Strides have been made in cinema that align with feminism, thanks to a few women in the entertainment industry who have always told empowering stories. Among these women is actor Rasika Dugal, who has portrayed women (on the big screen and digital screens) fleshed out in a nuanced manner on paper. She shares how one of her favourite filmmakers Nandita Das ensured that she got her space and meat as Safia Manto in 'Manto'.
Acknowledging her cinematic acumen Rasika says, “I was moved by the way Nandita made sure Safia had space in a story about Manto. Nandita's gaze on Safia was never one of sympathy but of respect. A human gaze which acknowledged and accepted Safia's weaknesses and strengths. Neither was this gaze patronizing nor was it glorifying.”
She adds, “There was an unspoken understanding between Nandita and me about this and we were always on the same page while shooting. That's how she wanted Safia to be in the film and that's how she directed me. I was particularly moved by the way she chose to edit the film - always capturing Safia's (often silent) response to situations. It is way too often that women get left out of narratives. Our storytelling -from casual family anecdotes to cinema- often (consciously or subconsciously) relegate women to the sidelines.”
Nandita Das's Manto witnessed Rasika in the role of Safiya Manto, the wife of writer Saadat Hasan Manto. Interestingly, the actor bears an uncanny resemblance to Safiya. Dugal hit the nail on the head with her portrayal of the strong and resilient wife of Manto. Her performance in the film attracted praise from the likes of Imtiaz Ali and Shabana Azmi.
Rasika will be seen in Spike, Delhi Crime Season 2 and Lord Curzon Ki Haveli.
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