IFFI 2009 at Goa: Nana Patekar

He may be termed eccentric but is no way egocentric. On a warm afternoon outside the media centre, actor par excellence Nana Patekar was game to field questions thrown by the media. It was hard to relate the sauve man standing there with the person with a unique style of acting and brash style of dialogue delivery. Nana revealed his human side by ensuring that everyone had their fill before questions were shot at him.

From the intimidating villain in Parinda to the no-nonsense cop in Ab Tak Chappan and to the brutal wife-beater in Agni Sakshi, he has done all the roles with stunning ease and conviction. Dabbling in comedy, Welcome�showed the other facet of the man. About Khamoshi, where he played the dumb father, Nana said he took it as a challenge as he is aware of his forte of delivering dialogues with an inimitable style. "I had to thank my director Bhansali who had faith in me," says Nana, giving credit where he felt it due.

"Firaaq has impressed me no end in the ongoing IFFI. It is simply brilliant, throwing many questions and leaving me pondering. That is what I call good cinema. We should deviate once a while from the 'naach-gana' films. Quality films are always remembered like V. Shantaram's Padosi, a Hindu-Muslim film and Aadmi, a film on the relationship of a cop and prostitue."

Deviating from films to his vision for the future, Nana said, "I have struggled from my first job at the age of 13 and as I await my 60th birthday, I have to thank the Almighty for giving everything to me. From now, whatever I do is to be deemed as a bonus. I am a happy and contented man."

In that same mood, Nana was open to all questions."I want to get out of the cocoon, move around and meet people from all over, study their lives and cultures. I want to get away from the camera and be just a normal human being."

Nana said that other than movies, he loves sketching and would be too happy to try new vistas now that he will be touching the magical mark of 60 summers. Nana says that in his dictionary there is no room for violent movies. "Life is all about making the most of it. We have to remember that we are human beings first before thinking of one's religion or nationality. What purpose does it serve at the end of the day?" were Nana's parting words.

Reported by Mr. K.V. Vasudevan from Goa