Page 60 - 31OCT2018E

INTERVIEW
‘Bihari hinterland

ABDULLAH KHAN
AUTHOR
inspired my work’’ NAWAZUDDIN SIDDIQUI ‘Manto’s persona revolves

ACTOR 44

IN HIS DEBUT novel, Patna Blues, Abdullah Albert Camus said, “Fiction is the lie around virgin truth’
Khan traces the cycle of a civil service through which we tell the truth.” So, the
aspirant, whose life slides in a whirlwind of characters and situations in Patna Blues
crisis. The book also gives a glimpse of what are imaginary but they, of course, reflect
impact early nineties events had on the lives the realities of our times. In other words, THE ACTING verve of Nawazuddin of the monotony, I told him I am not in- his thoughts. Every one of us want to
of people living in the small towns of the I have tried to tell a good story which has Siddiqui seems to have reached a full terested in one scene. I would rather be tell truth but there are certain social
country. In an interview with bedasree das, some messages hidden in it. And, if I am circle after his immaculate portrayal in interested in doing at least two scenes. constraints and fear that one does not
Khan talks about how inspiration behind the able to make even a small positive change his current biopic Manto — based on This continued till 2008. During this express openly. Society does not ac-
central character, his love for poetry how the in our society through my stories then I’d the life of a post-independent India’s time Nandita Das’ Firaq was on the cept truth. People become judgmental
Bihari hinterland has inspired his work. consider myself lucky. legendary narrator, writer, playwright and floor. I got a big role there. The film re- and start casting aspersions. That’s why
author Saadat Hassan Manto. In a tete-a- volved around four odd stories. One of people dread to come out with truth.
EDITED EXCERPTS FROM AN INTERVIEW • Joining the civil services is seen as a tete with manmohan singh naula, Nawaz them was mine. It was the biggest break But those who overcome these social
prestige symbol for many families in pours his heart out on Manto’s persona, I got after a rollercoaster ride. barriers and fearlessly express what
When did the idea of writing ‘Patna Bihar. Do you think a lot of youth give Balasaheb Thackeray and off course his I got a chance to act in Peepli Live in they think is truth becomes Manto in
Blues’ first occur to you? up their passions and succumb to struggle to create a niche for himself and 2010. In 2011, three odd films landed at allegorical sense. ‘Mantoiat’ is what we
I was born in a village called Pandari family pressure? attain starhood in the glamour world. my door — Gangs of Wassepur, Talaash all have but we lack that courage and
near Motihari. In the early 1990s, I dis- conviction. Therefore he
covered George Orwell was also born in What kind of influence does Orwell EDITED EXCERPTS FROM AN INTERVIEW • was Manto, his ‘Mantoiat’
Motihari. And, this Orwell’s connection have in your works? remains matchless.
with my home district drew me towards As I already told you that Orwell’s con-
literature. The idea to write a novel began PATNA BLUES nection with my hometown was the main How a chemistry student becomes How did you prepare
to take shape when I was still in college. BY: ABDULLAH KHAN inspiration for me to become a writer. an actor? yourself to step into his
But, actually, I started writing ‘Patna Blues’ Penguin But, despite being an admirer of George “Yes, I was a science student and character?
in 1997 just after Arundhati Roy won the 296 PP; 499 Orwell’s writings, my works are not influ- graduated in chemistry. After complet- The central part of the
Booker Prize. Initially, it was a romantic enced by him. ing my graduation a thought cropped portrayal of his charac-
drama mostly focussing on Arif’s love life. up in my mind after I watched a play. ter in the movie moves
Now, in its present avatar, Patna Blues is a Which writers/poets have influenced your One of my friends asked me to com- round the truth. It’s basi-
culturally insightful coming-of-age novel work as well your perspective in life? pany him. I watched the play for the cally the assimilation of
with political undertones and is set in the There are some artists who have inspired first time. The chemistry that existed truth in your character.
Bihari hinterland. Yes, it is true that civil services is a general me throughout my life. Phaniswer Nath between the actor and audience had Being honest and truth-
aspiration of the middle-class Biharis. And Renu, Prem Chand, Saadat Hasan Manto, mesmerized me. From that day, I de- ful with oneself was the
Debut novels sometimes tend to be many young men and women ruin their Habib Jalib, Mirza Ghalib, Rohinton Mistry cided to become an actor. Initially, I had very first requirement.
semi-autobiographical. Which aspects lives while pursuing this goal. and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie are just joined an amateur group, left the highly Demand of the charac-
of your life did you touch upon in Patna some of them. paid job of a chemist in Gujarat. I joined ter was to be honest with
Blues? You share your deep interest for Urdu theatre and started doing small roles in and Kahaani. These films got released yourself. Once you are honest with
Patna Blues is a work of fiction and Arif is a poetry with the central character Arif. Are there more projects in the plays. That’s in Baroda. in 2012. Thereafter, I stopped looking yourself, truthful with yourself, your
fictional character. Unlike Arif, I was never How important was the poetic bent to pipeline? If so, please tell us about Someone suggested me to join the back and started moving ahead with presence and your body language au-
interested in the civil services. But, yes, Arif’s story? Or was it just an added them in brief? National School of Drama (NSD) in renewed zeal. tomatically transforms into Manto.
the moral values of Arif are quite similar element to his character? Right now, I am working on a novel titled Delhi. After doing three years course
to those of mine. And, like Arif, I also lived The common interest between two Aslam, Orwell and a Pornstar.It is about in acting at NSD, I stayed there for four Manto’s character is of an Your movies depict truth in its
in police colonies in Patna and Darbhanga. major characters, Arif and Sumitra, is a man called Aslam who was born in the more years in Delhi. I did street plays. outspoken, extrovert and fearless pristine form. Is it still relevant?
Some of the characters like Arif’s mother, Urdu poetry, so it is obvious that they same house in Motihari, India, where Later found these vocation non-paying. individual. He never compromises If truth is gagged, nothing would be
father and grandmother are inspired by will use poetry in their conversations. George Orwell was born. The story is set Therefore, I landed in the glittery world with the odds of life. How do left and the people will be resigned to
my own mother, father and grandmother. Additionally, the use of poetry in my in Motihari, India, and Los Angeles, USA, of glamour — Mumbai. I had thought you correlate yourself with the shudder with the very thought of this.
Precisely speaking, it is 80 per cent fiction novel is not only for ornamental pur - against the backdrop of contemporary that I would get some role in TV soaps. character? But there are still some people who
and 20 per cent autobiographical. poses but they have also been used as a political events. There are plans to write Then, I tried my luck on the big screen. Nowadays, it’s difficult to find char- never desist to speak truth. They open
narrative tool. In this novel, I have sequels to Patna Blues. Simultaneously, I Managed to get little success. After four acter like Manto. I correlate myself a their mouth to protect your rights
Is the book to be seen as a product mostly used my own poems, for both am also working on a fiction project for a painful years of struggle, I could grab a lot with the character. It’s not only me and safeguard your freedom. This will
of pure imagination or an attempt to Arif and Sumitra. I believe that this novel TV channel. little screen presence. but many others too, in one way or the continue.
highlight certain factors influencing couldn’t have been written without using On an unfortunate day, a caller asked other, relate with his sense of humour,
the society at large? Urdu poetry. LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM me whether I would do one scene. Tired arrogance and sensibility, as well as LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM

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60 Abdullah Khan Q&A.indd 2 10/16/2018 12:48:29 PM 61 Manmohan Singh Q&A.indd 3 10/16/2018 12:48:51 PM