Latest revision as of 21:10, 4 March 2017

[edit] A profile

The Hindu, January 7, 2016

A rare picture of actor Om Prakesh Puri during his student days. Photo courtesy- Film and Television Institute of India, Pune: The Hindu, January 7, 2016

Namrata Joshi

Puri was born in Ambala, Haryana in 1950.

The performance that made viewers take note of Puri and implanted him in their consciousness was the one in which he barely spoke save that last, haunting scream of anguish..

Face of the marginalised

Those were the days of the zenith of Indian parallel cinema and Puri rode splendidly on the wave alongside virtuoso talents like Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil, among others, and supported by directors like Shyam Benegal, Govind Nihalani, Ketan Mehta, Kundan Shah and Sudhir Mishra.

“He was like water, taking the shape of every vessel he was put in. He soaked in the generosity and creative influences in his life,” remembers a friend. Some of Puri’s most significant performances in this time were all about the deprived and the disadvantaged.

[edit] Contributions to the cinema

The Times of India, Jan 7, 2017

Om Puri, contributions to the cinema; The Times of India, Jan 7, 2017

The Hindu, January 7, 2016

Staggering diversity in roles

With Naseeruddin Shah, Smita Patil and Shabana Azmi, Om Puri was part of the Fab Four considered the pin-ups of parallel cinema in the 1970s and '80s. His pockmarked face and lean frame challenged and redefined the idea of a male lead. His early award-winning performances in Shyam Benegal's Arohan and Govind Nihalani's Aakrosh were marked by a hitherto-unseen intensity that had the critics in swoon and the audience in awe.

Several stellar acts also came on the small screen, notably Satyajit Ray's TV film Sadgati, Nihalani's Tamas and Benegal's seminal Bharat Ek Khoj, where he notably played the 13th century Delhi Sultanat ruler Alauddin Khilji and 16th century Vijayanagar King Krishna Deva Raya II. Basu Chatterji's biting political satire Kakkaji Kahin underlined his flair for the funny , first unveiled in the classic feature, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron.

Over the years, Om Puri not only made a seamless transition to mainstream Bollywood (Ghayal, Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha, China Gate, Mrityudand, Chachi 420) but also became one of the most recognizable Asian actors in British cinema (My Son the Fanatic, East is East) and Hollywood (City of Joy with Patrick Swayze, Wolf with Jack Nicholson, to name just two). That he had a 2014 box-office smash, The Hundred-Foot Journey , with Oscar-winner Helen Mirren, is a tribute to his durability and the space he had carved out for himself.

Swayze, co-actor for the much-talked but little-watched City of Joy , once said that Om Puri at least deserved an Oscar nomination for his performance as the rickshaw-puller Hazari Pal. “As an actor he has such diversity and depth. You look into his eyes and you read volumes,“ wrote the Hollywood star in the foreward of Unlikely Hero, a candid biography penned by Nandita, a former journalist.

Not all roles in Hollywood were as substantial; The Ghost and the Darkness and Charlie Wilson's War (where he played Pakistani President Zia-ul-Haq) being two apt examples. But his ouvre abroad only serves to underline the actor's long journey from an impoverished family in hinterland Punjab to one of India's most feted actors ever.

The biography reveals how at the age of seven, Om Puri washed cups and glasses at a tea shop while his father was in prison, how he gathered coal that fell from passing trains for fuel at home and how he took tuitions to support himself after being thrown out of home.

As a child, Om Puri wanted to be a soldier but was gradually drawn towards acting. Impressed by his performance in a Punjabi play , Anhonee, in college, the respected Harpal Tiwana invited him to join his influential theatre group, Punjab Kala Manch, where he took his first serious steps in learning the craft. He was paid Rs 150 per month; part of his job involved fetching eggs and babysitting.

It was a struggle, both social and financial: From overco ming his complexes for not being good at speaking the English language at National School of Drama to gathering funds to sustain himself at Film and Television Institute of India.

But after Nihalani's Aakrosh (1980) and Ardha Satya (1983), arguably the biggest success in the history of alternative cinema, hit the theatres, his hard times were over.

For Om Puri, the real challenge probably lay in finding avenues of creative satisfaction as New Cinema slowly ebbed away . This led him to act in dozens of indifferent movies, ma king many of his fans wonder why the actor of Mirch Masala, Dharavi, Gandhi, Bhavni Bhavai and Bajrangi Bhaijaan, was also working in Bin Bulaye Baraati. Perhaps the scars of the impoverished past remained with him. Perhaps he just loved work. To the actor's credit, he often managed to rise above the script's mediocrity .

Ironically, the performance that made viewers take note of Puri and implanted him in the viewers’ consciousness most strongly and everlastingly was the one in which he barely spoke save that last, haunting scream of anguish. His vacant eyes, gritty face and sheer intensity of presence told the tale of extreme oppression of the underprivileged, victimised tribal person Lahanya Bhiku, the role he became one with in Nihalani’s Aakrosh (1980).

Perhaps Puri’s own struggles in childhood and youth in Punjab brought them alive with a rare verity. Take for instance, the control and dignity with which he essayed the trauma of an untouchable shoemaker in Satyajit Ray’s TV film Sadgati (1981). Or the desperation of the poor land tiller in Shyam Bengal’s Arohan (1982).

When the parallel cinema movement ebbed, he was able to switch effortlessly to the mainstream as well. One the earliest memorable roles was that of the cop in Rajkumar Santoshi’s Ghayal (1990) and then again in Rajiv Rai’s Gupt (1997).

Just as much as the intensity he got identified with, Puri’s perfect comic timing made him win as many hearts. Most prominently as the corrupt, inebriated builder Ahuja in Kundan Shah’s Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983), especially in the one long scene with the dead body of Commissioner D’Mello (Satish Shah). Assuming D’Mello’s coffin to be a broken down car he tows him away to his farm house, a moment that makes one double up in laughter till date. He was as incredibly funny as womaniser Banwari Lal in Kamal Haasan’s Chachi 420 (1997) too.

The strength of good actors lies not just in bringing author backed roles to life but in how they make their presence felt even in smaller roles and cameos. One of my favourite Puri performances is in Sai Paranjape’s Sparsh (1980). As the blind man Dubey, never once does he turn the disability into a caricature, as Bollywood is prone to, but lives his visual impairment, physically with all the inner turmoil and anxieties.

Then he towered in the climactic moments of Ketan Mehta’s Mirch Masala (1987), as Abu Mian the guard of the spice of the factory, who gives refuge to Sonbai and is the only man standing with the women against the arrogant subedar and the submissive village. He was the powerful Sanatan in Maachis (1996) the pivot on which rested Gulzar’s problematising of the insurgency in Punjab, on how innocent youth were forced to turn “terrorists” at the altar of the “system”.

Overseas triumphs

Puri was instrumental in being the ambassador of realistic Indian cinema abroad and ended up being part of a number of reputable and also some smaller foreign films, starting with a small role in Richard Attenborough’s epic Gandhi (1982). In Roland Joffe’s City of Joy (1992), he is the unlikely poor migrant pal of Patrick Swayze’s Max.

In Ismail Merchant’s In Custody (1993), he is the Hindi professor who loves Urdu poetry. He acted alongside Jack Nicholson in Mike Nichols’ Wolf (1994). Two smaller but significant turns were in Udayan Prasad’s My Son, The Fanatic (1994) where he is the liberal father of a hardliner son, and Damien O’Donnell’s East Is East (1999), where he is the conservative Pakistani father unable to deal with the generation gap and cultural rift with his half-British kids.

Last, but not the least, Puri was at the head of the quality content on television, in the glory days of Doordarshan, be it the sprawling Partition epic Tamas, Bharat Ek Khoj, Yatra, or the betel-chewing netaji in Kakkaji Kahin.

Somewhere in the midst of it all these media, the original platform — theatre — took a backseat. The last a friend remembers seeing him on stage was in a Punjabi adaptation of the play Tumhari Amrita, called Teri Amrita with Divya Dutta.

Friends remember him as a caring person and a dogged nurturer to his son Ishaan who has a visual impairment. Last few years, though, had not been great. The explicit revelations in the book, Unlikely Hero: The Story of Om Puri, by his second wife Nandita Puri broke him and the marriage as well. There was also a concomitant, unfortunate personal dissolution.

His only consequential presence of late was as the blacksmith sutradhar (narrator) in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Mirzya last year. And the last straw, perhaps, was how he was humiliated publicly for his contrarian views on the Indian armed forces on television.

Om Puri dabbled in politics, occasionally putting his foot in the mouth. In 2011, he described MPs as “anpadh (illiterate)“ and “ganwar (rustic)“ during Anna Hazare's hunger strike at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan drawing howls of protest. He apologized later. The actor also engaged in a slanging match with a television news anchor over soldiers killed in terror attacks.

[edit] Filmography

[edit] As an actor

1975 Chor Chor Chhupja

1975 Kalla Kalla Bachitko

1976 Amrita (Short)

1976 An Elusive Dream (Short)

1976 Duniya Chalti Hai (Short)

1976 Ghashiram Kotwal

1976 Khukhari (Short)

1976 Lokayat (Short)

1976 Navjatak (Short)

1977 Bhumika

1977 Godhuli

1977 Smothered Voices

1978 Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastaan

1978 Bhookh

1979 Saanch Ko Aanch Nahin

1979 Shaayad

1980 Aakrosh

1980 Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Ata Hai

1980 Bhavni Bhavai

1980 Chann Pardesee

1980 Sparsh

1981 Hari Hondal Bargadar : Share Cropper

1981 Kalyug

1981 Sadgati (TV film)

1981 Shodh

1982 Disco Dancer

1982 Gandhi

1982 Vijeta

1982 Waqt-Waqt Ki Baat

1983 Ardh Satya

1983 Arohan

1983 Ashray

1983 Bekaraar

1983 Chokh

1983 Gumnaam Hai Koi

1983 Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro

1983 Mandi

1984 Duniya

1984 Giddh: The Vulture

1984 Maati Maangey Khoon

1984 Paar

1984 Party

1984 Raavan

1984 Ram Ki Ganga

1984 Seepeeyan

1984 Sheeshay Ka Ghar

1984 Shrant

1984 Tarang

1984 The Jewel in the Crown (TV Mini-Series)

1985 Aghaat

1985 Bahu Ki Awaaz

1985 Debshishu

1985 Holi

1985 Khandaan (TV Series)

1985 Nasoor

1985 Paththar

1985 Sanjhi

1985 Zamana

1986 Antaheen

1986 Genesis

1986 Katha Sagar (TV Series)

1986 Long Da Lishkara

1986 New Delhi Times

1986 Raag Darbari (TV Series)

1986 Shahadat (Video)

1986 Tamas (TV Mini-Series)

1986 Yatra (TV Series)

1987 Goraa

1987 Marte Dam Tak

1987 Mirch Masala

1987 Susman

1988 Achanak

1988 Bharat Ek Khoj (TV Series)

1988 Dharam Yuddh (TV Series)

1988 Ek Hi Maqsad

1988 Hum Farishte Nahin

1988 Kakaji Kahin (TV Series)

1988 Puravrutham

1989 Darshana

1989 Ilaaka

1989 Mr. Yogi (TV Series)

1989 Sava Ser Gehu

1989 Shagun

1990 Disha

1990 Ghayal

1990 Halaat

1990 Kayedi

1990 Rishte (TV Series)

1990 Sankranti

1991 Antarnaad

1991 Iraada

1991 Meena Bazar

1991 Narasimha

1991 Sam & Me

1992 Angaar

1992 City of Joy

1992 Current

1992 Dharavi

1992 Karm Yodha

1992 Raat

1992 Zakhmi Sipahi

1993 Aakanksha

1993 Ankuram

1993 Kirdaar (TV Series)

1993 Maya

1993 Patang

1993 The Burning Season

1994 Droh Kaal

1994 Muhafiz/ In Custody

1994 Purush

1994 Triyacharitra

1994 Woh Chokri (TV Film)

1994 Wolf

1995 Aahat (TV Series)

1995 Aatank Hi Aatank

1995 Beparoa

1995 Brothers in Trouble

1995 Ek Ka Jawab Do

1995 Kartavya

1995 Target

1995 Tarpan (The Absolution)

1996 Amar Prem (TV Series)

1996 Ghatak: Lethal

1996 Maachis

1996 Prem Granth

1996 Ram Aur Shyam

1996 Safar (TV Series)

1996 Talaashi

1996 The Ghost and the Darkness

1996 Krishna

1997 Aastha: In the Prison of Spring

1997 Bhai

1997 Chachi 420

1997 Chupp

1997 Gupt: The Hidden Truth

1997 Mrityudand: The Death Sentence

1997 My Son the Fanatic

1997 Nirnayak

1997 Saturday Suspense (TV Series)

1997 Sea Hawks (TV Series)

1997 Yeh Ishq Nahin Aasaan (TV Series)

1997 Zameer: The Awakening of a Soul

1998 China Gate

1998 Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha

1998 Such a Long Journey

1998 Vinashak - Destroyer

1998 Zor: Never Underestimate the Force

1999 East Is East

1999 Gubbare (TV Series)

1999 Khoobsurat

1999 Mon petit diable

2000 Bas Yaari Rakho

2000 Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge

2000 Ghaath

2000 Hera Pheri

2000 Hey Ram

2000 Kunwara

2000 Kurukshetra

2000 Pukar

2000 Zindagi Zindabad

2001 C.I.D. (TV Series)

2001 Deewaanapan

2001 Farz

2001 Gadar: Ek Prem Katha

2001 Happy Now

2001 Indian

2001 The Mystic Masseur

2001 The Parole Officer

2001 The Zookeeper

2001 Zahreela

2002 Ansh: The Deadly Part

2002 Awara Paagal Deewana

2002 Chor Machaaye Shor

2002 Ghaav: The Wound

2002 Guru Mahaaguru

2002 Kranti

2002 Maa Tujhhe Salaam (voice)

2002 Murder (TV Film)

2002 Pitaah

2002 Pyaar Diwana Hota Hai

2002 Shararat

2002 White Teeth (TV Mini-Series)

2003 Aapko Pehle Bhi Kahin Dekha Hai

2003 Bollywood Calling

2003 Canterbury Tales (TV Mini-Series)

2003 Chupke Se

2003 Code 46

2003 Dhoop

2003 Ek Aur Ek Gyarah: By Hook or by Crook

2003 Kagaar: Life on the Edge

2003 Kash... Aap Hamare Hote

2003 Maqbool

2003 Miss India: The Mystery

2003 Pyaar Kiya Nahin Jaata..

2003 Second Generation (TV Film)

2004 Aan: Men at Work

2004 AK 47

2004 Dev

2004 Kyun! Ho Gaya Na...

2004 Lakshya

2004 Stop!

2004 The King of Bollywood

2004 Yuva

2005 Amar Joshi Shahid Ho Gaya

2005 Deewane Huye Paagal

2005 Kisna: The Warrior Poet

2005 Kyon Ki...

2005 Mangal Pandey: The Rising

2005 Mumbai Xpress

2005 The Hangman

2005 Zinda Dil

2006 Baabul

2006 Baghi

2006 Chup Chup Ke

2006 Malamaal Weekly

2006 Rang De Basanti

2006 Don

2007 Buddha Mar Gaya

2007 Charlie Wilson's War

2007 Delhii Heights

2007 Dhol

2007 Dosh

2007 Dumkata

2007 Fool N Final

2007 Is Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon

2007 Khallas: The Beginning of End

2007 Panga Naa Lo

2007 Shoot on Sight

2007 Victoria No.203: Diamonds Are Forever

2007 Welcome

2008 Kismat Konnection

2008 Lovesongs: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

2008 Maharathi

2008 Mere Baap Pehle Aap

2008 Money Hai Toh Honey Hai

2008 Mukhbiir

2008 Singh Is Kinng

2008 Yaariyan

2009 Baabarr

2009 Billu

2009 Bolo Raam

2009 Chal Chala Chal

2009 Delhi-6

2009 Kurbaan

2009 London Dreams

2009 Life Goes On

2010 Action Replay

2010 Dabangg

2010 Kushti

2010 Na Ghar Ke Na Ghaat Ke

2010 Road to Sangam

2010 West Is West

2011 Bin Bulaye Baraati

2011 Don2

2011 Khap

2011 Kucch Luv Jaisaa

2011 Love Express

2011 Society Kaam Se Gayi

2011 Teen Thay Bhai

2012 Agneepath

2012 Chaar Din Ki Chandni

2012 Chakravyuh

2012 Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal

2012 Krishna Aur Kans

2012 Mere Dost Picture Abhi Baaki Hai

2012 OMG: Oh My God!

2012 Son of Flower

2012 Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya

2012 The Reluctant Fundamentalist

2013 Bha Ji in Problem

2013 Jatt Boys Putt Jattan De

2013 Policegiri

2013 Time Traveller

2014 Aa Gaye Munde U.K. De

2014 Bazaar e Husn

2014 Chaar Sahibzaade

2014 Heartless

2014 Little Terrors

2014 The Hundred-Foot Journey

2015 Bajrangi Bhaijaan

2015 Buniyaad

2015 Dirty Politics

2015 Hogaya Dimaagh Ka Dahi

2015 Jai Ho! Democracy

2015 Leather Life

2015 Miss Tanakpur Haazir Ho

2015 Raambhajjan Zindabaad

2015 Trafficker

2015 Uvaa

2015 Welcome Back

2016 A Death in the Gunj

2016 A Million Rivers

2016 Aadupuliyattam

2016 Actor in Law

2016 Chaar Sahibzaade2: Rise of Banda Singh Bahadur

2016 Gandhigiri

2016 Ghayal Once Again

2016 Mirzya

2016 Project Marathwada

2016 Warrior Savitri

2016 Yeh Hai Lollipop

2017 Choron Ki Baraat

2017 Lashtam Pashtam

2017 Solar Eclipse: Depth of Darkness

2017 The Ghazi Attack

2017 Tubelight

2017 Viceroy's House

[edit] As a singer

2000 Ghaath