Journalism of Courage
Directing his first Marathi film,actor Nitish Bharadwaj says his most-remembered role in Mahabharata is a thing of the past.
Dressed in a turquoise blue shirt,black jeans and a pair of white trainers,actor-director Nitish Bharadwaj looks very different from his Krishna days when he featured in the popular television series,Mahabharata. The mischievous smile,however,is still there as he settles down to talk about the Marathi film Pitru Roon his debut directorial venture in the language. Donning multiple hats that include being a qualified veterinary surgeon,Lok Sabha MP and a documentary filmmaker,Bharadwaj says the constant need to reinvent has kept boredom at bay.
Having directed the documentary Karma Yogi,TV serials Gita Rahasya and Apradhi and starring in films such as Pasanta Aahe Mulgi and Njan Gandharvan,Bharadwaj has been busy,albeit quietly over the last two decades,since his Krishna days.
Even Pitru Roon was a four-year-long process. When Shrirang Godbole (of Indian Magic Eye Motion Pictures) and I first sat down to decide on a subject,we couldnt finalise any story. But when we did finalise it and got down to working,it was business as usual, he says.
Pitru Roon is based on a Kannada short story by Sudha Murthy. With actors Sachin Khedekar and Tanuja essaying important roles in the film,Bharadwaj says the story is about love,loss,redemption,failure and a myriad sea of human emotions. It cannot be defined as a particular type because it has a lot of shades. Both Sachin and Tanuja bring a wealth of experience and depth to the characters. The first shoot has been completed in Wai. We being the next from the first week of April in Pune, he adds.
Bharadwaj retains the sharp wit of his Krishna years. Ask him about staying away from acting in movies,and he replies in Marathi,Vidhi likhit navhe,svah likhit hota (It wasnt written by destiny but by myself). I wanted to direct because in the bigger picture,I didnt fit into the roles.
Yet there is a lot to be done with life,he says. Yes I have done a lot of things and have been lucky enough to do them too. I have accomplished six or seven of the 64 traits that Krishna has. But I will keep learning,learning and reinventing myself over the years, he adds.
