DU Literature Festival Kicks Off with Star-Studded Sessions
Even as vibrant book stalls lined the University Stadium at North Campus last week, students thronged the hall in massive numbers, cheering and waving enthusiastically at Piyush Mishra and Pankaj Tripathi. The overwhelming turnout on two separate days at the inaugural Delhi University Literature Festival created a lively atmosphere, with security personnel struggling to manage the excited crowds.
Piyush Mishra's Heartfelt Bond with Delhi
Sharing fond memories of his college days and engaging the audience with his trademark humor, National School of Drama alumnus Piyush Mishra emerged as a major highlight on the festival's opening day. In conversation with Anoop Lather during a session titled after his iconic song Ek Bagal Mein Chaand Hoga, Mishra spoke candidly about his challenging years as a struggling actor and his deep emotional connection with Delhi.
"Dilli se mera rishta kuch aur hai. Dilli meri mehbooba hai, aur Mumbai se meri shaadi ho gayi hai. Jab bhi mauka lagta hai Dilli zaroor aata hoon," Mishra declared poetically, expressing his enduring affection for the capital city where he spent two decades in theater before moving to Mumbai for film opportunities.
Mishra's Candid Take on Generation Z
The multi-talented artist shared his admiration for today's youth while offering some gentle criticism. "Main Gen Z se bahut pyaar karta hoon. Gen Z se koi parhez nahi hai. Bade achche log ho tum, bas thodi jaldbaazi kar jaate ho woh alag baat hai," he remarked with his characteristic tongue-in-cheek humor.
Mishra elaborated further with a nostalgic observation: "Hamare zamane mein mohalle mein ek phenomenon hua karta tha – pita hua aashiq. Woh tumhari generation ne gayab kar diya. Romance ka ek ajeeb-o-gareeb tareeka nikaal liya hai. Tumhare breakups hote hain, dil nahi toot'te. Tum logon ne lutf khatam kar diya hai. Prem ke bina zindagi kuch bhi nahi hai."
NSD's Lasting Impact and Support for Artists
Reflecting on his formative years, Mishra emphasized the profound influence of his alma mater. "NSD ne mujhe sab kuch diya hai," he stated gratefully. The actor revealed that his Mumbai home remains open to struggling artists, explaining: "Jo log struggle karte huye akela mehsoos karte hain, unke liye ek parivaar hai Mumbai mein. Mujhe koi parivaar nahi mila apne time mein, lekin main woh sahara banna chahta hun. Jo bhi Mumbai aata hai, mere ghar mein you're most welcome."
Pankaj Tripathi's Witty Engagement on Day Two
Amid enthusiastic chants of "Pankaj bhaiya" and "Kaleen bhaiya" referencing his popular character from Mirzapur, Day Two witnessed a completely packed stadium eagerly awaiting Pankaj Tripathi's arrival. Though he arrived slightly late, the actor more than compensated with his sharp wit and engaging presence.
Humorous Anecdotes and Student Interactions
In conversation with theater director Santanu Bose during a session titled Nautanki, Tripathi shared humorous anecdotes that kept students thoroughly entertained. When students shouted references to his Mirzapur character, he laughed and responded: "Arre usse bhi achche achche kaam kiye hain!"
The actor identified characters from Masaan, Newton, Criminal Justice and Gunjan Saxena as his personal favorites, noting that these roles particularly reflect aspects of his own personality and artistic sensibility.
Addressing DU Students with Warmth
Speaking directly to the Delhi University audience, Tripathi revealed a personal dream: "Bhool toh nahi gaye hamein? Mera khud ka sapna tha ki DU mein admission mil jaaye par mere number achhe nahi thay. Toh NSD mein mil gaya. Main bhagyshali hoon ki saahitya utsav mein nimantran mila hai. Koshish karenge ki kuch prerna de aapko. Aapki umar aisi hai ki prem aur prerna ki badi zarurat hoti hai."
Students interacted energetically from the balcony of the hall, some even leaning over railings to capture photographs or wave at the beloved actor.
Inspiring Journey from Bihar to Bollywood
Tripathi's remarkable journey from Bihar to Delhi and eventually Mumbai has inspired countless aspiring artists. He shared a poignant perspective: "Mujhe chinta hamesha uski hoti hai jo line mein peeche hota hai. Jo aage baithe hain woh privileged hain, jo peeche baithe hain unhe uthana hai aur mainstream mein laana hai. Jaise ki hum kataar mein bahut peeche thay."
When questioned about his upcoming projects, students from the crowd began answering on his behalf, prompting the actor to quip humorously: "Inn logon ko yaad hai, mujhe toh yaad bhi nahi. Lekin yeh batao, imtehan kab hai tumhara?"
Philosophical Insights and Role Models
Pankaj Tripathi named late actors Om Puri and Irrfan Khan, along with contemporary actor Manoj Bajpayee, as his primary inspirations. He elaborated: "Manoj bhaiya ki journey se inspire huye ki nadi ke uss paar ka ladka abhineta ban sakta hai toh iss paar ka bhi ban sakta hai. Hamari nadi ke uss paar tak koi pul nahi tha. Toh usme insaan ya toh complain karta hai ki suvidhaaye nahi hain ya phir tairna seekh jaata hai."
He offered philosophical advice to students: "Jab bhi life mein conflict aaye toh samjhna ki woh situation kuch sikhane aaya hai, ek behtar insan banane aaya hai."
Embracing Gen Z and Complex Characters
Tripathi delighted the audience by incorporating popular Gen Z slang "delulu" into his responses. When asked to share a message for the younger generation, he modestly stated: "Koi sandesh nahi hai, aap log bahut aage hain."
Discussing his approach to portraying negative roles, the actor revealed his nuanced perspective: "Koi sirf acha hai ya sirf bura hai, aisa nahi hai. Main duniya ko waise nahi dekh paata hoon. Mujhe har bure vyakti mein kuch achhai dikh jaati hai. Bahut human cheez hai. Main bure kirdaaron ko bhi uss tareeke se dekhta hoon."
The inaugural Delhi University Literature Festival successfully blended literary appreciation with celebrity interactions, creating memorable experiences for students while highlighting the enduring connection between established artists and academic institutions.
