“I would say religion,” Naseeruddin Shah spoke to Brut at the Cannes Film Festival about the social issue that he would pick to make a film about in today’s time. Brut is the official media partner for Cannes Film Festival 2024. #Cannes2024
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00:00Hello, this is Naseeruddin Shah for Brute.
00:03We are ready whenever you're ready, sir.
00:04I'm ready.
00:05Are we rolling?
00:06We are here at Cannes with the inimitable Naseeruddin Shah.
00:10Mr. Shah, thank you so much for speaking to Brute.
00:12My pleasure entirely.
00:13You walked the red carpet yesterday for Manthan.
00:16How did it feel to be on the red carpet and have a screening of Manthan here?
00:21Well, it felt unreal to me because I've always seen the red carpet ceremony either on video or in photographs.
00:29And I've seen all these lovely ladies, you know, parading themselves in their gorgeous costumes and so on.
00:35So, I never dreamt I'd be part of that one day.
00:38So, my wife and I decided to keep it as simple as possible.
00:41And of course, it was a terribly emotional experience because there's so many friends who were in the film.
00:51Girish was a friend and my teacher, of course, he was the director of the FTI.
00:56Smita was a dear friend and so was Amrish.
01:02None of them are there any longer.
01:04So, it was a very moving experience.
01:07I could hardly hold back the tears.
01:09And I find that the film has really stood the test of time.
01:13In the film, your character is fighting against caste discrimination as well, right?
01:17And over a 50-year period, how do you think things have changed versus the character in that film 50 years ago?
01:25And today, if you had to play that same character, what would you add?
01:29Well, I'd probably play it with a little more awareness of the situation and a little more control over the emotions of the character.
01:40No, but to answer your question, the caste, the curse of the caste system, unfortunately, still is around.
01:48And still affects millions of our lesser privileged citizens in our country.
01:54And it's a pity that people adhere to it so strongly.
01:59Still, it's not something that is going to be easy to rid people's minds of, the evils of the caste system.
02:07So, I hope it made a statement, I think it did make a statement regarding that.
02:14It did make a statement regarding unity of those who are oppressed, of all of them getting together.
02:22Do you think if you had to pick a film to do today about a social cause in the country and bring that kind of attention to it, what would it be?
02:32Which cause would you pick?
02:34I would say religion. I think courageous films should be made about this factor which seems to be on all our minds.
02:47And which to my mind is one of the most harmful things that has happened to humanity.
02:53I would probably choose that and that is why I consider a film I did in Pakistan many years ago called Khuda Ke Liye,
03:01which was to be a very important film. Equally important, as important as Manthan.
03:09But do you think right now cinema is being made with no holds barred?
03:14Some people are attempting to do that and gradually their numbers, may their numbers multiply.
03:21But it's still not easy to make a direct statement and one has to couch one's message in a palatable form.
03:33This is on a personal note. Could you tell us your love story in 60 seconds?
03:39Most, a lot of love stories occur in the theatre. You will find even in the west that there are several husband wife teams in the theatre celebrated.
03:52It's not so in cinema. But it is so. So, Ratna and I met in the course of doing a play.
03:58The first play I did on a professional level in Bombay. And I, well I have to say she still doesn't believe me though.
04:06That the moment I saw her I wanted to be friends with her. I wanted to get to know her. And in the course of doing that play, I did.
04:13It was love at first sight. Absolutely. Thank you so much for speaking to Brute. My pleasure.