A Conversation with Om Puri

Re: scout, #29

I haven`t seen My Son the Fanatic. But I know what you mean (also see my response to Farangi below).

Re: Farangi, #27

Self-loathing and self-hatred is not a new phenomenon, and certainly not limited to Islamic society: witness the painting at the Brooklyn Museum where the artist painted Virgin Mary and smeared elephant dung all over it, or the painting of Cross with Christ on it in a bucket full of piss. To these people -- ie, Salman Rushdie, Hanif Kureishi, Ayub Khan Din, and those who belong in that worm-group -- the excrement that comes out of the body is far more important than the food they eat. They love to smell it, play with it, and then they hate it and themselves for it.

The above mentioned people write garbage to gain publicity and respect from their unsuspecting Western masters. Since they don`t have an iota of a talent of someone like Vikram Seth, they figured that if they run around naked they are bound to be noticed from those who wear clothes. Now, look at Salman. His `Midnight`s Children`, a halfway decent book compared to `Satanic Verses` did not get him far in terms of publicity. On the other hand, a blasphemous garbage did wonders for him. He`s now a ``celebrity.`` Any low-life worm-of-a-person with no morals seeking publicity on questionable talent would do that. Can you blame him

i think om puri`s character`s in both MSTF and EIE were right on. i guess its based on how much you can relate to the characters. in MSTF, om puri and the writer did a great job of conveying the father-son dynamic of subcontinetal immigrants, and in the second, om puri gave a much more layered performance then one would believe by reading the pakistani posts here. although the father in EIE was abusive, i thought he was a pretty three dimensional character, and not one that you can simply dismiss as a low class thug. based on my own personal experience, i actually think the EIE portrayal was not only accurate but sympathetic. i didn`t leave the theater hating the character. and coincidentally, i saw the movie with a pakistani friend who felt that there wasn`t anything inaccurate about the portrayal either.

since both of these movies were written by pakistanis, i think the attacks posted by some on chowk have more to do with pakistani insecurities then legitimate criticisms of om puri as an actor. would the same criticisms been leveled if EIE was about an Indian muslim family in england? i don`t know.

humsab # 31

``Now if a Pakistani Artiste who is resident and citizen of Pakistan had played a role of an Indian and as per his role had abused Pakistan and its leadership for Kargil and Kashmir, WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HIS PLIGHT?``

if the pakistani played an indian who voiced opinions about pakistan similar to that which is portrayed in bollywood movies -- that pakistan is religiously intolerant and filled with extremists and terrorists -- i honestly don`t think he/she would suffer any plight (in india) b/c, that`s a fair assessment of what the avg. indian thinks of pakistan. in the same manner, it was accurate for the pakistani father in EIE to berate india. its accurate b/c a dislike or even hate of india does seem central to the pakistani identity, does it not? without this, what`s the difference between an indian and a pakistani?

A desi expatriate `supporting prostitution` by nailing a white whore??!!

What an outlandish concept! Shame on Om Puri for accepting a role that depicted a Pakistani in such a bad light! And glory be to all those Pakistani actors who refused the role citing moral repugnance.

And also shame on the following:

Shame on Amjad Khan for accepting that Gabbar Singh role which shamelessly exploited the negative stereotype of a Chambal daacoo! Thank god all those actors from Chambal didn`t accept that role!

Shame on Tinky-Winky for accepting a role that exploits all gay stereotypes by having him prance around in a tutu while twirling a handbag! Thank god all the real gay tubbies rejected that role!

Shame on Bruce Lee for accepting those karate roles... there`s a stereotypical role if ever there was one! Thank god all the real chinamen desisted!

Latif Chappu

P.S: In plain English therefore... no one is rejecting any roles.... those who are perceived to be talented are `asked` to do the roles. The fact that Om Puri gets `asked` to do these roles means that he is regarded to be better than anything that the Pakistani talent pool has to offer. Similarly it is a bad sign that Kingsley & Lee get to play Gandhi & Jinnah and not the local talent.

P.P.S: And please don`t make this into an Indo-Pak thing... I am not suggesting that Indian actors are better than Pakistani, just that Om Puri is the best of the whole lot.

Re: t

``Probably the same treatment as meted out to some Indian cricketers upon returning back to India after a loss to Pakistan a few years back. Some players received life threatening letters and one`s house was set fire or damaged.``

People are stupid!

In the 87 world cup penultimate group match versus Zimbabwe, India chasing 190 achieved the target with 7 wickets and 8 overs to spare. A very comfortable victory by any stretch of the imagination! Only, the people thought that Gavaskar slowed down when he neared his fifty and booed him!

So the next game Gavaskar hit the fastest (his only) hundred in world cup history (75 balls) against New Zealand. The crowd went delirious! All anybody could talk of was how he was the greatest ever.

The game after that (semis against England), Gavaskar gets cleaned bowled by Defreitas for 4. And just like that, the talk was rife with allegations of match-fixing etc. Boos galore!

That`s how they treat their heroes there!

Re: Harish

``since both of these movies were written by pakistanis, i think the attacks posted by some on chowk have more to do with pakistani insecurities then legitimate criticisms of om puri as an actor``

I like the way you kept such a staright face while passing such summary judgement about Pakistani insecurities. For your kind information, Mr Kureishi is not a Pakistani, He is a British national, striped sports jackets, public school, ragging, cricket and all. He can hardly speak Urdu, and talks about India where he migrated from. See the irony!

Asim

Latif Dumbo #36,

It wasn`t the ``nailing a white whore`` that I was referring to. I think you missed a major part of the movie. Watch it again.

``The fact that Om Puri gets `asked` to do these roles means that he is regarded to be better than anything that the Pakistani talent pool has to offer.``

If you looked outside your of your limited world, you`ll discover a world of Pakistani serials with actors of a much higher calibre than most of the new generation Indian movie dorks out there.

True acting shines when it doesn`t have to rely upon half naked girls running around dancing to stolen beats and stolen story lines. I suggest you rent some Pakistani serials and see for yourself.

Yeah Om Puri`s talented, and he`s asked to do (and accepts) token stereotypical desi roles, which to me represents the desi bad habit of chamchagiri towards the West more than expressing talent.

But hey, money talks.

`` I am not suggesting that Indian actors are better than Pakistani, just that Om Puri is the best of the whole lot.``

Well arent` you a bagful of contradictions. You just said in the same post that there is no better actor in the Pakistani pool, and now you`re taking it back?

Funny how all your posts are full of such contradictions. One minute, you`re bashing Pakistanis, the next minute you`re warning the reader not to make the issue into a mudslinging match.

Please refrain from posting ambivalent messages.

Champu #37

Are Chappu Chalao Mahia. Ye Pakistan Se Wapsi Ki Baat Hai.

Champu Re Champu.

Re: scout

You are so full of ..... well, let`s just say you are so painfully predictable. The only dimensions your mind works along are:

- Anyone who doesn`t agree with your twisted definitions of morality is trying to be white

- Any woman who doesn`t prescribe to your dress code is a hootchie

- Any form of entertainment that others enjoy but you don`t is morally wrong

Now if Om Puri had played the part of a half naked Indian girl or even himself(a typical chamcha-of-the-West Indian actor), now THAT would have been an acceptable stereotype...

Alas, the first is beyond his talents and the second is awaiting a financier, I`m guessing. He did get away with playing a stereotypical Urdu teacher sharing the last days in stereotypical penury of a stereotypically debauched Urdu poet in `Muhafiz`, though.

IMO, he is able to carry comedy without resorting to buffoonry. In `Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro`n` I found him and his accent extremely funny, bless him. He has done some interesting roles in a few TV serials,too, `Kakkaji kahin`? and `Raag Durbari`, I remember from a few years ago. The `Bharat Ek Khoj` series, too maybe?

Sadhana

Re: Tahmed321 #25

Here is a description of one of Om Puri`s first films, Aakrosh (note: not to be confused with a newer movie with the same name starring Sunil Shetty). It was truly a touching movie (warning: no songs or dances):

Aakrosh (Cry of the Wounded) colour, 144 minutes, Hindi, 1980

Production: Krishna Movies Enterprises/ Direction and Camera: Govind Nihalani/ Story and Screenplay: Vijay Tendulkar/ Music: Ajit Verman/ Art Direction: C.S. Bhatti/ Editing: Keshav Naidu Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Smita Patil, Om Puri, Arvind Deshpande, Mohan Agashe, Achut Potdar, Nana Palsikar, Bhagyasree Kotnis, Mahesh Elkunchwar

Lahanya Bhiku, an illiterate tribal, is accused of killing his wife. For his defence, the court appoints a young upper-caste lawyer, Bhaskar Kulkarni. This is Kulkarni`s first major independent case, and he is anxious to win it. But Lahanya refuses to cooperate. He refuses to speak. Exasperated and intrigued by Lahanya`s seemingly stupid and stubborn silence, Kulkarni decides to investigate on his own the truth behind the case. He soon discovers that there are hidden complexities that cannot be resolved easily. He is threatened by strangers, but helped by a young leftist social worker who takes him to the tribal village. But here too, Kulkarni meets with obstinate silence, mingled with a long history of fear and distrust. Probing further, Kulkarni learns that Lahanya has been falsely accused. His wife was raped and murdered on a night of obscene revelry by a combine of local officials, politicians and businessmen. They form the power elite beyond the reach of the law. The police protect them, not their victims. Kulkarni`s involvement with the case gradually changes from a professional to a social commitment. It brings him in conflict with his mentor, Dussane, who himself comes from tribal stock but has had the privilege of a middle-class education. Dussane values his hard-earned social and professional status, and though aware of the truth, chooses to keep silent, reacting with mixed feelings to the late night telephone calls that regularly aim at him a stream of invective and threats. But all Kulkarni`s determination cannot save Lahanya. His only supporter, the social worker, disappears suddenly, presumably eliminated by the forces he fought against. At his father`s funeral which the shackled Lananya is allowed to attend, the young tribal breaks his bonds and hacks down his helpless sister. As long as his father was alive, Lahanya`s silence could perhaps protect the family from persecution. Now alone in the world, his young sister too would be an inevitable prey to the same exploitative system. Lahanya breaks his long silence with a last cry of anguishÑhis final protest. Bewildered by the turn of events, Kulkarni attempts to come to terms with his own helplessness in a society where the corrupt are protected and justice is a pawn in the hands of the powerful.

Re: Tahmed321 #25

Here is a description of one of Om Puri`s first films, Aakrosh (note: not to be confused with a newer movie with the same name starring Sunil Shetty). It was truly a touching movie (warning: no songs or dances!):

Aakrosh (Cry of the Wounded) colour, 144 minutes, Hindi, 1980

Production: Krishna Movies Enterprises/ Direction and Camera: Govind Nihalani/ Story and Screenplay: Vijay Tendulkar/ Music: Ajit Verman/ Art Direction: C.S. Bhatti/ Editing: Keshav Naidu Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Smita Patil, Om Puri, Arvind Deshpande, Mohan Agashe, Achut Potdar, Nana Palsikar, Bhagyasree Kotnis, Mahesh Elkunchwar

Lahanya Bhiku, an illiterate tribal, is accused of killing his wife. For his defence, the court appoints a young upper-caste lawyer, Bhaskar Kulkarni. This is Kulkarni`s first major independent case, and he is anxious to win it. But Lahanya refuses to cooperate. He refuses to speak. Exasperated and intrigued by Lahanya`s seemingly stupid and stubborn silence, Kulkarni decides to investigate on his own the truth behind the case. He soon discovers that there are hidden complexities that cannot be resolved easily. He is threatened by strangers, but helped by a young leftist social worker who takes him to the tribal village. But here too, Kulkarni meets with obstinate silence, mingled with a long history of fear and distrust. Probing further, Kulkarni learns that Lahanya has been falsely accused. His wife was raped and murdered on a night of obscene revelry by a combine of local officials, politicians and businessmen. They form the power elite beyond the reach of the law. The police protect them, not their victims. Kulkarni`s involvement with the case gradually changes from a professional to a social commitment. It brings him in conflict with his mentor, Dussane, who himself comes from tribal stock but has had the privilege of a middle-class education. Dussane values his hard-earned social and professional status, and though aware of the truth, chooses to keep silent, reacting with mixed feelings to the late night telephone calls that regularly aim at him a stream of invective and threats. But all Kulkarni`s determination cannot save Lahanya. His only supporter, the social worker, disappears suddenly, presumably eliminated by the forces he fought against. At his father`s funeral which the shackled Lananya is allowed to attend, the young tribal breaks his bonds and hacks down his helpless sister. As long as his father was alive, Lahanya`s silence could perhaps protect the family from persecution. Now alone in the world, his young sister too would be an inevitable prey to the same exploitative system. Lahanya breaks his long silence with a last cry of anguishÑhis final protest. Bewildered by the turn of events, Kulkarni attempts to come to terms with his own helplessness in a society where the corrupt are protected and justice is a pawn in the hands of the powerful.

Rsuxena #41,

I know you have something against me, but is generalizing all my posts really necessary whenever I interact? I don`t really mind, because I can deal with negativity, but it`s getting old.

``- Anyone who doesn`t agree with your twisted definitions of morality is trying to be white``

Obviously you have ignored the posts where I have said positive things about Western culture. And you fail to read the context in which I say things.

``- Any woman who doesn`t prescribe to your dress code is a hootchie``

Where did this come from? When did I say anything about dress code or lack there of in my posts here? ARe you just trying to be derogatory for the sake of being derogatory?

``- Any form of entertainment that others enjoy but you don`t is morally wrong.``

I AM ENTITLED TO MY MORALS, and I will express my opinion about them. I dont` know how your statement fits here though. By the way, what kind of entertainment are you referring to? Drinking and screwing around? If that`s the case, then you have a very limited span of entertainment.

It seems to me that I`ve ruffled quite a few Indians` ``patriotic`` feathers by criticizing a couple of roles (NOT the acting) of an Indian actor.

Paranoia runs deeply East of the border.

Your entertainment artistes are not perfect you know. They are like every other in this world.

There is no harm in admitting imperfections, I know this is hard for many Indians, but try it someday.

Pakistani film and drama?? You`ve got to get your head out of your....

Millions and millions of Pakistanis are pirating Indian movies and songs. Millions and millions of Pakistanis are turning away from Pee-TV to Zee-TV....

Yup, it`s quite clear what type of quality cinema and drama Pakistanis are capable of.

Re: Spout

You said: Well arent` you a bagful of contradictions. You just said in the same post that there is no better actor in the Pakistani pool, and now you`re taking it back?

And I say again, ``There is no better actor than Om puri in the Pakistani talent pool``. Of course this is my subjective analysis. This - by the way - is also the subjective analysis of people who know far more about acting than you and I. And that includes Kureishi.

The fact that you take a statement of mine proposing that Om puri is the best actor in India and Pakistan combined; as `Paki-bashing` does not surprise me at all. It`s very predictable!

And don`t make presuppositions about how `limited` my world is. I have seen plenty of Pakistani TV serials in my time. And no... I haven`t seen anybody better in those than Om Puri.

Now... in order to better understand how stupid you sound, consider the following scenario:

Say a few years ago a Pakistani interactor makes the following statement:

``Jansher Khan is the best squash player in the sub-continent. I am not suggesting that Pakistanis are athletically superior to Indians.... just that Jansher`s the best squash player of the lot.``

Well, if an Indian interactor responds by accusing the Pakistani interactor of `being a bagful of contradictions` and a `India-basher`; he would sound really stupid, right?

Well, that`s how stupid you sound!

Latif `Not as dumbo as you` Chappu.

P.S: Interestingly enough, from a position of total dominance barely a decade ago; Pakistani squash has declined so much that the only Paki in the top 20 is Amjad Khan at no. 13. But oops! I guess I just indulged in some `Paki-bashing`! Maybe I should add one more bit of trivia. NO INDIAN HAS EVER BEEN IN THE TOP 20! There.... after counter-balancing my Pakistani bashing with Indian bashing of equal of greater measure, I have now qualified myself to be considered `objective & unbiased`. Pathetic!