Words can’t describe what I’m going through right now, while remembering irrfan khan.
I never thought that I’d mourn for an actor. But yes, Irrfan is more than just an actor and I’m consciously using present tense because I believe that he is still with us and will continue to do so till the end of the world.
He lives inside us through his works, through his numerous nuanced and impeccable performances that he delivered over the course of 33 years.
Even though it’s quite difficult for someone like me to articulate his performances in words, I’ll be sharing my favourite performances by the legendary actor so that we can all commemorate the wonderful career of Irrfan.
These are, of course, in no particular order.
1. Piku (2015)
Irrfan plays the architect turned Taxi service owner, Rana, who drives Piku and Bhashkor to Kolkata. This offbeat comedy by Shoojit Sircar is driven by superb writing, great score, and wonderful performances. It is Irrfan who steals the show with his witty performance. His character goes perfectly with that of Bhashkor, even though they seem to be at loggerheads with each other most of the time.
2. Madaari (2016)
Nirmal kidnaps the home minister’s son Rohan and demands that the police go looking for his missing son so as to get Rohan back. Irrfan’s awe-inspiring performance of a tormented father who seeks vengeance is definitely one of his best. This will bring tears to your eyes.
3. Talvar (2015)
This whodunit is based on a true story wherein the parents of the dead girl become the prime suspect as a result of mayhem created by the local police. Since it happens to be a high-profile murder case, it gets transferred to CBI, and Ashwin Kumar, their best officer is asked to take up the case. Irrfan, who plays Ashwin lights up every frame he features in. His dark humour and intelligence is the highlight of the character.
4. Paan Singh Tomar (2012)
Paan Singh, an army man joins sports mainly due to his demanding appetite. Soon, he becomes the National champion in athletics but things take a sharp turn when his family is attacked and police don’t take any action forcing him to become a dacoit. He won a National Award for his portrayal of the sportsman turned dacoit in a film that is also inspired by the real-life events of Paan Singh Tomar.
5. Lunchbox
This movie is a simple yet beautiful take on the relationship of Sajan and Ila that starts with a lunchbox and soon results in a good friendship, something that changes both of their lives. The acting prowess showcased by Irrfan in this film speaks volumes of his talent. There’s a scene wherein Shaikh (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) invites Saajan to his wedding. The happy-go-lucky Shaikh who has no guardian feels hesitant to ask Saajan for his blessings. Shaikh tries avoiding Saajan’s eyes and looks constantly at his dessert and this camaraderie between the two makes for one of the best scenes in the history of Bollywood.
6. Maqbool
In this Hindi adaptation of Macbeth by Vishal Bhardwaj, Irrfan plays the role of Miyan Maqbool who is stuck between his lover and the loyalty of his mentor, Abbaji. In a film that stars stalwarts like Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapoor, Om Puri, Piyush Mishra, and Tabu, Irrfan comes out as the brightest star. A young talented actor in the midst of such amazing artists could’ve faltered but there was something special about the tremendously talented and hardworking Irrfan Khan that made him stand out. Here’s the full review of Maqbool.
7. Haasil (2003)
Directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia, this tale of dirty politics and its impact on innocents is one of Irrfan’s first films. His portrayal of Ranvijay Singh, who seems kind but is outright scary at times, is one of the best performances of his career. The film which went on to become a cult classic paved the way for Irrfan in Bollywood.
Honorable mentions: As Shaukat in Karwaan, as Raj Batra in Hindi Medium, as Pi Patel in Life of Pi and Wali Khan in D-Day.
Abhishek
