Films should bring social change apart from entertaining: Shabana

Hyderabad, Jan 13: Noted actor and social activist Shabana Azmi today said films should not only provide entertainment, but also try to usher in social change.

The actor, who was here to receive Akkineni Nageswara award in honour of her service to Indian cinema, said by acting in films an actor attains popularity. But he must use this to render social service.

Referring to Aamir Khan's statement about 'Narmada Bachavo Andolan,' she said ''all Ameer Khan said was the displaced persons should get proper compensation. Several lies were created around it and a big controversy was kicked up out of his statement''. Such distortions were common, one should not go back on his commitment, she added.

On her recent classic 'Morning Raga,' directed by K Raghavendra Rao, she said initially she was very apprehensive about accepting the role of a carnatic singer as she had no understanding of that music. ''Several times I wanted to run away. However, after deep thought I decided to act the role as the film had a social message apart from wonderful music, a fusion of the western and carnatic classical. ''I learnt carnatic music rigorously to the extent necessary for me to do justice to the character'', she added.

She said she was thrilled when Sitar Maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar complimented her acting in the film.

Asked how she divides her time between politics and acting and social service, besides being a goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations, Shabana said one has to create time. ''My husband (Javed Akhtar) says I will get relaxation by taking on more work, she said. She has acted in 140 films, with five of them bringing her the National Best Actress Award apart from numurous other national and international awards.

Shabana, however, denied she was a politician. ''I am a Parliamentarian, not a politician. There is a lot of difference between the two.

When asked how she felt when one of the doyens of the Indian film industry Akkineni Nageswara Rao chose her for the award which he had instituted, she said she was delighted. ''More so because it came from our family and fraternity. It has enhanced my responsibility,'' Shabana added.

She said she loved visiting Hyderabad as she was born here and her first film by Shyam Benagal, who was also a Hyderabadi, was also made here. ''Hyderabad brings me fond memories,'' she said.

Asked if she had seen the classics of Akkineni Nageswara like 'Devadas,' 'Vipranarayana' and 'Batasari,' Shabana said she had seen ''Devadas,'' as well as several other films of the actor. ''But don't ask me the names. I don't remember them''.

Akkineni Amala wife of actor Nagarjuna, Venkat Akkinen, the elder son of Nageswara Rao and a producer and Nageswara Rao himself were present at the press conference.

UNI