Firaaq gets its eighth award at Istanbul film festival

Nandita Das`s directorial debut 'Firaaq' won the Special Jury Prize at the 28th Istanbul Film Festival for "conveying a message of hope". The award was presented to Nandita by Maud De Boer Buquicchio - Deputy Secretary General of the Film Award of the Council of Europe.

It is the eighth international award for film which has already won awards in film festivals in Greece, Singapore, Dubai, Karachi and San Jose.

Set in the aftermath of Gujarat riots in 2002, the film deals with the issues related to violence and its effect on human psyche.

Seems Firaq is all set to be one of the all time real life movies which will be remembered for a long time.

Nandita Das directorial debut- Firaaq to release in India

Nandita Das has been associated with off-beat and meaningful cinema as an actress and has done a good job. Now she is putting her directorial skills to test in Firaaq. The movie is packed with some of the legends of Bollywood - Naseeruddin Shah, Paresh Rawal and Deepti Naval which is a dream team to work with and they too seem completely impressed by the first time director.

"The film is actually set one month after the Gujarat riots. So the film is not in the thick of the violence, there is no violence at all,” says Nandita Das.

Firaaq revolves around the Gujarat genocide of 2002 and gives an insight into how violence could affect our inner and outer lives. The movie has received accepted globally in several festivals including the Toronto and London Film Festival and was recently awarded the Best Film at the Kara Film Festival in Karachi, Pakistan.

The team hopes their film gets a similar response back home as well.

Nandita Das Makes Her Directoral Debut with Firaaq

Critically acclaimed actress Nandita Das has just completed shooting her first directorial venture, 'Firaaq... In Such Times', about how violence affects people's lives. The filmmaking process consumed her so much that she has no plans to direct another film soon.

"For the past year I've been completely consumed by my film. It's become my 'Arjun ki aankh'. I can't focus on anything else. I'm enjoying the whole process of creating a film. We've named it 'Firaaq... In Such Times' for now and a hunt is on now for a Hindi title."

The film is in conversational language.

"Some English, Hindi, Urdu. It features an ensemble cast in five different stories. I've taken some terrific theatre actors like Shahana Goswami. I've also taken seasoned actors like Naseeruddin Shah, Raghuvir Yadav, Paresh Rawal, Deepti Naval and Tisca Arora. The cast was so varied and exciting I thoroughly enjoyed directing them."

Known for her powerful performances in 'Fire', 'Bawander', '1947 Earth' and 'Maati Maay', Nandita desisted from casting herself in her first directorial venture, which is being produced by Percept Pictures.

"The producers and all my friends suggested I should. Initially, I did consider casting myself, but I didn't want to be distracted. To be able to tell my own stories in my own way, the thrill is unparalleled."

Ravi Chandran did the cinematography.

"Like a lot of people, who feature in my film, Ravi is an old friend. He has shot several of the films I've starred in and also the short film that I had directed. At the same time, 'In Such Times' has also given me a chance to work with new talents like my editor Shekhar Prasad and my music composer Rajat Dholakia."

Nandita wraps up the editing and background music by the end of April.

"Being a small non-formula film I want to send it to festivals. It's the safest route for a film like mine. The cinematic world is getting smaller. And my film is about how violence affects our lives, just like 'No Country For Old Men' and 'There Will Be Blood'."

Nandita wrote her first film in collaboration with Suchi Kothari.

"She lives in Auckland in New Zealand. That made my life a little harder. I had to go over twice. We tried every means of communication and finally came up with a script that we both liked."

She feels the effort has been worth it.

"I didn't push my other work under the carpet. My work for human rights continued while the script evolved. In fact, 'In Such Times' wouldn't have been the film it is if it wasn't for the influences that I've accumulated as an actor and social animal. It took us a month and a half and it was done."

Nandita is also writing a book on her experience as a director.

"It was such an enriching experience. This is a project so close to my heart. The journey was so important."