Actor Anupam Kher on why One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest is a landmark film
The 1975 Milos Forman classic One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, is one of my favourite films. I remember watching it a few years after its release as a final-year student of acting at the National School of Drama in 1978. I went with friends for the 3 p.m. show at the nearby theatre on the day of its release. I was so impressed that the next day I caught up with the morning and evening shows. Being a serious student of acting and a voracious reader of cinematic literature, I was completely floored by Jack Nicholson’s performance in the film. I was 23 at the time and watching such a landmark performance left a lasting impact on me. He is a brilliant actor.

Not only the characterisation but the concept of the film also impressed me. It deals with a criminal who has chosen to spend the rest of his life in a lunatic mental asylum and tries to cheer up the inmates against the wishes of the asylum staff. On a story level, the film was unique as it was refreshing and not something other filmmakers were doing. Also the film was performance-driven, with stellar acting done by Danny De Vito and Louise Fletcher. The film had attention-grabbing power. I cannot claim to have been inspired by the roles but the film did become part of my ‘emotional memory’, and 30 years later, when I did Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara, I recall trying to make a connection with Nicholson’s role, by walking like him.

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