Al vida, Om Puri janab. It takes time to grieve. Have known you for years on the screen, never on the roads or at malls. OK. For me, Om saheb you are the wordless, shocked look in Aakrosh, eyes popping out, a film of Govind Nihalani and written by Vijay Tendulkar. Om's silence stills all. Today me am left with your violent eyes. In a chat with Anupam Kher, Naseeruddin Shah admits none could be Om Puri in Ardha Satya; Om responded that none could do Nasee babu in Sparsh of Sai Paranjpye. Nasee babu is more to the point. None understood violence better than Om Puri on the screen; viewers cringed; Om's violence is what we see in India today; and Govind Nihalani is best at anger and frustration shot films. Sadgati, Tamas, Ardha Satya....Om Puri hurts, is into the emotion.... Ray in Sadgati drags out every nuance from Om. Mimicing anger, frustration, violence is perhaps the hardest and Govind Nihalani, alone among Indian directors and Om Puri alone among actors, could do it. Perhaps Om cannot be taught in film institutes. In And Then One Day, a Memoir by Naseeruddin Shah writes: 'Om's blazing salt-of-the-earth intensity finally caught the eyes of many a film maker but it was Govind Nihalani, who first recognized the magnetic simplicity in his screen presence and cast him in Aakrosh as the anguished silent Adivasi, wrongly accused of his wife's murder, Om's definitive film performance.' In the same book, Nasee babu writes of Om acting in a Kabuki play in Hindi, Ibaragi. 'Despite intensely coveting the role, it was difficult not to be thrilled at the level of performance he had achieved. Something told me I could NOT have done what he did.' Om Puri was that. Today, Nasee babu could be the most hurt as they were intense friends. Shyam Benegal, Govind, Sai, Ketan with Om, Nasee babu, Shabana, Smita, Deepti Naval and others created an era in Indian films better than Ray, Mrinal Sen and Ritwik Ghatak. Om in Bollywood and Hollywood commercials did not impress; have not seen many of them and will not. For me the three best actors across eras are: Om Puri, Naseeruddin Shah and Manoj Bajpayee. They can give tips to Hollywood greats and anyway Hollywood is not my measure. Om Puri is me measure.
Friday, January 6, 2017
Al vida, Om
Al vida, Om Puri janab. It takes time to grieve. Have known you for years on the screen, never on the roads or at malls. OK. For me, Om saheb you are the wordless, shocked look in Aakrosh, eyes popping out, a film of Govind Nihalani and written by Vijay Tendulkar. Om's silence stills all. Today me am left with your violent eyes. In a chat with Anupam Kher, Naseeruddin Shah admits none could be Om Puri in Ardha Satya; Om responded that none could do Nasee babu in Sparsh of Sai Paranjpye. Nasee babu is more to the point. None understood violence better than Om Puri on the screen; viewers cringed; Om's violence is what we see in India today; and Govind Nihalani is best at anger and frustration shot films. Sadgati, Tamas, Ardha Satya....Om Puri hurts, is into the emotion.... Ray in Sadgati drags out every nuance from Om. Mimicing anger, frustration, violence is perhaps the hardest and Govind Nihalani, alone among Indian directors and Om Puri alone among actors, could do it. Perhaps Om cannot be taught in film institutes. In And Then One Day, a Memoir by Naseeruddin Shah writes: 'Om's blazing salt-of-the-earth intensity finally caught the eyes of many a film maker but it was Govind Nihalani, who first recognized the magnetic simplicity in his screen presence and cast him in Aakrosh as the anguished silent Adivasi, wrongly accused of his wife's murder, Om's definitive film performance.' In the same book, Nasee babu writes of Om acting in a Kabuki play in Hindi, Ibaragi. 'Despite intensely coveting the role, it was difficult not to be thrilled at the level of performance he had achieved. Something told me I could NOT have done what he did.' Om Puri was that. Today, Nasee babu could be the most hurt as they were intense friends. Shyam Benegal, Govind, Sai, Ketan with Om, Nasee babu, Shabana, Smita, Deepti Naval and others created an era in Indian films better than Ray, Mrinal Sen and Ritwik Ghatak. Om in Bollywood and Hollywood commercials did not impress; have not seen many of them and will not. For me the three best actors across eras are: Om Puri, Naseeruddin Shah and Manoj Bajpayee. They can give tips to Hollywood greats and anyway Hollywood is not my measure. Om Puri is me measure.
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