iDream adds Banerjee's LSD, Panda's I Am Kalam to Cannes slate

London and Mumbai-based iDream Independent Pictures has pick up international rights to Nila Madhab Panda’s I Am Kalam and Dibakar Banerjee’s recent break-out hit LSD: Love Sex Aur Dhokha in the run-up to the Cannes market.

Banerjee’s LSD tells three different stories, some based on real events, which all appear to be filmed via security and spy cameras. In one story, a young man tries to film himself having sex with an unwitting shop girl, so he can sell the footage, while in another a journalist tries to perform a string operation on a pop star.

Produced by Balaji Telefilms’ Alt Entertainment division, the low-budget film with mostly unknown actors grossed around $2m during its recent Indian release. It was praised by local critics for its unique filming style and realistic portrayal of young, urban Indians. 

Meanwhile, Panda’s I Am Kalam tells the story of a young boy working at a roadside restaurant who fights to overcome his poverty-stricken background and achieve an education.

Produced by Indian development organisation Smile Foundation and Panda’s Eleeanora Images, the film stars Gulshan Grover, child actors Harsh Mayar and Hussan Saad and French actress Beatrice Ordeix. During production it was selected to participate in the Cinekid co-production market in Amsterdam and also the “Work-in-Progress” Lab at India’s Film Bazaar.

Panda has previously made documentaries and TV dramas for broadcasters including the BBC, Discovery Channel and National Geographic and is making his feature debut with I Am Kalam. “I believe that the more local you get, the more global your access will be; and so here is one such local story,” Panda says.

iDream will also be selling Indian horror film Fired, directed by Sajit Warrier and starring Rahul Bose, at Cannes. Last year, iDream sales chief Rohit Sharma left the company to join Fox Star Studios as head of international sales and distribution. The company’s sales team is now headed by Jattin Kapoor and Soniya Kulkarni.