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'This is real appreciation'

Ranvir Nayar in Nantes

It is a very very special moment for me to be honoured by you. Words fail me, but this is a moment that I will cherish all my life," said an emotional Sharmila Tagore in Nantes, on the northwestern coast of France. This was part of her acceptance speech on Friday evening, when she was presented with the Insignes de Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, the highest French award for film artists.

Tagore said the award meant a lot to her because of the several commonalities between France and Bengal. ''We are two cultures with so much in common. We are proud of our languages, have a great sense of aesthetics and we both love fish,'' said Tagore, adding a touch of humour to the function.

Earlier, in her citation for the award, French film director Catherine Berger traced Tagore's meteoric professional rise, starting with her first appearance in Satyajit Ray's Apur Sansar. Berger said the film was so succesful that Tagore featured in several of Ray's later films.

She moved to Bombay in the early sixties, where she debuted in her first Hindi film, Kashmir Ki Kali, opposite Shammi Kapoor. The outstanding success of the film made her a household name; she never looked back from that moment.

Tagore was presented the award by well-known French actress Jeanne Balibar, who recalled seeing Tagore's performances in Ray's films. She said she had been inspired a lot by Tagore. "You were a very distant star, up in the heaven, for me. And you served as a great ideal for me to follow. I have learnt a lot and have been inspired a lot by your acting, which I was exposed to in my early days."

Alongside the award, a retrospective of Tagore's films has been organised at the 21st edition of the Nantes Film Festival of Three Continents. Ten of Tagore's films, comprising both Bengali and Bollywood productions, are being shown there.

Alain Jalladeau, the main organiser of the Nantes Film Festival, told rediff. com that the retrospective of Tagore's films was being held to commend the wide range of her work. "She has had a very interesting career. She has lots of experience in various kinds of films and she has always been ready to learn. In fact, even today, she is willing to learn. She is also a very frank person and very warm. And, of course, her performances have been great."

Moments after receiving the award, Tagore told rediff.com that the entire experience had been very moving and incredible. "The people here are really warm and hospitable. And what is really incredible is their interest. They don't want to see the films because it is the in thing to do or because they have nothing else to do. They see the films because they really want to see them and want to understand the films. So this is real appreciation."

The only dampner on the evening was the absence Tagore's co-star of several Ray films, Saumitra Chatterjee. Both Tagore and Chatterjee had been chosen for the award -- the first Indian film personalities to be so honoured. However, Chatterjee had to cancel his visit due to last minute developments at home.

He was missed at the function. "I am heart-broken," said Catherine Berger, who was primarily responsible for the award being given by the French Ministry of Culture. "I believe he is one of the top actors in the world. We want to pay tribute to Saumitra. Even yesterday, we all felt that he was here with us." Berger says she spent nearly three years preparing for the event and was really disappointed that Chatterjee could not make it.

She added, though, that the award to Tagore was in itself a very significant development. "It is an extremely emotional and unique event in my life. As a director hoping to make more films in India, it has created a link between India and France."

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