Nandita Das: "A Feminist By Default"

[Guest guest]

Nandita Das is probably India's premier "serious" actress today --

"serious" meaning that her primary area of work is in socially

conscious art-house films, rather than popular Bollywood masala

extravaganzas. Her roles have invariably involved sreong, rebellious

women, or focused a stark light on women victimized by social or

political realities.

 

Indeed, Das, 34, calls her acting a mere handy source of income,

while her true calling is activism on issues of social

justice. "Although some have labelled me a feminist for this, I'd

rather be known as a humanist," she says.

 

In my opinion, Das is an extraordinarily fine actress; the closest

thing Indian cinema has produced to Smita Patil (the true queen of

the genre, who died in 1986 at the age of 31). And as Ms Patil used

to do, Das brushes off such compliments, insisting that she "does not

draw a line between art and commercial cinema; she is here to act." A

few weeks ago, the Times of India profiled this gifted artist when

she was honored in Washington, DC:

 

WASHINGTON (August 28, 2003) - Actress Nandita Das says it is merely

a coincidence that she has done only women-oriented roles since her

foray into films.

 

"I am a feminist by default," she remarked at a reception held in her

honour at the Indian embassy here by Ambassador Lalit Mansingh.

 

She has enacted with aplomb roles depicting women fighting for

justice whether it was in "Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Ma or Bawandar.

 

She said: "I just happen to be doing women-oriented roles. It was

never a conscious decision. I have been selecting my roles

instinctively. Thinking in those terms can only limit one as an

actress."

 

Nandita, who has starred in 29 films and directed documentaries on

AIDS and other social issues, says the silver screen has proven to be

an outlet for her message on social issues.

 

"It was another medium in which I could share ideas and causes," she

said. "One film led to another, and then to bigger productions. I put

my best into them, but it is social work and development that are my

true calling."

 

Although she has created a niche for herself, she says she has no

plans to refuse commercials films.

 

"I am not saying I will never do the regular song and dance routine.

Tomorrow, if there is an offer that I find impossible to refuse, I

will take it up. I have never been the kind to say that I will do

just this or that," she said.

 

She also felt that since cinema is a medium to convey a powerful

message, it could create quite an impact on the youth, who go to the

movies regularly. Yet she regretted that film stars shun from

asserting themselves on social issues for fear of becoming

controversial.

 

The actress was in the U.S. with her husband Saumya Sen to promote

their documentary filmmaking venture Leapfrog, which she said would

go a long way in fulfilling the communications need of the developing

world.

 

Her dream, she says, is to work on development projects and small

feature films devoted to public service campaigns involving women and

children.

 

Nandita, clad in a mustard-coloured Kanjeevaram sari with matching

jewellery, spoke about her experience doing the role of a wronged

woman in Jagmohan Mundhra's Bawandar, which told the real life story

of a middle aged woman, Bhanwari Devi, who was gang-raped in

Rajasthan.

 

Nandita, who won the Best Actress Award at the Santa Monica Film

Festival in 2001, recalled that even though she was only acting the

role of Bhanwari Devi, she felt traumatised as it was a humiliating

experience.

 

"It definitely is an important film as it raises lots of questions

not just about rape, inequality, exploitation but also questions our

judiciary system and the agendas of various people," she said.

 

She also spoke about her involvement with social problems and her

work with NGOs to improve life in the slums.

 

"I did social work before I became an actress. So my background is

bound to affect my current thinking in whichever field I choose to be

in," she said.

 

"Although some have labelled me a feminist for this, I'd rather be

known as a humanist," she commented.

 

Mansingh, introducing Nandita at the reception, said: "She is not a

typical Bollywood actress, as you can see."

 

For quite some time she was known as painter Jatin Das' daughter.

Today, however, Jatin is known as her father, he remarked amid

laughter.

 

After graduating with a masters degree in Social Work from Delhi

University in 1990, Nandita, 34, took a year off and taught for a few

months at Rishi Valley School in southern India that was started by

Indian philosopher J. Krishnamurthi.

 

In 1992, Nandita worked for NGOs in Orissa and Gujarat, conducting

workshops for children and teachers.

 

She grew up in Delhi, went to Sardar Patel Vidyalaya and Delhi

University and chose to live in Delhi with her husband, never feeling

the need to move to Mumbai where all the stars live.

 

Source:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/comp/articleshow?

msid=151846