Focus on Kalam

State-owned Doordarshan seems to have finally acquired a mind of its own. Last Friday, when national attention was focused on Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee being nominated the UPA candidate for President, the pubcaster chose to screen I am Kalam on DD1, a national channel. The 2011 film, which was showcased in many international festivals, is about a Rajasthani boy called Chhotu who is inspired by the life of A P J Abdul Kalam, former president of India. DD’s selection was interesting given that Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee had just gone against her UPA allies to name Kalam her top presidential choice.