New Delhi, Dec 31 (.) Docu-drama “Nanda Master’nka Chatasali”, directed by acclaimed Odia filmmaker Pranab Aich, chronicles the extraordinary yet understated life of the late Padma Shri awardee Nanda Prusty, a grassroots educator who devoted more than seven decades to providing free education in rural Odisha.
Fondly known as Nanda Master, Prusty ran one of India’s last traditional open-air schools or Chatasali, for more than 70 years, teaching children and villagers without charging a fee. His service was recognised in 2021 as he was awarded the Padma Shri.
“The film was never about celebrating a hero,” director Pranab Aich told .. “The film seeks to understand a man who never saw himself as a hero, but simply acted out of a sense of duty towards humanity.”
The film captures both his life before the recognition and the sudden attention that followed it.
According to Aich, the centenarian agreed to accept the award only after repeated persuasion from well-wishers.
“Until he died, he kept repeating that he did not want to do anything with these fancy trophies. ‘I do not want a Padma Shree award. It is because a lot of people insisted that you must, you know, you must at least go to Delhi once and experience this in your life,’ he would say. He finally agreed after two or three months of saying no.”
The film had its World Premiere under the Asian NETPAC category at the 29th Kolkata International Film Festival 2023 and was launched at the India Pavilion in Cannes Film Festival 2024 as a part of Bharat Parv.
Pranab was the first Odia filmmaker to be invited to Platform Busan 2024 – the prestigious sidebar of the Busan International Film Festival, one of Asia’s top film festivals.
The film was also selected for the DOK Film Market 2024, held alongside the DOK Leipzig Film Festival in Germany.
Instead of a traditional biographical narrative, the film blends real-life footage with dramatised scenes from Prusty’s early life, including his time in folk theatre and his formative years as a teacher.
The film is produced by Abhaya Pati under the banner of Abhismita Films.
Noted Odia actress Naina Dash is the associate producer of the film, while Asmita Pati serves as the co-producer, with sound design by Manas Choudhry (Pathaan, Saiyyara, Chak De! India) and music by Bibhuti Bhusan Gadnayak.
An alumnus of Jamia Millia Islamia University, Delhi, Pranab has previously directed several short documentaries that have been screened at over 50 film festivals worldwide, including the Durban International Film Festival and the Beijing International Film Festival. . . .