Death of an artist is an overwhelming phenomenon. Because when an artist dies, their legacy flourishes through their  craft. Their soul lingers on the canvas of the most beautiful paintings or in the pages of a ‘pièce de résistance’ that they penned or in a two hour long movie that changed the dynamics of cinema. They entertain us,  captivate us, amuse us, intrigue us and most importantly grace us with some of  the most unprecedented creation of all times. And when that precise moment comes for the sun to dawn upon them, they bequeath those gems unassumingly for the pleasure of future generations. Hence, it wouldn’t be erroneous to assume that artists belong to a rubric that are selfless and therefore exhibit generosity as their virtue.

Irrfan Khan was one of them. Hailing from a small village in Rajasthan, he started his journey as a cricketer even though he was predestined to marvel us on the silver screen. Lack of money and resources propelled him into the  world of theatre and drama. His exalting odyssey which started in the hallowed portals of National School of Drama ended on an abrupt note in the Kokilaben Hospital after he succumbed to his tragic sickness. His untimely and calamitous demise has opened a wound so deep and a void so hollow, that can never be filled.

Khan has an illustrious series of films to his credit but the ones that moulded him and projected him as a versatile actor capable of exhibiting a wide range of emotions were flicks like Haasil, The Namesake, Paan Singh Tomar, The Lunchbox, Madari to name a few. Adding to that repertoire are also some international wonders like Life of Pi, Slumdog Millionaire, The Amazing Spiderman, Jurrasic World etc where he proved his malleablilty by portraying diverse characters.

In Piku, where he played Rana Chaudhary, a beguiling  but patient taxi service owner makes for a stimulating character. As he drives a disgruntled and headstrong Amitabh Bachchan on a road trip to Kolkata, his absurd and frivolous tips to relieve constipation made everyone giggle. Be it that scene where he suggests Bachchan to squat on a commode or the one where he loses his calm and frustratingly  scolds a haughty Bhaskor Bannerjee for being so overweening and stout, one could feel how extensive his acting scale is as he flawlessly put forth complex emotions.

Referring to the spectrum of his genius, long before playing comical roles, Irrfan proved his mettle by undertaking serious and intricate roles. While essaying the role of Paan Singh Tomar, that eventually earned him a national award, Khan worked strenuously with steeplechase coaches, even breaking his ankle at one point during the filming. He also went to great lengths in order to perfect his Bundeli dialect just so to give that extra edge to his character.
His portrayal of an innocent sprinter and then later as a ruthless dacoit fuelled by vendetta is a relevant example of his prodigy

Thought it was Paan Singh Tomar that paved a path of stardom for Irrfan but prior to that, he contributed earnestly to the cause of parallel cinema, that otherwise use to gain less traction among the masses. In ‘Maqbool‘ which  was directed by Vishal Bhardwaj and was based on Shakespearean play Macbeth, Khan was seen as Miyan Maqbool wherein his disposition was laced with menacing, appaling and satirical overtones. He not only did justice to his character but also elevated the overall ethos of the story.

Even those movies that bombed awfully at the Box Office, Irrfan Khan proved to be a valuable asset for them. For a trainwreck  like ‘Sunday‘, it was Irrfan Khan’s impeccable drollery that elicited  hilarity and laughter in the role of a struggling actor who would alwags show up in ridiculous costumes. Had it not been for him, the film would have been a never-ending drag burdened with atrocious jokes and lousy storyline. It was Khan that made the whole ordeal tolerable.

As a teenager, Billu Barber was yet another delightful film that made me acknowledge his virtuosity. At the cost of being overshadowed by a star like Shah Rukh Khan, it was Irrfan Khan who naturally illustrated the character of a naive, simplistic and gullible rural man with dexterity and hence transformed the idle movie-watching experience into an emotional and rousing upheaval.

Prior to his breakthrough in Pan Singh Tomar, Khan accomplished the much deserved stardom and yet by being grounded and modest, he went on to win more and more hearts through powerful performances in movies like D-Day (playing a conflicted RAW agent),  Madari(playing an implacable vigilante) and Hindi Medium(playing an endearing, winsome and doting father/husband who goes to great length for his family). Each one of them accomplished critical and commercial success and amassed Khan a great deal of appreciation

But one particular film that struck a chord with everyone was The Lunchbox. His unforgettable performance as Saajan Fernandes, a cold and lonely government employee leading a dismal and gloomy lifestyle was depicted in a very emotive fashion. For somone as multi-faceted as Irrfan Khan, playing a dull and commonplace individual who expresses no feeling or affection was dealt with competently. And when he breaks the monotony by falling in love with a woman who mistakenly sends him a dabba, it evokes something powerful and benevolent out of his character.

Hence, the thespian had a knack of demonstrating passion irrespective of the kind of role he played. People admired this particular film because he was able to make everyone relate to the inherent loneliness they might have felt at some point of time. And he did this through the device of acting.

His two recent movies that were overtly underrated and count among one of my favourites were ‘Qarib Qarib Single‘ and ‘Blackmail’. His demeanor in Qarib Qarib Single of that of an eccentric poet who dons quirky clothes and comes up with most preposterous ideas was a wholesome treat to experience. And to see him annoy Parvathy’s character out of sheer attraction translated into an excellent romantic tale. Oozing out of him was love and passion in every scene that left an indelible mark on me.

And in Abhinay Deo’s dark comedy ‘Blackmail‘ , Khan was seen as an awkward sociopath who leverages the information of his wife cheating on him as  means to extort some money. The laugh riot doesn’t end there. He takes extreme measures to accomplish what he had set out to  achieve. Even with the shades of a psychopath, Khan still manages to exhibit his vulnerable side without the aid of a single dialogue through vivid expressions. Despite knowing his wife cheats on him, he still yearns for her secretly. Although his character had some similarities with Saajan Fernandes from Lunchbox, the veteran actor was successful in adding a different kind of flavour in it.

There are so many movies and TV shows that weren’t mentioned above and yet Irrfan Khan, with his magnetic presence made them worth watching. His last film ‘Angrezi Medium’ might have met with an unfortunate fate but it is indisputable that he went out with a bang. With a career spanning over three decades,  Khan would be recognised for eternities to come, as his craft would live on and teach and inspire million others. An artist dies, art survives.