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That ‘Manto’ got made is a miracle: Nandita Das
Mumbai, May 16 (IANS) The journey of making “Manto” and taking it to the audience at Cannes has so far been miraculous, says director Nandita Das, whose purpose behind making the movie on the life and works of the late writer Saadat Hasan Manto was to trigger conversations, to urge people to ask themselves difficult questions and to make them face inconvenient truths.
Taking a breather out of a “roller coaster ride” that she has had in Cannes over the last five days, Nandita said after the last minute running around before she arrived for the 71st Cannes Film Festival, the “carnival-like energy” lifted her spirits. She said she felt the excitement and nervousness of a director whose film was going to be screened at the most prestigious film festival in the world, with the toughest-to-please audiences and critics.
Being at the Cannes Film Festival has not been a new experience for Nandita, who was accompanied on stage by over 20 cast and crew members at the presentation before the premiere.
“Cannes is not new to me. I have been coming here since I was invited in the main jury in 2005. Including more recently, to raise funds for Manto. But this time was like no other time. On the day of the premiere, I was neither euphoric, nor nervous. Just happy. The fact this film actually got made is a miracle. For it to be in Cannes, is the second miracle.
“So I was not even ready for the third one in a row – an overwhelming response from both audiences and critics,” Nandita wrote on Wednesday in a lengthy Facebook post.
She said the premiere garnered a 4-minute standing ovation, and strangers hugged her while sobbing.
“Some just sat in their seats still immersed in the experience. Some chose to walk out quietly, as if not wanting to break their experience. Six years of relentless work and challenges had finally found their culmination,” said the actress-director, who who had earlier helmed “Firaaq”.
“Manto” features Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Rasika Dugal in key roles.
The director said the feedback from reviewers was “overwhelmingly positive and their critique interesting”.
“Art is subjective and how people process your film is always intriguing. Most critics connected with the film, the characters and were immersed in the journey. The praise ranged from calling it the ‘Garm Hawa’ of our times to ‘handsomely mounted prestige piece’.”
She said she always felt that “juxtaposing Manto’s real world and with his imagined one in facts was essential to understand the man and the writer”.
“After all in his own works the line between fact and fiction are blurred.”
Nandita says she respects everyone’s take on the film, which she says she made “as a means to an end – to trigger conversations, to ask ourselves difficult questions, to face inconvenient truths”.
At the Cannes Film Festival, Nandita also became a part of the IMDb Pavilion and she also joined 81 women film professionals from different countries in a protest against gender disparity at the gala.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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