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Meaningful cinema Mira Nair

If we go by names, surnames or namesakes, Mira Nair is happy to be a Malayali ‘Nair’. “If anyone mistakes me for a Kerala Nair, I am perfectly happy. I never deny that I am not from Kerala but the fact is I am a Punjabi from Amrit sar,” says filmmaker, director, writer Mira Nair, on a holiday in Kerala. “I have been to Kerala a couple of times. I was last in Kochi 30 years ago, in 1978. I travelled, took photographs and stayed at the Malabar (Hotel) long before tourists began arriving here. It was the pristine beauty of the place that attracted even then. I next visited Kerala in 1998 for the Film Festival at Kozhikode,” said Mira.

What does she feel about her powerful films that straddle two worlds – East and West? “I am comfortable in both the worlds, actually more than two worlds. I do what my heart tells me,” she said, about the films she has directed.

“I was inspired to make movies or do whatever, only to change the world and not just give viewers a pleasant afternoon. And so ‘Monsoon Wedding’ that has so much ‘masti’; the idea was to combine joy, masti and darkness. The family has its secrets that it doesn’t want to share and it’s not just the Indian family; it’s the same universally,” she said. “Salaam Bombay”, her debut film, won a nomination for the best foreign language film in the 1988 Oscars.

And her latest work, “The Namesake”, another hit?

“‘The Namesake’ is a quiet, almost silent film but it ran for weeks at many places. I was a bit apprehensive about it as our films are packed with sound.” Her take on Bollywood?

“It explodes with talent. It’s heartening to see when a film clicks but it also has a lot of unwanted aspects. I am thrilled that Indian cinema vigorously counters Hollywood. No other country’s cinema does that.”

Her latest directorial venture is “Shantaram”. “Shooting for ‘Shantaram’ was supposed to start in February. But it has been postponed because of the writers’ strike in Hollywood. It will begin only by the end of 2008. Although the delay is disappointing, I have been able to take a holiday. I identify myself with the strike, the writers’ demands. We were well prepared to work on “Shantaram” with Johnny Depp as star and Amitabh Bachchan as co-star. I have not finalised the rest of the cast.” And her criteria for Indian nominations for the Oscar and the “Eklavya” controversy?

“I think the Indian committees should choose films the West is aware of. The fact is that the Academy of which I am a voting member should have greater awareness. It would be better for our nation to send a film that can be distributed inthe West.”

And Maisha, her non-profit school for filmmakers?

“It is a free school for filmmakers who win scholarships and for writers and directors who work closely together. Santosh Sivan, very much a son of Kerala, was our mentor two years ago. From Santosh to Steve Cohen and African filmmakers, there are expert teachers at the school. My mantra for Maisha is: ‘If we don’t tell our stories no one else will,’ and so we have to train our students,” says Mira. But is she a natural filmmaker without formal training?

“I got my training by making films but it is not so simple,” says Mira who has made great film such as ‘Namesake’, ‘Monsoon Wedding’, ‘Salaam Bombay’, ‘Mississippi Masala’ and ‘Vanity Fair’.

And her next new venture? “Making ‘Monsoon Wedding’ into a Broadway musical,” says Mira.

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