IFFI to felicitate ‘Bhiku Mhatre’

It’s a recognition long overdue. Actor Manoj Bajpai, who’s done memorable films like Bandit Queen, Satya, Shool, Aks, Pinjar, will be one of the film personalities to be felicitated at the upcoming International Film Festival of India 2010 in Goa for his contribution to ‘new emerging cinema’. “I don’t know why they have chosen me for this award,” Manoj wonders aloud.

“The new wave cinema did bring about filmmakers and actors that changed the idiom of filmmaking to an extent —in terms of techniques, language and characterisations. And I feel grateful and humbled that they feel that I have made some kind of contribution to it,” he adds.

The actor’s body of work, though lesser in number than his counterparts, has left a searing effect on cineastes with his portrayals. In recent times, the actor has been making news for his negative portrayal in Raajneeti, which is based on the epic Mahabharata and for lending his voice to the animated character of Ram. Remind him that he’s always evinced a desire to play the character of Ram, the National award winner says, "It's every actor's dream to play the character of Ram and Krishna. Dubbing for the character of Ram was the closest thing to it, and it was a great experience.”

The felicitations will take place at IFFI’s inaugural ceremony on November 22.

The ten-day festival, which concludes on December 2, will also see a strong presence of Bollywood, in terms of tributes and films, including celebrating the birth centenary year of yesteryear actors Ashok Kumar, Motilal and fearless Nadia. Sources inform that actor Boman Irani is slated to give a talk on the journey of comedy in Hindi films, while Oscar-award winner Resul Pookutty will give a talk on the significance of sound engineering.

The IFFI, this year, has seen a record number of 450 film entries from 55 countries.