Focus on powerful social issues

(L) Deepa Mehta; Nandita Das in a scene from the film Earth

Deepa Mehta: Several years ago, her forthcoming film Water, was in the news when it evoked the ire of the then Hindu communalists. Apparently the film caused a heated reaction because of its handling of a sensitive theme- the pathetic existence of widows forced into poverty at a temple in the holy city of Varanasi.

Other films in the trilogy of elements are Fire and Earth. The former tells of a bisexual relationship between two women. Then there is Earth, set out against the Partition days. Based on the book titled The Ice Candy Man by Bapsi Sidhwa, the film focuses on the devastation wrought by religious intolerance. The stars of this work are Nandita Das, Aamir Khan and Rahul Khanna.

Sai Paranjpye: Known for films such as Chashme Buddoor, Katha and Sparsh, Sai is a popular name on the silver screen. Her films have a gentle humour and build popular empathy with the characters, be it Farooque Shaikh and Deepti Naval in the first film or Naseeruddin Shah in Sparsh as the visually impaired teacher and principal of a school for the blind.

Shah worked closely with the principal of the Blind School in New Delhi so that he could give a realistic portrayal of his character. In fact, he fitted into this role so well that he won the National Award for Best Actor. Shabana Azmi played the other main protagonist in the film.

Apart from her work behind the camera, Sai also assumes the mantle of a women's activist and crusader for children. She has made children's films such as Jadoo ka Shankh and Sikandar. Her films for children have been shown at the 10th International Children Film Festival held in Hyderabad in 1997. Her forthcoming film is a comedy filmed in Goa.

Compiled by Cultural Correspondent