Nandita Das

Nandita Das
Das in 2018
Born (1969-11-07) 7 November 1969
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Nationality Indian
Occupation Actress, Director
Years active 1989, 1996–present
Spouse(s) Soumya Sen (2002–07)
Subodh Maskara (2010–2017) (Separated)
Children 1

Nandita Das (born 7 November 1969) is an actor and director, one of the leading figures in the Indian film industry. She has acted in more than 40 feature films in ten different languages. Das has been acclaimed for numerous performances, including in Fire (1996), Earth (1998), Bawandar (2000), Kannathil Muthamittal (2002), Azhagi (2002), Kamli (2006), and Before The Rains (2007). Her directorial debut was with Firaaq (2008), which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, traveled to more than 50 festivals, and won more than 20 awards.

Das has twice served on the jury of Cannes Film Festival. In 2005, she served on the main competition jury alongside Fatih Akin, Javier Bardem, Salma Hayek, Benoît Jacquot, Emir Kusturica, Toni Morrison, Agnès Varda, and John Woo.[1] In 2013, she served on the Cinéfondation and short films jury alongside Jane Campion, Maji-da Abdi, Nicoletta Braschi, and Semih Kaplanoğlu.[2]

In 2011 she received the Government of France's Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters), one of the nation's highest civilian awards.[3] She was commended for her "contribution towards the development of Indo-French cooperation in the field of cinema."[4] In 2009, France released a stamp featuring Das, from artist Titouan Lamazou's project "Women of the World."[5][6]

Das is the first Indian inducted into the International Hall of Fame of the International Women's Forum in Washington, DC. She was recognized in 2011 for "her sustained contributions to the arts and to the world as one of the most gripping cinema arts leaders of our time who has shown us what both feet-on-the-floor authenticity looks like and how keeping your values in focus and applying your talent can fuel women and the world forward."[7][8][9][10] Her fellow inductees were Anna Fendi, Heidi Klum, and Madam Chen Zhili.[11]

Early life and education

Das's father is the artist Jatin Das, and her mother is Varsha Das, a writer.[12] She was born in Mumbai and grew up mostly in Delhi,[13] where she was schooled at the Sardar Patel Vidyalaya.[14] She received her bachelor's degree in Geography from Miranda House and a Master of Social Work from the Delhi School of Social Work, both affiliated with the University of Delhi.[15]

Das was a Yale World Fellow in 2014.[16] She was one of 16 emerging global leaders chosen from nearly 4000 applicants.

Career

Acting

Das has acted in over 40 feature films with directors including Mrinal Sen, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Shyam Benegal, Deepa Mehta, and Mani Ratnam. She began her acting career with the theatre group Jana Natya Manch. She has taught at the Rishi Valley School.

She is best known for her performances in director Deepa Mehta films Fire (1996) and Earth (1998; alongside Aamir Khan), Bawander (directed by Jagmohan Mundhra), and Naalu Pennungal (directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan ). She has acted in films in ten different languages: English, Hindi, Bengali, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Marathi, Oriya, and Kannada. The movie star Sukanya provided Das's speaking voice in the Tamil classic Kannathil Muthamittal.

Das co-wrote and directed a play called Between the Lines (2014).[17] She has also acted in Khamosh! Adalat jaari hai (2017), a Cineplay production written by Vijay Tendulkar.[18]

Direction

In 2008, she completed filming her directorial debut, Firaaq.[19] The film is a work of fiction "based on a thousand true stories" and is set a month after the 2002 Gujarat riots. It is an ensemble film that interweaves multiple stories over a 24-hour period, as the characters from different strata of society, grapple with the lingering effects of violence. Das said that the film "gave a voice to so much that remains silent".[20] In 2018, Nandita directed the film Manto.[21] Das decided to make a film on Manto after reading a translation of his stories in 2012. She always had Nawazuddin Siddiqui in mind for the role and approached him for the same.[22] The film was premiered in Cannes film festival.[23] The film was also screened at Toronto International film festival.[24]

Voice narration

Das narrated the children's audiobook series Under the Banyan[25], and Mahatma Gandhi's autobiography by Charkha Audiobooks, The Story of My Experiments with Truth.[26] She was also a voice actor in the children's television series Wonder Pets, as the Bengal Tiger in the episode Save the Bengal Tiger (2007).[27]

Personal life

In 2002, Das married Saumya Sen.[28] The couple began Leapfrog, a media organisation geared towards making socially conscious ad films.[29] The couple divorced in 2007.[30] After dating Subodh Maskara, a Mumbai industrialist, for a couple of months, she married him on 2 January 2010 and moved to Mumbai.[31][32] Das and Maskara have a son named Vihaan.[33] In January 2017, the couple announced that they have parted ways.[34]

Das has remained an atheist throughout her life.[35]

Activism

Das has master's degree in Social Work from the University of Delhi. She has worked for children's rights, HIV/AIDS awareness, to end violence against women.[36] In 2009, Das was appointed Chairperson of the Children's Film Society of India.[37] In 2012, she was the guest of honour at the iVolunteer Awards, held in Mumbai.[38] Das was one of the petitioners who sought mercy for Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.[39] Das also donated to the launch of the investigative journalism magazine Tehelka, founded by Tarun Tejpal.[40]

Dark is Beautiful campaign

Das supported the "Dark is Beautiful" campaign in 2013. Launched by Women of Worth in 2009, a campaign that aims to draw attention to the effects of discrimination based on skin color in India. The campaign urges women and men to celebrate the beauty and diversity of all skin tones, using slogans such as "Stay UNfair, Stay Beautiful."[41] Das said in 2014: "Even in the [Indian film] industry when a makeup man or a cinematographer would come and say can you lighten your skin a little, especially when you are playing the middle class educated character."[42]

Speaking engagements

Das has been a featured speaker at various platforms in India and abroad, including at MIT (in 2007, after a screening of Fire), and at Tufts University (in 2014, on gender in society and cinema).

In 2016, she gave a TEDx talk at TEDxWalledCity on "The Biggest Hypocrisy of Our Times: Our Attitude to Poverty."[43] In 2011, she spoke at TEDxNarimanPoint, on "Transformation in Education".[44]

Awards

2000 45th Filmfare Awards
2001 Santa Monica Film Festival
  • Won – Best Actress – Bawander
2002 Cairo International Film Festival
  • Won – Best Actress – Amaar Bhuvan
2002 Tamil Nadu State Film Awards
2005 Cannes Film Festival
2006 Nandi Awards
2008 Asian Festival of First Films
  • Won – Best Film – Firaaq[45]
  • Won – Best Screenplay – Firaaq
  • Won – Foreign Correspondents Association Purple Orchid Award for Best Film – Firaaq
2008 Government of France
2009 Kara Film Festival
  • Won – Best Film
2009 International Film Festival of Kerala
  • Won – Special Jury Award – Firaaq
2009 Thessaloniki International Film Festival
  • Won – Special Prize (Everyday Life: Transcendence or Reconciliation Award) – Firaaq
  • Nominated – Golden Alexander – Firaaq
2010 Filmfare Awards
2013 2nd South Indian International Movie Awards
  • Nominated—Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Neerparavai

Filmography

Actor

Year Title Role Language(s) Notes
1989ParinatiHindi
1995Ek Thi GoonjaGoonjaHindi
1996FireSitaEnglish
19981947 EarthShanta, the AyahHindiFilmfare Award for Best Female Debut
Hazaar Chaurasi Ki MaaNandini MitraHindi
JanmadinamSarasuMalayalam
BiswaprakashAnjaliOriya
1999DeveeriDeveeri (Akka)Kannada
RockfordLily VegasEnglish
PunaradhivasamShaliniMalayalam
2000Hari-BhariAfsanaHindi
SaanjhHindiShort film
BawandarSanwariHindi,
Rajasthani,
English		Best Actress at Santa Monica Film Festival
2001AksSupriya VermaHindi
Daughters of the CenturyCharuHindi
2002Aamaar BhuvanSakinaBengaliBest Actress at Cairo Film Festival
Zee Cine Award for Best Actor – Female
KannakiKannakiMalayalam
PitaahParoHindi
AzhagiDhanalakshmiTamil
Kannathil MuthamittalShyamaTamilTamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize
Lal SalaamRupi(alias Chandrakka)Hindi
2003Ek Alag MausamAparna VermaHindi
Bas Yun HiVedaHindi
SupariMamta SikriUrdu
Shubho MahuratMallika SenBengali
Kagaar: Life on the EdgeAditiHindi
Ek Din 24 GhanteSameera DuttaHindi
2004Vishwa ThulasiSitaTamil
2005Fleeting BeautyIndian womanEnglish
2006Maati MaayChandiMarathiMadrid International Film Festival (2007), Best Actress
PodokkhepMeghaBengali
KamliKamliTeluguNandi Award for Best Actress
2007Before the RainsSajaniEnglish,
Malayalam
ProvokedRadha DalalEnglish
Naalu PennungalKamakshiMalayalam
Paani: A Drop of LifeMira BenHindiShort film
2008Ramchand PakistaniChampaUrduPakistani film
2011I AmAfiaHindi
2012NeerparavaiEstherTamilNominated—SIIMA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Tamil
Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Tamil
2014Rastres de SàndalMinaEnglish,
Catalan
2016Untitled Kutty Revathi FilmTBATamil
2018DhaadMonghiGujarati[46]shot in 2001

Director

Year Title Language Notes
2008FiraaqHindi
Urdu &
Gujarati		Best Film and Best Screenplay at Asian Festival of First Films
Purple Orchid Award for Best Film at Asian Festival of First Films
Special Jury Award at International Film Festival of Kerala
Special Prize at International Thessaloniki Film Festival
Filmfare Special Award
Nominated—Golden Alexander at International Thessaloniki Film Festival
2017In Defence of FreedomHindiShort film
2018MantoHindi
Urdu

References

  1. ↑ "2005 Cannes Film Festival". Wikipedia. 2017-12-25.
  2. ↑ "2013 Cannes Film Festival". Wikipedia. 2017-12-07.
  3. ↑ Ians (2011-04-16). "French honour for Nandita Das". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2018-01-13.
  4. ↑ "Distinction conferred on Actor-Director Nandita Das, 2011". La France en Inde / France in India. Retrieved 2018-01-13.
  5. ↑ "Philatelic issues related to Nandita Das issued by Foreign Countries". www.indianphilately.net. Retrieved 2018-01-13.
  6. ↑ Taber, Kimberly Conniff (2007-10-31). "Titouan Lamazou: His vision of women around the world". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-01-13.
  7. ↑ "Game for Fame -Nandita Das is first Indian to be inducted into the International Women's Forum Hall of Fame". India Today. 5 November 2011.
  8. ↑ "The game changer". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2018-01-13.
  9. ↑ "Nandita Das in IWF's International Hall of Fame | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". dna. 2011-10-29. Retrieved 2018-01-13.
  10. ↑ "International Women's Forum Programs". International Women's Forum. Retrieved 2018-01-13.
  11. ↑ "International Women's Forum Brochure" (PDF).
  12. ↑ "The Painter's Daughter". Outlook India. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
  13. ↑ "I am still searching for a place to call home". OPEN. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  14. ↑ Khushwant, Singh (21 September 2009). "The Painter's Daughter". Outlook India. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  15. ↑ Mendis, Isidore Domnick (23 June 2003). "Independent stardom". Business Line. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
  16. ↑ "Nandita Das | Yale Greenberg World Fellows". worldfellows.yale.edu. Retrieved 2018-01-13.
  17. ↑ Menon, Ritesh (2014-03-29), Nandita Das and Divya Jagdale's Between the Lines, Nandita Das, Subodh Maskara, retrieved 2018-04-04
  18. ↑ Menon, Ritesh (2017-03-14), Khamosh Adalat Jaari Hai, Nandita Das, Pravina Bhagwat Deshpande, Ajitesh Gupta, retrieved 2018-04-04
  19. ↑ Saltz, Rachel (4 June 2009). "The Variety of Life, Real and Imagined, in Movie-Mad India". New York Times. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
  20. ↑ Nandita Das talks about her directorial debut Firaaq. Radio Sargam. 26 January 2009.
  21. ↑ "Nandita Das and Nawazuddin Siddiqui bring Mantoiyat to JNU".
  22. ↑ "Interview | If Manto Were Alive Today He Would Have Been Put Behind Bars: Nandita Das". The Wire. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  23. ↑ "Writing the writer". Deccan Herald. 2018-10-07. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  24. ↑ "Anurag Kashyap's Manmarziyaan, Nandita Das' Manto to be screened at Toronto International Film Festival- Entertainment News, Firstpost". Firstpost. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  25. ↑ throh. "The Hindu : Beneath the Banyan boughs". www.thehindu.com. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  26. ↑ "Mahatma Gandhi Autobiography - Audiobooks free download". www.mkgandhi.org. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  27. ↑ Save the Bengal Tiger, Brielle Barbusca, Nandita Das, Teala Dunn, retrieved 2018-04-04
  28. ↑ "Nandita, Saumya remain friends". OneIndia. 2 August 2006. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
  29. ↑ "Her own person". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 19 December 2004. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
  30. ↑ Anand, Utkarsh (24 May 2009). "Actor Nandita Das files for divorce". Yahoo! India News. Archived from the original on 31 May 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
  31. ↑ "Nandita Das is dating again". Movies.indiatimes.com. 21 November 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
  32. ↑ Jha, Subhash K (6 January 2010). "Nandita Das marries, moves to Mumbai by SUBHASH K JHA". The Times of India.
  33. ↑ Lalwani, Vickey (12 August 2010). "It's a baby boy for Nandita!". Times of India. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  34. ↑ "Nandita Das and husband Subodh Maskara split after seven years of marriage. Here's all the details". Indian Express. 3 January 2017.
  35. ↑ "Atheism is the religion for these filmi folk". The Times of India. 17 December 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  36. ↑ Gautam, Savitha (27 September 2004). "Ms. Sense". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
  37. ↑ "Profile of Chairperson". CFSI website. Archived from the original on 7 December 2010.
  38. ↑ "iVolunteer Awards Celebrates Volunteering by Recognizing Volunteers". www.indiacsr.in. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  39. ↑ "Ajmal Kasab Hanged - 220 Indians Opposed Execution - Mercy Plea Rejected - Pranab Mukherjee".
  40. ↑ "Tehelka business: Murky deals, profits for Tejpal family, Shoma - Firstpost". www.firstpost.com.
  41. ↑ Women, Respect. "Stay UNfair, Stay Beautiful!". www.respectwomen.co.in. Retrieved 2018-01-13.
  42. ↑ Even within independent cinema there is a kind of populist independent cinema: Nandita Das – "The American Bazaar". 30 September 2014.
  43. ↑ TEDx Talks (21 March 2016). "The biggest hypocrisy of our times: Our attitude to Poverty - Nandita Das - TEDxWalledCity" – via YouTube.
  44. ↑ TEDx Talks (20 September 2011). "TEDxNarimanPoint - Nandita Das - Transformation in Education" – via YouTube.
  45. ↑ "Nandita Das". IMDb. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  46. ↑ Oza, Nandini (January 5, 2018). "After 17 years, Gujarati film Dhaad starring Nandita Das set for release". The Week.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.