Directing harmony

Unlike 1947 Earth,this time she tackled riots from behind the camera. And now,post-election,when the country has made its decision,Nandita Das,the oft branded as ‘film star with a social conscience’ actor applauds loud and clear. “I feel people have put a full stop to politics based on religion. I am glad they have opted for a secular government for the country,” says Das,whose Firaaq picked up the best feature film award at KARA Film Festival in Islamabad recently.

On the day of election results,the actor-cum-director was in town to screen her first directorial venture at FTII. Das’s Firaaq,which released in March this year,deals with the after-effects of the Gujarat riots. Das feels thatthough everything is calm on the surface,the undercurrents are still violent. “The film is about violence but does not have violence in it. When the violence is over,many things linger on. The fear,the anger and many other things. You travel with the characters and see where the journey is taking you and if something during the course of the movie stirs you,then the film has served its purpose,” says she,whose name has for a long time been associated with serious cinema.

However,Das completely disagrees. Ask her about her reading preferences and pat comes the reply,“I am more into fiction,a complete non-serious stuff reader.” Coming from a serious cinema actor and of late also the director of a film tackling serious issues,this is quite a revelation indeed. But the actress,who was once advised by Mani Ratnam to take up comic roles,is actually a person with a funny bone. “I am very keen on taking up a comic role. People around me know how funny I can be when I want. If a good script comes my way for a comic role,I will definitely take it,” she says.

Currently,Das is busy spending time with herself. “After Firaaq,I wanted to take a break,so nothing is lined up as of now,neither am I taking up anything new. I am trying to recharge myself before getting back to work,” she says with a smile.