Forgotten wave

Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Om Puri, Smita Pati... why are there few biographies on the stars of Hindi parallel cinema? Sunday MiD DAY ASKS star biographers

IN November this year, Om Puri's first ever biography was published, while one on Smita Patil came out two months earlier. From all accounts, there are none planned just yet on their contemporaries from the parallel new wave cinema, Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi.

This, despite the fact, that most made their debut in cinema in the 1970s, nearly 40 years ago. Take the comparison of actors like Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, who already have more than four biographies on them (SRK is even penning his autobiography). Have we forgotten the history and significance of our parallel cinema? "It's as if we've forgotten how they contributed," comments Guru Dutt and Lata Mangeshkar biographer Nasreen Munni Kabir, "As if the work of these actors has slipped out of our consciousness."

Publisher Ajay Mago of Om International Books, that has printed biographies on Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Rajnikant, says that part of the reason is because you don't have to hardsell a megastar's biography. "Om Puri's biography makes sense because he has a more international appeal. It depends on how active the actor is. Our target audience for biographies is the age group between 25-40 years; they have to be able to connect to the actor's work."

Willingness to talk

Biographer Bhawana Somaaya, who has authored nine books, points out that she wouldn't single out just the new wave lot as there are a host of actors whose lives haven't yet been chronicled. Says the author of biographies on Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini, "You can't write the biography until the subject is ready to tell his/her story. In the case of these actors, I feel they may have flirted with the idea, but they have been too busy with their careers to get down to it."

Lalitha Tamhane, author of Smita Patil's biography in Marathi, says that Smita Smit Aani Mee first came out in December 13, 1989, three years after her tragic death. In September this year, Lalitha added new pictures and chapters, updating it for a second edition. The author, who has also done a biography on Nutan, reasons that some actors like "Amitji and Shah Rukh" like to talk about their lives and some don't. "It's a pity because they are a part of history and after they're gone, their cinema is forgotten. I've tried convincing Nanda and Waheeda Rehman, but they're just not willing. Some actors are also afraid of exposing someone else's personal life through their own."

What they brought

Despite the odds, it's evident that the contribution by these excellent actors has been immense and it would be wonderful to assess that.

"They brought new things to acting," states Nasreen, "They were from the more real school of acting, like Dilip Kumar and Balraj Sahni. Naseer, Shabana, Smita and Om were the characters; you believed they were slum-dwellers and they gave great, socially-relevant performances."

A life less ordinary

Those close to Naseer, Shabana, Om and Smita believe that their stories would be fascinating. Director Shyam Benegal, who has worked in almost equal measure with all of them, reveals that Om's is the most fascinating journey. "He had the toughest struggle, a village lad with a difficult childhood and an early bereavement, he had so many disadvantages.

He didn't have the best of looks and had a pockmarked face, yet he made it with will, ability and talent. Smita's life certainly qualifies and Naseer has also had a fantastic, unbelievable journey. Even Shabana's childhood is fascinating because she grew up in a Communist commune." Nasreen also adds that she hopes for an autobiography from Shabana; after all, the actor is a fantastic writer.

Shyam reveals that he has contributed to another biography on Om Puri that is on the anvil and has given anecdotes with each actor in a cinematic biography of his own by author Sangeeta Datta that came out a few years ago.

Bhawana, a close friend of Shabana's, says her multi-dimensional roles contribute to her life. "She's a writer, activist, Parliamentarian and crusader also. Shabana is meant to write her autobiography; whoever attempts to do a biography would have to be very confident as Shabana is demanding, a perfectionist and not an easy subject. Her canvas is so large that I'd be petrified to start. It would also be a dream to do a biography on Naseer, yet it's mission impossible. He's so unpredictable and has an intriguing life."

Too close for comfort

In some biographers' cases, being too close to the subject has also had its disadvantages. Lalitha reveals that even though Nutan and Smita have both passed away, she couldn't betray their trust and reveal secrets they shared with her.

Bhawana confesses that the idea of her doing a biography on Shabana, whom she even styled for films Masoom, Bhavna and Main Azad Hoon, has cropped up several times over the years, mostly as suggestions from publishers. "Yet I feel there must be a little distance.

When you write a biography, you must have an insatiable curiosity and that's difficult with people you know closely. Jaya Bachchan said in my book about her husband, 'If I had not been his wife, I would have been his best friend.' I'd say if I wasn't Shabana's friend, I would have been the best person to write her biography."