We started off our recent Queen of Katwe Press Day with possibly one of the most remarkable and passionate people behind the film – Award-winning filmmaker and activist, Mira Nair.
Photo Credit: Carol Jones, AllMommyWants.com
Mira Nair’s debut feature film, “Salaam Bombay!,” received more than 25 international awards including an Academy Award® nomination for Best Foreign Language Film and the Caméra d’Or at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival. I first discovered Nair through her second film, “Mississippi Masala” that starred Denzel Washington and Sarita Choudhury, which also scored several awards and nominations.
Her extensive and diverse list of films also include “Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love” (1996), “Hysterical Blindness” (2002), “Vanity Fair” (2004), and the Amelia Earhart biopic “Amelia” (2009).
As we sat with Nair to discuss her work in Disney’s Queen of Katwe, we also discovered some remarkable and interesting facts about her process in bringing this film to life, as well has her hopes and plans for her beloved country of Uganda. Here are some of the facts she shared with us:
Mira Nair and her ties to Uganda, Phiona Mutesi, and the game of chess:
1. Nair has lived in Kapala, Uganda since filming Mississippi Masala circa 1991.
2. Phiona lived only 15 minutes away from Nair in Kapala, though she only learned about her story when Queen of Katwe Producer Tendo Nagenda visited and shared the project with her.
3. Nair later learned that she lived just above the home Phiona’s family was evicted from after the passing of her father.
4. Nair does not play chess, but her son was once a competitive chess player.
5. Phiona taught Nair to play chess just 3 months before filming Queen of Katwe. Even then, Nair was more focused on bringing Phiona’s character to life than mastering the game.
6. Nair’s choice to cast the role of Phiona in the film came after hundreds of auditions. Madina Nalwanga was ultimately discovered through a dance video and cast because of her uncanny life resemblances to Phiona.
7. Nair says her biggest challenge in filming Queen of Katwe was finding a way to show a chess game on screen that would be visually exciting, dramatic and emotional for viewers.
(PS – She did a great job achieving this! Here’s one of my favorite scenes in the movie where one of the seasoned chess players gets “beaten by a girl!“)
Mira Nair and her commitment to a better Uganda
8. Mira Nair is a long-time activist: Nair set up a filmmakers’ laboratory, Maisha Film Lab in Kampala, Uganda, which has trained over 700 young East African filmmakers in the belief that “If we don’t tell our stories, no one else will.”
9. One of the most important elements to Nair in regards to casting was that the kids in the film came from Katwe.
10. Likewise, Nair insisted that the clothing from the actual markets in Katwe.
11. Under Nair’s direction, Queen of Katwe was run on a green set to ensure preservation of the areas being filmed.
12. Prior to and during filming, Nair worked with the community on what was called “The Legacy Project,” to determine what the community needed (i.e. public toilets).
13. With the help of Disney, Nair is working to secure an education fund to school the children of Katwe, a permanent chess academy, as well as an additional phase to her film school which will include a visual library.
More interesting facts about Mira Nair
14. Nair is an excellent Gardener. In fact, Nair shared with us the story of how she offered to plant in Phiona’s mother, Harriet’s, garden. Harriet responded by telling her, “Because I have seen your garden, I will let you plant mine.” To date, Harriet sends her a photo every time a new plant blooms.
15. Nair’s son is ½ of the rap group that performs one of the movie’s main songs from the soundtrack – #1 Spice (Click here to view on YouTube)!: We were all so excited to learn this and even got a chance to take some pics with Young Cardamom.
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That is so cool! I can’t wait to watch this movie.
Such interesting facts about the actors. I just love how they have similar facts.
So interesting!
I really want to see this movie.
My daughter just saw previews for this movie and wants to see it. I love that Disney is coming out with more movies like this.
I loved all these tidbits about her. What an incredible lady and her ties to the film are touching!
What an inspirational women! Cannot wait to watch this movie!
I can’t believe that they went through hundreds of auditions for one part. The movie must be worthwhile.
It’s amazing that even the people behind this movie are amazing. Can’t wait to see this
She sounds like an incredible woman. Not only did she cast people from katwe but she also helped them with improving their standard of living.
That’s awesome that you were able to meet Nair. She seems so genuine. I love when people share a little about themselves.
I’ve heard good things about this movie. Thanks for sharing.
I learned something new! She seems like an amazing woman!
I really liked these facts! I want to see the movie!
I have heard so much about this. It has so many theme and it seems like something really uniique. I look forward to watching it 🙂
I have read alot about this move. I am looking forward to seeing it soon!
I can’t wait to see this movie. The director seems like an amazing woman.