So finally watched Into The Wild last evening (I know, I know – it’s crazy how I never watched it all this while even after reading all about it and listening to the soundtrack infinite times) and I will say what has been said many a times about it – it’s effing brilliant!
The movie does things to you – like it kept me awake for most of the night and I am up at 5.30 writing this post. Amongst many other things it got me thinking about Sean Penn – such assured direction from him. This trend of actors turning to direction or vice versa ( and doing a darn good job of it) is rather common and I thought of listing some of my favourite director-actor.
The first name that springs to mind is Guru Dutt, regarded by many as one of the greatest directors ever. Pyaasa which was ranked by Time magazine amongst the Top 100 movies of all time, had him both as the director and the lead actor.
Next up is Raj Kapoor – the legendary showman of Indian cinema. His movies are still favourites and the music of his movies still is extremely popular. Awara is possibly the most beloved of his films in which he both acted as well as directed.
Then there is the residen t -Mr Perfectionist of Bollyland, Aamir Khan. His directorial debut was the wonderful Taare Zameen Par. If that movie is anything to go by then I think Mr Khan should look at directing more projects.
Farhan Akhtar, though part of the list is slightly different. He was a director first and then turned actor. And now that Zindagi Milegi Dobara has sealed his credentials as an actor, I think we will see much more of him on screen.
P.S. – Did you know that Kunaal Roy Kapur aka Nitin of Delhi Belly, also directed the very smart The President Is Coming?
P.P.S. – One director I would LOVE to watch in a movie is Imtiaz Ali (he did play a small role in Black Friday.) He is extremely easy on the eyes and has a certain charm that would translate very well on 70mm. I will sign off with a beautiful song from Imtiaz’s Socha Na Tha (incidentally also Abhay Deol‘s debut film).