After Dirty Politics, Om Puri will be seen in Jai Ho! Democracy and Marathi movie 15 August Bhagile 26 January. In a freewheeling conversation with Karan Bhardwaj, he confides why he never joins politics, bats for leslee Udwin’s documentary and calls for larger representation of indie cinema
In a plain dhoti-kurta teamed with Nehruvian jacket and topi, Om Puri’s look reminds us of old-school politicians in his forthcoming movie Jai Ho! Democracy. Fresh out of Dirty Politics (Mallika Sherawat starrer), the actor has become the top choice for films based on political histories. In fact, after Jai Ho! Democracy, he will be featuring in a Mararthi movie (almost after 40 years) called 15 August Bhagile 26 January. “I think more and more such films should be made given the kind of politics we have in present time,” he says over the phone from Pune, where has just stepped out of the studio after dubbing for his Marathi movie.
Jai Ho! Democracy, which releases this Friday is a satire on the armies of India and Pakistan, and how they start shooting at each other on frivolous issues. “Besides its satirical tone, it’s a very moving, human story and an exaggerated version of reality,” he says. The film also stars Annu Kapoor, Satish Kaushik, Seema Biswas and Adil Hussain in key roles.
Puri has been vocal about politics and got brickbats occasionally on his crude remarks. But he doesn’t regret receiving criticism. During Anna Hazare’s campaign three years ago, he also called politicians ‘anpad and gawar’. Has he ever thought of cleaning the mess himself by becoming part of itIJ “Frankly, I have never been approached by any political outfit. But I would love to participate. The only fear I have is that I am outspoken and won’t be able to hold back my observations or anything that I don’t like. In politics, you cannot be critical about your own party. It’s not that I am not reasonable. But people think I get carried away. like what happened during Anna Hazare’s campaign, but it was not all untrue. We have seen MPs doing unacceptable bizarre things in Parliament and state assemblies. So what wrong did I say about themIJ” he says.
Ask him about his views about contemporary politicians, he takes us back into the past. “I would like to compare today’s politicians with the ones like Nehru, Gandhi, Shastri, lohia and Rajendra Prasad. Politicians today lack integrity, dedication and honesty. Having said that, I also believe that a lot of development has happened in the country. We cannot deny that. But there’s a certain section which is posing as a stumbling block in smooth functioning of establishment and achievement of development goals,” he observes.
Personally, he has been an admirer of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who patiently stayed in opposition for decades. “I was also touched by Jayaprakash Narayan because he became a revolutionary who changed the entire nature of politics. I liked Indira Gandhi too for her courage and decision-making abilities. I have also followed Harkishan Surjit. I have heard him speaking in debates and discussion,” he says.
The 64-year-old actor has been featured in many award-winning films of social significance. But in Dirty Politics, his explicit scenes with co-star Mallika Sherawat became sensational. Puri confides that he doesn’t mind doing romantic sequences with younger actresses if they are shot aesthetically. He cites examples from his past movies. “I had a love-making scene with Smita Patil in Govind Nihalani’s Aakrosh. We were lying on bed and camera was placed on up top far. It was done aesthetically. So that’s how these scenes should be done. But today’s cinema is devoid of good romantic scenes. There is no foreplay,” he says.
While chatting, Puri also lent support to controversial British film-maker lesles Udwin whose documentary India’s Daughter has been banned in India. “I had seen the raw footage of India’s Daughter. In an interview, one of the rapists said the girl would have got away if she had not protested. What kind of statement is thisIJ This is the true mentality of people which should be discussed. The documentary didn’t glorify rape but exposed our mindset. I don’t think the documentary should have been banned,” he says.
Puri has been doing small-budgeted movies lately and finds insufficient representation of indie cinema. He says that there are eight to nine young film-makers in Bollywood who are making good movies, if not hard-hitting cinema like those of Mrinal Sen or Shyam Benegal. “Two years ago, I inaugurated Indian Panorama section at the International film festival of India in Goa. Out of 120 art movies submitted, they had selected only 21. When I took to the dias, I asked what would happen to the rest of the moviesIJ There are are youngsters who are making excellent movies and want to contribute to society. Where will they goIJ Television won’t show, distributors won’t touch their products because they don’t profits there. When I was chairman of NFDC, I suggested that these movies are broadcast on Doordarshan. But no major step has been taken so far,” he says.