'Rani deserved a National Award' - SLB.

By Subhash K Jha

For Sanjay Leela Bhansali it has been a long lingering and non-stop haul of popular awards. From Khamoshi: The Musical to his most recent work Black, the maverick magician of the movies, singled out by colleague Karan Johar as a favourite, has walked away with every popular award for all his films..

The National awards have never been that generous to Sanjay. As he immerses himself in the post-production work of his latest film Sawariya, Sanjay takes time off to stop and think about the final lap of award-collection for Black and expresses regret for Rani missing out on getting a ruchly-deserved National award.

Do you think the National awards this year have been fair?
Oh yes. It all depends on the individual jury member's discretion and then there's a collective opinion taken on films. Since the National awards take into view films from all over the country they're very important.

I'm very happy for Amitji. He deserves the National award richly for Black. But along with Amitji I'd have liked Rani to win a National Award also.

Why do you feel that way?
For the first time, I think an Indian actor has played a deaf and blind…and with such captivating conviction. She delivered the entire performance through her silences. If my film has got an award for Best Hindi Film, then our entire team owes a lot of it to Rani's performance.

Do you feel Rani should've shared the best actress award with Sareeka?
It's very nice to see Sareeka being acknowledged. I'm very fond of her acting. I think Sareekaji's performance in Parzania is also very vital. It addresses itself to the communal riots. And that makes her performance exceptionally relevant. At the same time, Rani represents a small neglected section of society.

Being physically handicapped isn't as in-your-face unjust as riots. When you cannot hear your deficiency isn't noticeable to the normal man.

But does the average man know what it means to not being able to hear…or see? I think Rani portrayed the anguish of the warrior of darkness brilliantly. Grave injustice is caused to the physically impaired by destiny. Rani brought a great deal of passion and conviction to the part. I think her performance of a physically handicapped person is as socially crucial as the portrayal of a riot victim.

Do you think Rani has been unjustly treated?
I wouldn't like to question the jury's decision at all. But many years ago Jennifer Kapoor didn't get the National award for 36 Chowringhee Lane. That still hurts. It's an exceptional performance.

I'd equate Rani's performance in Black with Jennifer Kapoor in 36 Chowringhee Lane, Nargis in Mother India or Seema Biswas in Bandit Queen. Just like Nargisji, Jennifer and Seema, Rani's perforance brings to the forefront the acute hardships of an isolated woman.

At the height of her superstardom Rani shed her glamour and gave her all to Michelle's performance in Black. Maybe she could've shared the National award with Sareekaji.I want to tell Rani that Black has got a standing ovation in every corner of the country. And that's the biggest award.

You've been singularly unlucky with the National awards?
That's true. For my first first film Khamoshi: The Musical I submitted my papers on time for the National awards. But somehow the print never reached. Then for Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, the film federation decided it wasn't a wholesome-entertainment film. But it did win five National awards.

Devdas too got a National award. Personally I have never received a National award for direction. Maybe one day in the future. Maybe the criteria for getting one is to design a film that isn't in the popular format. And yet sometimes popular films like Lagaan and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam do get National awards.

And that's reassuring. Popular films shouldn't be neglected. At the same time I feel we shouldn't question the jury's decision. To come to a collective consensus isn't easy for them.

Your next film Sawariya is in the popular format. Given a choice, would you like it to win popular or National awards?
My first concern is that people should go to see Sawariya and they should like it. If audiences don't come to see my film, there's no point in making it.