After two decades, Pritish Nandy writes a book of poems dedicated to a special woman
After two decades, Pritish Nandy writes a book of poems dedicated to a special woman
He wrote 32 books of poems, and then suddenly stopped. More than two decades later, journalist, film producer, painter, animal lover and politician Pritish Nandy dons the role of bard again. Again, his book of poems, is out in bookstores.
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A young Pritish Nandy wrote, Calcutta If You Must Exile Me, during the Naxalbari turmoil of the '70s. That was the love poet of Kolkata. What inspired the poet of Mumbai to pen Again?
Well, I am writing a book of poems after two decades. The world has changed. I have changed. My readers have changed. What has not changed perhaps is the power of poetry to convey ideas, beliefs, and passion that prose falters over.
I guess that is what inspired me to return to poetry after such a long time. It is not by choice. You do not write poetry by choice. You write it by compulsion. Your poetry defines who you are, what your loves and obsessions are, what you seek. Again happened because I felt like writing again. That explains the title too.
In 1975, you wrote Lonesong Street. It was rumoured that it was a book a man could buy but couldn't keep with him. He had to gift it to a girl. You dedicated it to Mallika Sarabhai. Who is Again dedicated to?
It was not a rumour. Lonesong Street was, yes, dedicated to Mallika. She was one of my closest friends. So close that Lonesong Street was a tribute to the warmth and beauty of the friendship we shared.
Again is dedicated to another woman, one who has loved me and borne with me for many years. Poetry is always inspired by people you love, cherish, desire or admire. That is what makes it come alive.
Does the special someone have a name?
Let some things remain mysterious. When readers read Again, they will know.
Strangertime was what made Keki Daruwala, M F Husain, Arun Kolkatkar and Nissim Ezekiel accessible to the common man, because it was available at AH Wheeler book stalls at railway stations. Will Again be within the reach of young, lovelorn patrons?
It will be, I am sure. Maybe not in its current hardback incarnation but certainly when the paperback arrives.
The concerns are of course different. The themes, language, imagery may have changed. But since the poet is the same and his obsession remains to make poetry reach the man on the street, I'm sure it will reach everyone. In any case, I write a language that's neither literary nor academic. It's what you and I speak every day to express ourselves and our deepest emotions.
Which book lies under your pillow?
Currently, Pablo Neruda's first book of poems. I found a copy with great difficulty. It's currently out of print, and I found it at a second-hand bookshop. Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair. It is an incredible book. It forced me to learn Spanish when I was a teenager.
You once took up serving tea in a Punjabi shop on 14 Bentinck Street. How did a chai serving boy grow keen on science fiction, UFOs and win a National Science Talent Scholar Award and end up becoming a poet, then a journalist, film producer, politician and painter? Where does he go from here?
If you want an honest answer, I don't know. Life and love take you where they choose to, want to. You can only experience the journey and cherish it. To try and change its course would be stupid. I am not King Canute.
If Saawariya and Om Shanti Om are 'junk cinema' and Satyajit Ray made art movies, what kind of films does Pritish Nandy make?
I try to make movies that I can enjoy making without losing investors' money. At times, I succeed. At times, I fail. But as in any creative profession, failure is seldom abject just as success is rarely and entirely fulfilling. It only pushes you on to do more, try more, and experiment more. The challenge in movie-making lies in being able to make a film that you are proud of and draws in audiences.
We have been lucky with films like Jhankaar Beats, Kaante, Chameli, Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, and Pyar Ke Side Effects. But yes, I am sad when our movies win top awards at international festivals and don't make the cut at the box office here. That's the dilemma of filmmaking. What do you chase? Excellence or money?
Kareena Kapoor, who you cast in a path-breaking role so early in her career, retorted to your Twitter 'joke' on her look in Kambakkht Ishq by asking you not to spend too much time on Twitter.
I tweet because it allows me to interact with people who want to reach out to me, want to share their opinions with me or are curious about mine.
It does not always win me friends, I know, but then, what option do I have? As for Kareena, I think too much was made out of our exchange. All I said was that I was deeply disappointed to see the actor who took Chameli to such extraordinary heights doing an inconsequential role. She was not happy. So she retorted. When you criticise someone, you must be prepared for the backlash. As far as I am concerned, Kareena is an outstanding actor and I still believe she needs to pick better roles than she sometimes does.
If 'Good bye is not always a great exit line,' how would you like to sign off?
Every poet challenges destiny. Few, very few, quit. I have no intention of quitting right now. There are many poems to be written, many battles to be won, many movies to be made, many loves to be requitted. Let that happen first. Then we will think of signing off.
Again
Poems by Pritish Nandy
Published by: Rupa
Rs 995
Available at leading bookstores
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