As anticipated, Wizcraft's blue-eyed girl TV artist Rakshanda Khan returned to haunt the closing
ceremony of the 36th International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
Ensconced before the microphone once again to host IFFI's concluding show, she introduced guest
of honour Mithun Chakraborty as: "He is the disco dancer of Indian cinema."
The veteran actor who had an acclaimed film in the Indian Panorama this year, Buddhadeb
Dasgupta's Bengali-language "Kaalpurush", could only smirk in disbelief. Anybody who has so much
as a passing interest in quality Indian films knows that no contemporary Bollywood actor has won as
many National Awards as Mithun.
He has three under his belt - best actor for Mrinal Sen's "Mrigaya" (which, incidentally, was his first
acting assignment) and Dasgupta's "Tahader Katha" as well as best supporting actor for his
performance as Ramakrishna Paramhans in G.V. Iyer's "Swami Vivekananda".
Expecting Rakshanda to be in the know of such insignificant details of an actor's career would be a
bit like expecting Mallika Sherawat to pull off the character of Mother Teresa on screen.
But did Mithun, always proud of his craft, let that oversight pass? He got his own back when he was
called upon to address the gathering.
"I cannot do a disco dance here because of my attire," said Mithun, sporting a bright dhoti-kurta
ensemble.
He then added: "This festival is the best platform that there can be for recording the changes that
have taken place for the better or for the worse in Indian cinema from 'Mrigaya' to 'Kaalpurush'
(witness the stress on two of his finest films)," he said.
It's unlikely that the irony of that subtle riposte would have registered on the hostess of the evening.
For Rakshanda, ignorance is clearly bliss
Tuesday, December 06, 2005 16:20 IST
