Nandita Das: The thinking man’s actress
The very talented Nandita Das is excited about her directorial debut ‘Firaaq’ which has won critical acclaim and audience appreciation worldwide. In a short tête-à-tête Nandita proudly talks about her film.
 Q. The name of the movie sounds unusual. Tell us a little about the movie?
A- ‘Firaaq’ is about how different relationships unfold a month after a communal carnage ( the Gujarat riots of 2002), over a period of 24 hours. But there’s no violence shown in the film. It has travelled to film festivals in Telluride (USA), Toronto, Pusan, London, Thessaloniki (Greece), Singapore, Dubai and in India it was shown at the Kolkata Film Festival and the International Film Festival of Kerala. I have actors of the caliber of Paresh Rawal, Dipti Naval, Raghubir Yadav, Sanjay Suri, Tisca Chopra, Shahana Goswami and Nowaz in the film and all of them rock.
Q. You must be very excited about the response?
A. Of course I’m. I’m so glad ‘Firaaq’ has been applauded by audiences around the world, from Toronto, London, Pusan to Kolkata and Trivandrum. After all, human emotions are universal and after the kind of feedback I have got in different parts of the world, I understand that more. Audiences have been able to empathize with the journeys of the characters everywhere. It’s more so in India, where it’s set and hence people can identify with it more. It’s been said that the film gave a voice to so much that remains silent and that it should be seen at least once. Though it’s always great to win awards at every competitive festival we entered the film in, but it’s actually the audience reaction that really matters.
Q- Any further expectations?
A- The film will release all over the country towards the end of February. It should continue to touch the hearts, minds and souls of all those who watch it. Anyone who is troubled by violence and wants to be a part of the solution should love the movie. I will like to quote Bertolt Brecht, "Will there be singing in the dark times? Yes, there will be singing, of the dark times."
Q- What are your future plans like?
A- As of now, I’m happy about the response to ‘Ramchand Pakistani’ and ‘Firaaq’. Of course I will continue to be associated with meaningful cinema for a long, long time.
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Sneha Hazarika
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Nandita Das is a sick lady with a sick mindset. She proved it with Firaaq. How can you be so stupid. Hatred and communal vilence is not community/religion/or for that matter caste oriented, it is mob oriented. What fear is she talking of ?? Has she ever seen the plight of Kashmiri Pandits leaving refugee in their own country for decades for no fault of theirs. In fact i bet she would never make a movie on their plight or infact plight of minority Hindu families living in Pakistan.. Why…???? Because this sick lady wont get the recognition with that. In fact there is no difference between the kind of her and politician playing minority card for muslims.
If she is so worried about India and so called minority i would suggest her with all the riches she have it is better to mobilize NGOs for eduacating the poors whether hindu or muslims. Bring their madarsas into mainstream, get them affilated as done by UP Government. Press the center govnt for all these kind of issues that could atleast change the life of few. ………. But people want publicity and movies like these are publicity stunts. Such movies never have the potential to change any government policies or people opinion. People see them and forget them the time they are home.. People like her get their own shortcut to FIVE MINUTES OF FAME..
Nandita is a great indian artist who feels it responsole to respond to the problems of her time. i loved to wathc the movie, which is very powerful nad emotionally honest. such attempts are to be appreciated so that the country has no fear and hatred any longer.