "Excellence in media" for fighting the cause female foeticide United Nations Visual Media fellowship 2002 "Odisha icon" 2011 "Living Legend" 2012 "Son of Odisha" 2012 "Bharat Gaurav (India's pride)" 2015 Asia Pacific entrepreneurship award Karmaveer Purasakar 2021 - Jury member at 52nd International Film Festival of India, Goa 2021