Not putting 'Manto' on pedestal: Nandita Das
Mumbai, May 13: Actor-filmmaker Nandita Das, who is gearing up for her next directorial venture "Manto", has said she was not trying to put Sadat Hassan Manto, the author and playwright, on a pedestal.
Speaking at the teaser launch of "Manto" along with Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Rasika Dugal and Tahir Raj Bhasin, Nandita said "Manto" was not a message-driven film. "The idea is to tell a story for audience. We are not putting 'Manto' on a pedestal."
"He was somebody who used to speak the truth despite all challenges he faced. For youth, it is extremely inspirational to see someone like him. I think it's a film where the audience will be able to take home something and everyone will relate with his personality."
When asked how Nawazuddin has been able to play the character of Manto in the film, she said: "He has similar kind of personality in terms of views, anger, arrogance, sensitivity and humour. I think it was smooth ride for Nawazuddin to play this character. He used to tell me that he would not be able to do another film simultaneously because he had immersed himself so deep into the character of Manto."
Nandita, on being asked, whether audience would be able to accept this across the border, she said: "It's a story of a human being who happens to be a writer. There is no relation of borders between two countries. It's a very universal story."
"I don't think audience from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will not be able to relate with it, it's very relatable story. I think everyone will relate with this film on different levels.
"We are not offending anybody," she said.
"Manto" is written and directed by Nandita Das. The film stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the titular character along with Rasika Dugal and Tahir Raj Bhasin in lead roles.
The film is produced by HP Studios, Filmstoc and Viacom 18 Motion Pictures.
"Manto" has been selected to compete in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
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Heatwave scorches Odisha, Jharsuguda reels under 43.6 degrees C
Bhubaneswar (PTI): Heatwave conditions scorched Odisha on Tuesday, with the IMD forecasting that hot and humid conditions would continue in parts of the state.
The IMD’s Bhubaneswar centre said Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam and Gajapati districts were likely to experience hot and humid conditions on April 22.
It also predicted thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty surface winds in parts of Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada and Koraput, among others.
On Tuesday, 18 places across Odisha recorded maximum temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius or above. The industrial town of Jharsuguda was the hottest in the state at 43.6 degrees Celsius.
Sambalpur and Titlagarh recorded 42.5 degrees Celsius each, followed by Hirakud at 42.4 degrees, Bolangir at 42.2 degrees and Angul at 42.1 degrees.
The twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack recorded 37.9 degrees Celsius and 38.8 degrees Celsius, respectively, with relative humidity levels remaining above 70 per cent.
Meanwhile, the state government directed all district education officers to conduct a Summer Learning Programme for students till class 8 in government schools during the summer vacation.
Officials said students would be given practice assignments along with audio-visual learning content.
Subject-wise assignment sheets have been prepared, while related digital material will be shared through school parents' WhatsApp groups using a chatbot system, they said.
