Challenging act

by | April 17, 2015, 14:59 IST

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Challenging act

While disorders and “abnormalities” have been taboo subjects in our society, once in a while, a film comes along that tackles such sensitive subjects with utmost clarity and beauty, leaving you to laud the performances of the actors that took on the challenge of portraying a character affected by a disorder. With Kalki Koechlin’s act as Laila from Margarita, With A Straw getting her praise from all over, we pick five performances by actors who took on roles that required them to showcase a disorder and who shone in their acts. Take a look.

 

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Kalki Koechlin – Margarita, With a Straw (2015, India release)

Disorder: Cerebral Palsy

 

In her latest release, Margarita, With a Straw,  Kalki plays the loveable Laila who suffers from a neurological disorder, cerebral palsy. Affected by a disorder that affects muscle control and motor function, Kalki’s character is wheelchair bound and needs support from people around her. But her endearing portrayal of the character, backed by intensive preparation to do Laila justice and adequately depict the disorder, won her awards and accolades at international film festivals.

 

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Priyanka Chopra – Barfi! (2012)

Disorder: Autism

 

While Ranbir Kapoor played the titular role of a man with impaired speech and hearing, Priyanka’s character Jhilmil can’t be forgotten. Playing a young girl affected by autism and shunned by her parents, Priyanka did a commendable job of depicting the disorder. Whether it was the mannerisms, underdeveloped speech, innocent gestures or the tender moments between Jhilmil and Barfi, Priyanka shed her glamourous image and gave her all to the character.

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Shah Rukh Khan – My Name Is Khan (2010)

Disorder: Asperger’s Syndrome

 

The King Khan took on the challenging role of Rizwan Khan, a man with Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism. The expressive actor changed his manner for this role to play a reticent and socially distant man who cannot fully express his emotions and yet goes to any and all lengths to do something for the woman he loves. Though the filmmaker Karan Johar begins the film with the disclaimer that since the film is a fictional depiction, it may not portray Asperger’s with complete accuracy, all appreciated SRK’s sensitive performance.

 

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Amitabh Bachchan – Paa (2009)

Disorder: Progeria

 

With his immense amount of talent and a few prosthetics, the 72-year old Amitabh Bachchan transformed into the 13-year old Auro, a boy affected by the rare genetic condition, Progeria. R. Balki’s film, Paa, shows us a boy affected by a syndrome that prematurely ages him physically. Bringing the childlike innocence with adult maturity, along with the camaraderie he shares with his mother (played by Vidya Balan) and grandmother (played by Arundhati Nag), Mr Bachchan wowed us all with his performance.

 

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Konkana Sen Sharma – 15 Park Avenue (2005)

Disorder: Schizophrenia

 

In one of the first few instances of portraying the mental disorder on screen, the critically acclaimed 15 Park Avenue by Aparna Sen stars Konkana Sen Sharma as Meethi, a woman affected by schizophrenia, whose dormant symptoms are accelerated by her traumatic experiences. From being a thriving journalist to becoming an object of her ex-fiance’s pity, the character of Meethi is shown creating pleasant imaginary worlds while dealing with the unpleasant repercussions of her disorder. Konkona shines in this very detailed performance and won rave reviews all around.