Nandita Das – the Real and Reel Life

 

Renowned actress Nandita Das has, of late, appeared in a new avatar in the filmdom - that of a film director. Her directorial debut in Firaaq - a film that explores subtle aspects of human predicament in communal violences, has earned critical acclaim worldwide. As is well known, she has played many a role in real life during the long span of her illustrious career - a theatre artist, a teacher, a social worker, a film actress and a director, among others. How does the journey feel? And whither now? She herself has no clues. “I still don’t have a definite profession”, declares Nandita during the screening of Firaaq at the Kolkata Film Festival and states, “I don’t repent it; I enjoy acting, direction and my human rights work simultaneously.”

 

Nandita’s multifaceted personality owes its orientation to her involvement in the Jana Natya Manch, a street theatre group, at the early stages of her career. It was then that the seeds of her being an actress and a social activist were sown. Across all the spectrum of activities that she got involved in, one thing remained common – staying focused on the stringent ideological commitments that she believed in. Her chosen principles always found priority with her rather than anything else.

 

A PRIVILEGED DAUGHTER

 

Being the daughter of Jatin Das - the highly revered figure in the world of painting and an eminent personality rooted in the intellectual circles of the Oriya community, has been a privilege that has gone a long way in the shaping of the Nandita Das that she is. “My father has had deep influences on me and my choices,” she tells Oriya Nari , “He encouraged me to question everything, even himself. He gave me the freedom to explore, to follow my heart.”

 

She reveals that when she began doing films her father was totally against this. He would often say: “Film world is like a dragon; it can suck you in and lure you into the world of superficiality, quick money and fame that can be dangerous.” Nandita used to laugh and remind him of what his parents had said when he wanted to be a painter.

 

“But I know today,” says Nandita, “that if I have been able to keep my feet firmly on the ground, my head on my shoulders and my heart in its right place, then, it has a lot to do with my upbringing.” She emphasizes that she feels truly privileged to have a father like Jatin Das. Her mother, Varsha Das, a committed writer in her own right, also brought defining moments in her life.

 

PLETHORA OF FILMS

 

Nandita’s career in films began  in 1995 when she played the lead role in the Hindi film Ek Thi Goonja directed by Bappa Ray. This film won the International Film Festival of India award in 1995, which in turn instilled confidence in Nandita to move forward in the celluloid world with a renewed spirit. It was followed by a plethora of acting assignments year after year. It also included, among others, Biswa Prakash an Oriya film directed by Sushant Mishra. But the real recognition of her rightful place in the celluloid world came in 1996 with the release of Deepa Mehta’s Fire. The highly acclaimed film brought Nandita’s extraordinary acting talents to limelight. And she was assigned a respectable place in the stardom of Bollywood.

 

Deepa Mehta’s subsequent film Earth released in 1998 (a sequel of Fire) added another feather to her cap reinforcing her image as a distinguished actress with sincere commitments to her roles. What followed next was a series of remarkable roles in numerous films in a variety of languages: Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Gujarati, Tamil, Marathi, besides Hindi and English.

 

After the formal release of her directorial venture Firaaq she might return to acting - her original passion, under the able direction of Deepa Mehta, who is interested in casting her in a proposed unnamed project.         

 

ROOTED IN ORISSA

 

When we ask if her Orissan roots have played a role in the development of her multifaceted personality, she replies in the affirmative. She values her associations with Orissa. “It is mainly because my father is so deeply connected and concerned about Orissa,” she says, “Since I was a child, every single year we would go to Baripada - my hometown, for a month during the summer vacation. I used to wait for this holiday, my relatives, the farm, our well, our pond, Rath Yatra, the food .............. many memories.”

 

She loves to add that she grew up wearing Sambalpuri fabric, eating pakhala and badi chura, learning Odissi for 12 years, watching Chhau dance and listening to Jhumar and other folk music of Orissa. However what distresses her is the abject poverty and several miseries that people of Orissa have to go through even today.

 

She was declared as the brand ambassador of Orissa Tourism. But upon our query whether she is satisfied with her contributions so far in this regard, she denies that she is now the brand ambassador of Orissa. “Some initial talks had taken place with the Govt. of Orissa; but they didn’t take it further,” she says, stating that she is amazed how the rumour is still on.  But she feels quite concerned about the need to promote the heritage of Orissa. She assures, “I would be happy to do what I can for Orissa, within my capacity. I guess if we all care just a little, things will change.”

 

FOR ORIYA WOMEN

 

What would be her message to the community of Oriya women worldwide? She replies: “I am not the one to give a message! All I can say is that it is good to be rooted but not to fall into the trap of parochialism.” She cannot resist quoting Gandhiji: "Be the change that you want to see in the world". She believes that women have to push their boundaries even more to have equal opportunities, and therefore it is important to have faith in their beliefs. “It is possible to contribute to our roots and also to the environment that we are in; they are not in contradiction,” she clarifies.

 

As Nandita today finds herself busy in launching her directorial debut Firaaq – one could foresee many more such significant accomplishments by her in the times to come. Oriya Nari wishes her all the best in all the precious assignments that are slated to come her way in her brilliant journey ahead.