Manto director Nandita Das: ‘I didn’t want to make another film after Firaaq’

Over a decade after her first directorial, Firaaq, Nandita Das is ready with her next, a biopic on the Pakistani writer born in British India — Saadat Hasan Manto. The movie will screen at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival in the UnCertain Regard Section. Here, the actress-turned-director talks about the idea behind making Manto, why she picked Nawazuddin Siddiqui for the role and why the industry needs more women behind the camera.

You debuted as a director over a decade ago. Why did you wait so long to helm your second film?

The release of Firaaq was disappointing and I didn’t want to make another film. It also released at a time when there was no social media, so one was solely at the mercy of the producers. In any case, direction was not part of any design but a more spontaneous response to what was happening around me. I challenged my energies through a play called Between The Lines which I wrote, directed and performed. But it got difficult to do outdoor shows as I had to take my son everywhere. Also, being the Chairperson of the Children’s Film Society, the Yale fellowship, speaking engagements,  writing a monthly column for a magazine kept me busy.

What prompted you to helm a film on Manto?

For years — even before I made Firaaq — I thought of making a film based on his short stories. But the idea expanded beyond that in 2012 when I delved deeper into his essays. It took me five years to feel equipped, emotionally and creatively, to tell this saga that needs to be told.

When did you discover his works?

I first read him when I was in college. A few years later, I bought the complete original works in a collection called Dastavez, in Devanagari. I was struck by his simple yet profound narratives and the way he insightfully captured the people, politics and times he lived in.

Are you covering the obscenity charges against him?

Yes, that is definitely a part of the narrative and relevant even today. Censorship was an issue that Manto fought then and today, too, we are fighting against various forms of it. He was tried for obscenity six times — thrice each by the British and Pakistani governments for his honest account of the realities of the time. He is relevant not just in the South Asian subcontinent but also around the world. Artists, writers, freethinkers, rationalists are all being attacked and silenced. Any society grows and develops when you have people speaking up the truth and thinking differently. And if you silence them then what hope do we have?

Why did you choose Nawazuddin for the role?

I always had Nawazuddin in mind while writing the film. Firaaq was his first significant role in a feature film. In 2013 at Cannes, I told him about the film. He was excited and assured me that he would give all the time and commitment to it, whenever it happened. They say if you get the casting right, 70 per cent of your job is done, and with Nawazuddin, that’s exactly what happened. He has an incredible range as an actor, but intrinsically Manto lies somewhere in his eyes. With my research, gems from the writer’s family and Nawaz’s life experiences and talent, we’ve managed to bring out many nuances to the character. Not to mention, his natural instincts, deep sensitivity, intensity, and a straight-face sense of humour have helped him transition into Manto on screen effortlessly.

It’s been a while since you starred in a Hindi film...

The last seven years have been busy researching, writing and shooting the film. It’s also the exact time that I had my child. So, it’s been a challenge to work and be a full-time mother. I was also the chairperson of the Children’s Film Society for three years.

What are your thoughts on the changes in Hindi cinema and the kind of roles women are doing?

I barely watch mainstream cinema so I am not really the right person to comment on this. But with more women entering the industry and going behind the camera, I hope this will bring in a diversity of stories and representations. We’ve had too much of the male gaze and very little of the female. It’s time we saw the perspective that women bring naturally, subconsciously and organically. We are half the population, so it would be a pity if our stories weren’t shared.

Finally, your thoughts on your film being chosen for the Cannes Film Festival…

Apart from being the most celebrated festival, it combines great cinema and is a thriving platform for filmmakers and film lovers from all over the world. Sadly in India, we write more about the red carpets and designer outfits, but there is much more to it. In Cannes, I have had some incredible conversations about films and life at  cafes, film events and running between films. I am delighted that Manto will start its journey in Cannes.