Poet, editor, TV show host, film producer, Rajya Sabha member, animal rights activist – Pritish Nandy, a gifted man of many parts and surprises, passed away in Mumbai on Wednesday. He was 73.
Born in Bihar’s Bhagalpur town, Nandy was the brother of renowned academic Ashis Nandy. He was a prolific poet, writing with the passion and intensity of Latin American versifiers in his youth.
Nandy often wrote with empathy for the young Naxalites who were killed for the cause they believed in, including in a poem titled, ‘Calcutta if you must exile me.’
Eventually, it was Nandy who exiled himself. Shifting to what was then called Bombay, he found a new calling at The Times of India. He edited The Illustrated Weekly of India and oversaw Filmfare and Femina.
Pritish Nandy foresaw the future, and was always full of surprises
During Pritish Nandy’s tenure as editor, The Illustrated Weekly came up with several exclusives. Among his famous reports was an interview of Frank Camper, a mercenary who ran a training camp for his tribe in the jungles of Alabama. Nandy’s interview with singer Kishore Kumar provided an insight into the mind of the musical genius. As an editor, he also had a fondness for special issues related to quiz, sports and cinema — all collector’s items.
Moving on to the world of motion pictures and television seemed to be a natural step. He hosted the Pritish Nandy show on DD. When he set up his own media company in the early 1990s, he named it Pritish Nandy Communications.
In the 1990s, Bollywood was still doing film business the traditional way. But Nandy foresaw the future. He was among the pioneers in the corporatisation of Bollywood. Among his noteworthy films are the big budget, multi-starrer thriller, Kaante, and director Sudhir Mishra’s masterpiece, Hazaaron Khwahishen Aisi. Other films such as Bollywood Calling, Jhankar Beats, Chameli, Pyaar Ke Side Effects were entertaining yet different from humdrum Bollywood. They typified the new polished Bollywood, still trying to find its way in the new millennium.
Considering his affinity for Leftist movements in the past, many were surprised when he was nominated to Rajya Sabha by Shiv Sena. Nandy was the first MP from the city to use his local area development fund (MPLAD) for the heritage precinct at Kala Ghoda.
But Nandy was always full of surprises. He played a key role in setting up NGO People for Animals with Maneka Gandhi. He saw the potential of the internet before most, playing a key role in setting up one of India’s first cyber cafes. And he was a popular columnist.
His death was mourned by many ranging from actor Sanjay Dutt to writer Ashwin Sanghi to academic Amitabh Matttoo. Actor-politician Anupam Kher wrote on X, “Deeply deeply saddened and shocked to know about the demise of one of my dearest and closest friends #PritishNandy! Amazing poet, writer, filmmaker and a brave and unique editor/journalist!” Kher also posted how Nandy had anchored him during his day of struggle.
