Nandita Das
Nandita Das
Born
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Occupation(s)Actress, director
Years active1989 – Present
Spouses
Soumya Sen
​
​
(m. 2002; div. 2007)​
    Subodh Maskara
    ​
    ​
    (m. 2010; sep. 2017)​
    Children1
    HonoursChevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2011)

    Nandita Das is an Indian actress and film maker. She has acted in over 40 feature films in ten different languages. Das appeared in the films Fire (1996), Earth (1998), Bawandar (2000), Kannathil Muthamittal (2002), Azhagi (2002), Kamli (2006), and Before The Rains (2007). Her directorial debut Firaaq (2008), premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and travelled to more than 50 festivals, winning more than 20 awards. Her second film as a director was Manto (2018). Based on the life of 20th Century Indo-Pakistani short story writer Sadat Hasan Manto, the film was screened at Cannes Film Festival in the "Un Certain Regard" section.[1] In September 2019, Das produced a two-minute Public Service Announcement music video India's Got Colour. The music video is about the issue of colourism and urges the audience to celebrate India's diversity of skin colour.[2] Her first book, 'Manto & I', chronicles her 6-year long journey of making the film. She wrote, directed, produced and acted in a short film called, Listen to Her, that sheds light on the increase in domestic violence and overburden of work that women have been facing during the lockdown. Also sought petition seeking the commutation of the death sentence handed out to Ajmal Kasab.

    Das has served twice on the jury of the Cannes Film Festival. In 2005, she served on the main competition jury alongside Fatih Akin, Javier Bardem, Salma Hayek, Benoît Jacquot, Emir Kusturica, Toni Morrison, Agnès Varda, and John Woo. In 2013, she served on the Cinéfondation and short films jury with Jane Campion, Maji-da Abdi, Nicoletta Braschi, and Semih Kaplanoğlu.

    In 2011, she was made Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) by the French Government, one of the nation's highest civilian awards.[3] She was commended for her "contribution towards the development of Indo-French cooperation in the field of cinema."[4] In 2009, France released a stamp featuring Das, from artist Titouan Lamazou's project "Women of the World."[5][6]

    Das was the first Indian inducted into the International Hall of Fame of the International Women's Forum in Washington, DC. She was recognized in 2011 for "her sustained contributions to the arts and to the world as one of the most gripping cinema arts leaders of our time."[7][8][9][10] Her fellow inductees were Anna Fendi, Heidi Klum, and Madam Chen Zhili.[11]

    Early life and education

    Das' father is the artist Jatin Das, and her mother is Varsha Das, a writer. She was born in Mumbai and grew up mostly in Delhi in an Odia family,[12] where she attended the Sardar Patel Vidyalaya school.[13] She received bachelor's degree in Geography from Miranda House and Master of Social Work from the Delhi School of Social Work, both affiliated with the University of Delhi.[14]

    Das was a Yale World Fellow in 2014.[15] She was one of 16 emerging global leaders chosen from nearly 4000 applicants.

    She has also taught at the Rishi Valley School.[16]

    Career

    Acting

    Das has acted in over 40 feature films with directors such as Mrinal Sen, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Shyam Benegal, Deepa Mehta, and Mani Ratnam. She began her acting career with the street theatre group Jana Natya Manch. She is best known for her performances in director Deepa Mehta films Fire (1996) and Earth (1998; alongside Aamir Khan), Bawander (directed by Jagmohan Mundhra), and Naalu Pennungal (directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan ). She has also acted in the movie Before the Rains, an Indian-British period drama film directed by Santosh Sivan. She has acted in films in ten different languages: English, Hindi, Bengali, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Marathi, Odia, and Kannada. The Tamil actor Sukanya provided Das' speaking voice in the Tamil classic Kannathil Muthamittal.

    Das co-wrote, directed and acted in a play called Between the Lines (2014). She has also acted in Khamosh! Adalat jaari hai (2017), a Cineplay production written by Vijay Tendulkar.

    Direction

    In 2008, she directed her first film, Firaaq.[17] The film is a work of fiction "based on a thousand true stories" and is set a month after the 2002 Gujarat riots in India. It is an ensemble film that interweaves multiple stories over a 24-hour period, as the characters from different strata of society, grapple with the lingering effects of violence. Das said that the film "gave a voice to so much that remains silent".[18] In 2018, Nandita directed Manto.[19] Das decided to make a film on Manto after reading a translation of his stories in 2012. She always had Nawazuddin Siddiqui in mind for the role and approached him for the same.[20] The film was premiered in Cannes Film Festival in 2018.[21] The film was also screened at Toronto International Film Festival.[22] In 2019 Das produced and directed a PSA music video, 'India's Got Colour'.[2] Her third directorial venture Zwigato explores the life of a food delivery rider and his family, starring Kapil Sharma and Shahana Goswami in the lead roles. The film is also produced by her company NDI, in collaboration with Applause Entertainment. Zwigato was released in India on 17 March 2023.

    Voice narration

    Das narrated the children's audiobook series Under the Banyan,[23] and Mahatma Gandhi's autobiography by Charkha Audiobooks, The Story of My Experiments with Truth.[24] She was also a voice actor in the children's television series Wonder Pets, as the Bengal Tiger in the episode Save the Bengal Tiger (2007).

    She also sang the song Ramleela for the movie Aks and Jagya Sarsi for the movie Bawandar.

    Listen to Her

    During the pandemic, in May 2020, she wrote, directed and acted in a short film called, Listen to Her. The 7 min film, produced by Nandita Das Initiatives, is about the increase in domestic violence and overburden of work that women are facing during the lock-down. It was supported by UNESCO, UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women and South Asia Foundation.

    Personal life

    In 2002, Das married Saumya Sen. The couple began Leapfrog, a media organisation geared towards making socially conscious ad films.[25] The couple divorced in 2007.[26] After dating Subodh Maskara, a Mumbai industrialist, for a couple of months, she married him on 2 January 2010 and moved to Mumbai.[27][28] Das and Maskara have a son named Vihaan.[29] In January 2017, the couple announced that they have parted ways.[30]

    Nandita Das is an atheist.[31] She claims she has no religious affiliation -- "If I aligned with anything it would probably be Buddhism," she said.[32]

    Activism

    Das has master's degree in Social Work from the University of Delhi. She has worked for children's rights, HIV/AIDS awareness, to end violence against women.[33] In 2009, Das was appointed Chairperson of the Children's Film Society of India.[34] In 2012, she was the guest of honour at the iVolunteer Awards, held in Mumbai.[35] Das also donated to the launch of the investigative journalism magazine Tehelka, founded by Tarun Tejpal.[36]

    India's Got Colour (Dark is Beautiful) campaign

    In 2013, Das became the face of the "Dark is Beautiful" campaign. Launched by Women of Worth in 2009, the campaign aims to draw attention to the effects of discrimination based on skin color in India. The campaign urges women and men to celebrate the beauty and diversity of all skin tones, using slogans such as "Stay UNfair, Stay Beautiful."[37] Das said in 2014: In the [Indian film] industry a makeup man or a cinematographer would come and say can you lighten your skin a little, especially when you are playing the middle class educated character.[38] In 2019, the Campaign was reinvented as India’s Got Colour. Along with Mahesh Mathai, Nandita Das has produced and co-directed a two-minute PSA for the campaign. The music video features several eminent artists from the Indian Film Industry.[39]

    Speaking engagements

    Das has been a featured speaker at various platforms in India and abroad, including at MIT (in 2007, after a screening of Fire), and at Tufts University (in 2014, on gender in society and cinema).[40][41]

    In 2016, she gave a TEDx talk at TEDxWalledCity on "The Biggest Hypocrisy of Our Times: Our Attitude to Poverty."[42] In 2011, she spoke at TEDxNarimanPoint, on "Transformation in Education".[43]

    In 2019. she gave a Tedx talk at TEDxShivNadarUniversity about A Mother's Journey With Anger

    Accolades

    In August 2018 Power Brands awarded Nandita Das the Bharatiya Manavata Vikas Puraskar for being a polymath with purpose, advocating issues of communal harmony, peace and social justice, especially for women, children and the marginalized "others" through various platforms, for her expressions of courage and compassion on celluloid and her steadfast faith in the power of cinema effecting social change for a better world.[44][45]

    For acting

    Year Award Film Category Result
    2000 45th Filmfare Awards 1947 Earth Best Debut Won
    2001 Santa Monica Film Festival Bawander Best Actress Won
    2002 Cairo International Film Festival Amaar Bhuvan Won
    Tamil Nadu State Film Awards Kannathil Muthamittal Special Prize Won
    2006 Nandi Awards Kamli Best Actress Won
    2007 Madrid International Film Festival Maati Maay (A Grave-keeper's Tale) Won
    2013 8th Lux Style Awards Ramchand Pakistani Best Film Actress Nominated
    60th Filmfare Awards South Neerparavai Best Supporting Actress Nominated

    For directing

    Year Award Film Category Status Ref
    2008 Asian Festival of First Films Firaaq Best Film Won [46]
    Best Screenplay
    Foreign Correspondents Association Purple Orchid Award for Best Film
    2009 Kara Film Festival Best Film Won
    International Film Festival of Kerala Special Jury Award Won
    Thessaloniki International Film Festival Special Prize (Everyday Life: Transcendence or Reconciliation Award) Won
    Golden Alexander Nominated
    2010 Filmfare Awards Special Award Won
    2018 Cannes Film Festival Manto Un Certain Regard Award Nominated
    Toronto International Film Festival People's Choice Award Nominated
    Asia Pacific Screen Award FIAPF (Films in the Asia Pacific region) Won
    2019 Filmfare Awards Best Film (Critics) Nominated
    Best Screenplay Nominated
    Best Dialogue Nominated

    Filmography

    Key
    † Denotes films that have not yet been released

    Actor

    Year Title Role Language(s) Notes
    1987Bangle BoxHindiTelefilm
    1989ParinatiHindi
    1995Ek Thi GoonjaGoonjaHindi
    1996FireSitaEnglish
    19981947 EarthShanta, the AyahHindiFilmfare Award for Best Female Debut
    Hazaar Chaurasi Ki MaaNandini MitraHindi
    JanmadinamSarasuMalayalam
    BiswaprakashAnjaliOdia
    1999DeveeriDeveeri (Akka)Kannada
    RockfordLily VegasEnglish
    PunaradhivasamShaliniMalayalam
    2000Hari-BhariAfsanaHindi
    SaanjhHindiShort film
    BawandarSanwariHindi,
    Rajasthani,
    English    		Best Actress at Santa Monica Film Festival
    2001AksSupriya VermaHindi
    Daughters of the CenturyCharuHindi
    2002Aamaar BhuvanSakinaBengaliBest Actress at Cairo Film Festival
    Zee Cine Award for Best Actor – Female
    KannakiKannaki Malayalam
    PitaahParoHindi
    AzhagiDhanalakshmiTamilNominated-Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil
    Kannathil MuthamittalShyamaTamilTamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize
    Lal SalaamRupi(alias Chandrakka)Hindi
    2003Ek Alag MausamAparna VermaHindi
    Bas Yun HiVedaHindi
    SupariMamta SikriHindi
    Shubho MahuratMallika SenBengali
    Kagaar: Life on the EdgeAditiHindi
    Ek Din 24 GhanteSameera DuttaHindi
    2004Vishwa ThulasiSitaTamil
    2005Fleeting BeautyIndian womanEnglish
    2006Maati MaayChandiMarathiMadrid International Film Festival (2007), Best Actress
    PodokkhepMeghaBengali
    ProvokedRadha DalalEnglish
    KamliKamliTeluguNandi Award for Best Actress
    2007Before the RainsSajaniEnglish,
    Malayalam
    Naalu PennungalKamakshiMalayalam
    Paani: A Drop of LifeMira BenHindiShort film
    2008Ramchand PakistaniChampaUrduPakistani film
    2011I AmAfiaHindi
    2012NeerparavaiEstherTamilNominated—SIIMA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Tamil
    Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Tamil
    2013OongaHemlaHindi,
    Odia
    2014Rastres de SàndalMina KuminarEnglish,
    Catalan
    2017 Khamosh! Adalat Jaari Hai Leela Benare Hindi
    2018DhaadMonghiGujarati[47]shot in 2001
    2019Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyun Aata Hai?StellaHindiRemake of classic Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyoon Aata Hai[48]
    2021 Call My Agent: Bollywood Herself Hindi
    2022Virata ParvamShankutalaTelugu[49]

    Director

    Year Title Language Notes Ref
    2008FiraaqHindi
    Urdu
    Gujarati    		Best Film and Best Screenplay at Asian Festival of First Films
    Purple Orchid Award for Best Film at Asian Festival of First Films
    Special Jury Award at International Film Festival of Kerala
    Special Prize at International Thessaloniki Film Festival
    Filmfare Special Award
    Nominated—Golden Alexander at International Thessaloniki Film Festival    		 [46]
    2017In Defence of FreedomHindiShort film
    2018MantoHindi
    Urdu
    2019 India's Got Colour Hindi Music Video
    2023 Zwigato Hindi World premiere at the TIFF 2022[50]

    Bibliography

    • Manto and I. Aleph Book Company. ISBN 978-81-943657-4-7

    References

    1. ↑ "Nandita Das's 'Manto' to be premiered at Cannes Film Festival". Scroll.in. 12 April 2018. Archived from the original on 4 December 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
    2. 1 2 "India's got colour". UNESCO. Archived from the original on 11 November 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
    3. ↑ Ians (16 April 2011). "French honour for Nandita Das". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 18 July 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
    4. ↑ "Distinction conferred on Actor-Director Nandita Das, 2011". La France en Inde / France in India. Archived from the original on 14 January 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
    5. ↑ "Philatelic issues related to Nandita Das issued by Foreign Countries". indianphilately.net. Archived from the original on 14 January 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
    6. ↑ Taber, Kimberly Conniff (31 October 2007). "Titouan Lamazou: His vision of women around the world". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 14 January 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
    7. ↑ "Game for Fame -Nandita Das is first Indian to be inducted into the International Women's Forum Hall of Fame". India Today. 5 November 2011.
    8. ↑ "The game changer". The Telegraph (India). Archived from the original on 7 November 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
    9. ↑ "Nandita Das in IWF's International Hall of Fame | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". dna. 29 October 2011. Archived from the original on 14 January 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
    10. ↑ "International Women's Forum Programs". International Women's Forum. Archived from the original on 14 January 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
    11. ↑ "International Women's Forum Brochure" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
    12. ↑ "I am still searching for a place to call home". OPEN. Archived from the original on 13 August 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
    13. ↑ Khushwant, Singh (21 September 2009). "The Painter's Daughter". Outlook India. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
    14. ↑ Mendis, Isidore Domnick (23 June 2003). "Independent stardom". Business Line. Archived from the original on 15 November 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
    15. ↑ "Nandita Das | Yale Greenberg World Fellows". worldfellows.yale.edu. Archived from the original on 23 August 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
    16. ↑ "Chat with Nandita Das". Hindustan Times. 15 February 2003. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
    17. ↑ Saltz, Rachel (4 June 2009). "The Variety of Life, Real and Imagined, in Movie-Mad India". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 22 September 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
    18. ↑ Nandita Das talks about her directorial debut Firaaq. Radio Sargam. 26 January 2009. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
    19. ↑ "Nandita Das and Nawazuddin Siddiqui bring Mantoiyat to JNU". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
    20. ↑ "Interview | If Manto Were Alive Today He Would Have Been Put Behind Bars: Nandita Das". The Wire. Archived from the original on 7 October 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
    21. ↑ "Writing the writer". Deccan Herald. 7 October 2018. Archived from the original on 7 October 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
    22. ↑ "Anurag Kashyap's Manmarziyaan, Nandita Das' Manto to be screened at Toronto International Film Festival". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 7 October 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
    23. ↑ throh. "Beneath the Banyan boughs". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 21 October 2003. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
    24. ↑ "Mahatma Gandhi Autobiography - Audiobooks free download". mkgandhi.org. Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
    25. ↑ "Her own person". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 19 December 2004. Archived from the original on 30 September 2008. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
    26. ↑ Anand, Utkarsh (24 May 2009). "Actor Nandita Das files for divorce". Yahoo! India News. Archived from the original on 31 May 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
    27. ↑ "Nandita Das is dating again". The Times of India. 21 November 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
    28. ↑ Jha, Subhash K (6 January 2010). "Nandita Das marries, moves to Mumbai by SUBHASH K JHA". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012.
    29. ↑ Lalwani, Vickey (12 August 2010). "It's a baby boy for Nandita!". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
    30. ↑ "Nandita Das and husband Subodh Maskara split after seven years of marriage. Here's all the details". The Indian Express. 3 January 2017. Archived from the original on 3 January 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
    31. ↑ "Atheism is the religion for these filmi folk". The Times of India. 17 December 2014. Archived from the original on 22 March 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
    32. ↑ Garfinkel, Perry (2 October 2009). "Beyond the Screen". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
    33. ↑ Gautam, Savitha (27 September 2004). "Ms. Sense". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 27 December 2004. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
    34. ↑ "Profile of Chairperson". CFSI website. Archived from the original on 7 December 2010.
    35. ↑ "iVolunteer Awards Celebrates Volunteering by Recognizing Volunteers". indiacsr.in. Archived from the original on 24 April 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
    36. ↑ "Tehelka business: Murky deals, profits for Tejpal family, Shoma - Firstpost". firstpost.com. Archived from the original on 27 March 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
    37. ↑ Women, Respect (30 December 2014). "Stay UNfair, Stay Beautiful!". respectwomen.co.in. Archived from the original on 14 January 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
    38. ↑ Even within independent cinema there is a kind of populist independent cinema: Nandita Das – "The American Bazaar". 30 September 2014. Archived from the original on 8 December 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
    39. ↑ Rosario, Kennith (3 October 2019). "Nandita Das brings out rap video to fight skin-tone discrimination". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
    40. ↑ "Struggles of Being a Woman in Society and Cinema: A Talk with Nandita Das | Yale Greenberg World Fellows". worldfellows.yale.edu. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
    41. ↑ "Naaree Interviews Actor And Director, Nandita Das". Naaree - Work From Home Career Advice For Women in India. 7 November 2015. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
    42. ↑ TEDx Talks (21 March 2016). "The biggest hypocrisy of our times: Our attitude to Poverty - Nandita Das - TEDxWalledCity". Archived from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2018 – via YouTube.
    43. ↑ TEDx Talks (20 September 2011). "TEDxNarimanPoint - Nandita Das - Transformation in Education". Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2018 – via YouTube.
    44. ↑ "Shabana Azmi, Nandita Das receive Bharatiya Manavata Vikas Puraskar". Business Standard. Press Trust of India. 30 August 2018. Archived from the original on 9 May 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
    45. ↑ "Daily India media recognizes 13 Indian stalwarts with Bharatiya Manavata Vikas Puraskar 2018 | Central Chronicle - Central India's Premier English Daily". Archived from the original on 9 May 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
    46. 1 2 Toh, Christopher (13 December 2008). "THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL". Today. p. 40. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022 – via NewspaperSG.
    47. ↑ Oza, Nandini (5 January 2018). "After 17 years, Gujarati film Dhaad starring Nandita Das set for release". The Week. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
    48. ↑ Taran Adarsh [@taran_adarsh] (6 March 2019). "Manav Kaul, Nandita Das and Saurabh Shukla... #AlbertPintoKoGussaKyunAataHai - an official remake of the cult classic by Saeed Akhtar Mirza - to release on 12 April 2019... Directed by Soumitra Ranade... The 1980 classic starred Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil. https://t.co/e3JaquzPMI" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
    49. ↑ Taran Adarsh [@taran_adarsh] (14 December 2020). "RANA DAGGUBATI NEW POSTER... On #RanaDaggubati's birthday today, Team #ViraataParvam unveil the new poster... Final schedule is in progress in #Hyderabad... The #Telugu film costars #SaiPallavi, #NanditaDas and #Priyamani... Directed by Venu Udugula... D Suresh Babu presentation. https://t.co/sfrEpk5pr0" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
    50. ↑ Dasgupta (16 August 2022). "Kapil Sharma sheds his comic image in Nandita Das' Zwigato, plays an orthodox husband. Watch first trailer". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 4 September 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
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