प्रति, बाप!

Actors are many but people who know the ‘act’ are very few. Awed by his performances in films like Nishant, Manthan, Sparsh, Albert Pinto ko Gussa kyun ata hai and many other great films I was very eager to read his life journey since the day it was announced to release in September. I was enthralled by the vicious honesty in his memory of his unpleasant childhood complexes, a troubled relationship with his father that prevailed till the very end, first ‘paid’ sex, drugs, first marriage to a Pakistani woman as old as twice his age in his twenties, his early days at National of Drama, Delhi and Film Institute in Pune. His forty year journey towards knowing his strengths and weaknesses is aesthetically pleasing. Nasseruddin Shah made his presence felt through alternate cinemas in an era when square jawed chocolate heroes were in demand and dancing around trees was ultimate fun. He also argues that a habit of consuming junk has been created in the audience by the Film makers right from the inception so much so that Indian people are now irrevocably hooked on that taste, they crave it so they swallow anything that comes unpackaged.

We find a mention of hundreds of books, world class movies, plays, that have shaped his career. My obsession for films has only increased after having read his book and has helped me a great deal to understand the parallel cinema movement in a better way.

Respect!