Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: Actor-director Nandita Das addressed an interactive session at the JDCA National Film Festival Saturday.
She spoke of her journey into films, among other things at the session. “As a child I had never dreamt of becoming an actor. I was trained in Odissi, I learnt pottery also. As I was born in an artist family, for me the world of entertainment was never confined to films. Slowly I started exploring new things and got into acting,” she said.
She recalled that terms such as career and money did not mean much for her generation. “When we talk about the scenario around 20 years ago, these terms did not mean much. Many of us did what we wanted to do. I went to a decent college and completed studies in the area I wanted.”
When asked what had turned her towards cinema, Nandita said: “I always saw my father making wonderful paintings. There was not a single point which led to the decision. A number of inspiring moments led me to cinema. Watching stage artists rehearse with passion has always mesmerised me.”
Nandita also referred to cultural organisations that have been working ceaselessly to help preserve art and cultural heritage of the country. She told the audience that art should not be confined to the elite as it was a powerful tool to express emotions.
She shared an anecdote to prove her point: “When I did my first street play on dowry deaths where I acted as a victim of the menace, many women in the audience later came to me to and asked me if I was alright. They were so engrossed in the play. I had to convince them that it was just a play. Later I realised that for many of them it was their everyday life.”