Awardee Profiles

She calls herself a “hesitant” actor and filmmaker. Her filmography certainly attests to that claim. There were years in which she did not act in a single film, and others in which she acted in five. She made films only when she felt compelled to tell stories. Today, she is certainly one of the best storytellers in Indian Cinema. Ms. Nandita Das has appeared in films like Fire, 1947 Earth, Bawandar, Kamli, and Before The Rains. Her directorial debut Firaaq, premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and travelled to more than 50 festivals, winning more than 20 awards. Her second film as a director was Manto. Ms. Nandita Das has acted in more than 40 feature films in 10 different languages. Her directorial debut in 2008 was Firaaq that brought her many accolades and appreciation, both in India and abroad.

She was conferred the 'Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters' by the French Government. Nandita was the Chairperson of the Children's Film Society. Manto, her second directorial film, premiered in 2018 at the Cannes Film Festival. Based on the life of 20th Century Indo-Pakistani short story writer Sadat Hasan Manto, the film was screened at Cannes Film Festival in the "Un Certain Regard" section. Her first book, 'Manto & I', chronicles her 6-year long journey of making the film. Her third directorial venture, Zwigato explores the life of a food delivery rider and his family. It is also produced by her company Nandita Das Initiatives, in collaboration with Applause Entertainment. Her passionate sensibilities reflect in her Cinema which holds the mirror to her passion.

In recognition of Ms. Das’s contribution to the film industry in Bharat and in appreciation of her acting/directorial ventures, we, at MIT World Peace University, Pune, feel privileged, today on 3rd February 2023, to confer upon Ms. Nandita Das the Bharat Asmita Jana Jagaran Shreshta Award for best use of acting/direction.