Panda began his cinematic journey along the serene banks of the Mahanadi River in Odisha. His early career as a docu film maker saw him capturing compelling narratives across foreign lands and war zones, honing his craft and deepening his understanding of human conditions. Panda’s remarkable contributions to Indian cinema were recognized with the prestigious Padma Shri (2016), one of India's highest civilian honours. His debut feature film, ‘I Am Kalam (2010)’, earned him international acclaim, winning 34 awards, including a National Film Award, establishing him as a powerful voice in global cinema.
Nila’s cinematic journey with a deep social conscience, continues to craft powerful narratives through films like ‘Jalpari’, ‘Kaun Kitney Paani Mein’, ‘Halkaa’, ‘Biswa’ and ‘Kadvi Hawa’. Each of these works is a reflection of his unwavering commitment to illuminating urgent issues, like Water Scarcity, Climate Change and Environmental Degradation. His latest masterpiece, ‘Kalira Atita’, is a poignant exploration of the haunting effects of climate change, earning accolades and awards at international festivals. With the Climate-Fiction Web Series ‘The Jengaburu Curse’ on Sony Liv, Panda seamlessly continues to weave activism into his storytelling, making it not just a cinematic experience, but a call to action.
Nila, driven by a deep passion for storytelling, founded the ‘International Screenwriters’ Lab’ in Goa in 2008, where he mentored 10 selected writers from a vast pool of applicants. This initiative was followed by the establishment of a second season in 2009, focusing on children’s and family cinema in Matheran. In 2012, he launched a distinctive lab in Bhubaneswar, ‘The Green Screen Lab’, dedicated to enhancing storytelling with an emphasis on environmental consciousness.
He also served as the ‘Indian Creative Associate’ for the UK Arts Council’s 60x60 Program and made significant contributions to European film projects like Interdependence and Interactions, both of which premiered at the Rome International Film Festival and addressed pressing global environmental issues. Throughout his career, Panda has remained committed to telling stories that resonate with his personal experiences. His belief in simplifying the film making process led him to create these workshops and serve as a jury member at various film festivals, where he actively seeks out emerging talent and compelling scripts, that, at their core, narrate simple yet powerful stories, much like the ones that have shaped his own life and journey!