Kadvi Hawa poster: Sanjay Mishra, Ranvir Shorey star in upcoming film about drought, climate change

Currently, Indian cinema is full of huge, commercial films featuring Bollywood stars, glamour and in some cases, social issues too. Beyond this sheen and glamour, there is another side to it, which often gets eclipsed by the phenomenon of star-power. [caption id=“attachment_3915903” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Kadvi Hawa poster. Image via Facebook[/caption] One such example is of the film Kadvi Hawa, helmed by Odia director and National Award winner Nila Madhab Panda. The film is set against the backdrop of Bundelkhand’s terrain, and deals with issues such as drought and climate change. Kadvi Hawa revolves around a visually-impaired old man and a young bank loan recovery agent played by actors Sanjay Mishra and Ranvir Shorey respectively. Through the film, Panda lays stress on the fact that the farmers of Bundelkhand are the ones who have a next-to-nothing contribution to the increasing carbon-footprint of human beings, yet they are the ones who suffer the most. Speaking about this, Panda told The Hindu, “They don’t even have electricity. There are one or two motorcycles but the largest farmer suicides are happening in Marathwada and Bundelkhand. There is so much pressure of loan that a couple of crop failures take the farmer to the brink. At a time when the Paris Agreement on climate change is still being debated, the film can help build a dialogue.” Like his previous films, I Am Kalam, Kaun Kitney Paani Mein, his upcoming Kadvi Hawa also delves into the world of the poor and presents globally relevant issues through the lens of destitution. Speaking about his inclination towards this subject, the director further adds, “For years, so-called art house cinema has presented the poor as bechara living a wretched life. My point is people living in penury also have their little joys. There is a beauty in poverty as well. The poor knows that he can’t become an Ambani, but he also knows that both he and Ambani pray to the same God (sic).” Kadvi Hawa also stars Ranvir Shorey and Tilottama Shome. The film also got a Special Mention at the 64th National Awards held in 2017.