Neela Madhav Panda's next project on water scarcity bears a striking resemblance to Shekhar Kapur's next film
Even before Shekhar Kapur’s forever-in-the-planning film can go on the floors, award winning director Neela Madhav Panda has sprung a surprise. Insiders say the filmmaker (of I Am Kalam and Jalpari fame) is all set to start work a new project, tentatively titled Uche Log Neeche Log, on the subject of the world reeling under the effects of an acute scarcity of water.
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The film is said to star Kunal Kapoor, Radhika Apte, Gulshan Grover and Saurabh Shukla. The theme sounds similar to the one being explored by Kapur. Says our source, “Panda’s film will release much before Kapoor completes his film. Both their movies portray disputes over water.”
Panda explains the subject of his film, “Water is used as a currency. Though it is not a futuristic film, it deals with the scarcity of water in the world.” The director claims he has been working on his upcoming film since the last three years and will release it mid next year. Originally hailing from Orissa, Panda says his film will have an authentic flavour of the eastern state. Shekhar Kapur remained unavailable for comment.u00a0