At Mumbai’s Irrfan Retrospective, watch Piku, The Lunchbox, The Namesake, Maqbool & more

Irrfan in a still from Mira Nair-directed The Namesake (2006), which will be screened as part of Irrfan Retrospective at G5A, Worli, Mumbai, from January 26-28.

There is never an incorrect time to revisit Irrfan’s work. The actor who passed away in 2020 due to neuroendocrine cancer at the age of 53 left behind a legacy of work which showcases not just a range of emotions, but also his ability to breathe life into his characters and go beyond the lines written on paper. Movies such as Haasil (2003), Maqbool (2004), The Namesake (2006), Paan Singh Tomar (2011), The Lunchbox (2013) and Piku (2015) are just a few notable mentions in a career that spanned more than three decades and earned him not just numerous accolades but also created a special place in the hearts of cinephiles.

Although his death left a void which is hard to fill, cinema lovers can take heart in the fact that the actor left behind a memorable body of work through which they can revisit him again and again. Nine of the late actor’s films including The Lunchbox, The Warrior, Paan Singh Tomar, Qissa, Qarib Qarib Single, The Namesake, Piku, Talvar and Maqbool are being screened at the G5A in Mumbai from January 26-28 as part of Irrfan (1967-2020): A Retrospective. Speaking on the occasion, Anuradha Parikh, Founder and Artistic Director of G5A Foundation shares, “Cinema House, a collaboration between BNP Paribas and G5A Foundation prides itself for being the platform for the “invisible voice.” If one has to ask to put a face to that, it would have to be Irrfan. Through his choices in films and characters, he has helped empower not only the filmmakers but his audiences too.”

A still from The Lunchbox.

The selection of the films, she adds, has been curated keeping in mind three parts of his life/career. “In a sense, this experience takes us through his journey. It was a tough choice to break it down to just nine films, but we were fortunate to get his shorts and bestsellers as well,” she says. Nikkhil Advani, G5A advisory council, believes that through these films, the audience will be able to see the fearlessness Irrfan had as an actor. “His choices were from the heart and I feel that is what is missing from cinema today,” he says.

In addition to the screenings, those attending can also be a part of stimulating discussions being held with filmmakers such as Vishal Bhardwaj, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Ritesh Batra, Mira Nair and Anup Singh among others, who have worked closely with the actor and created some of his best films. Taking part in these discussions will also be some Irrfan’s co-actors including Tabu, Naseeruddin Shah, Konkona Sen Sharma and Nawazuddin Siddiqui among many other prominent names. Book readings and an insightful exhibition on the actor are also part of the retrospective. “Most importantly, it is going to be a congregation of people who loved what he stood for and who will come to celebrate his work,” says Ishan Benegal, artistic director at G5A.

Irrfan (1967-2020): A Retrospective at G5A Warehouse, Worli, Mumbai from January 26-28. Tickets available on Paytm Insider