Guwahati: Om Puri would have been 70 today, if not for his untimely death in 2017. The thespian owed his rise to arthouse cinema, but he was not limited to that space. He shone everywhere, including commercial cinema.
He began working at a very young age and did odd jobs like working at a Dhaba and tea stall. But this did not stop him from completing his education and he joined the National School of Drama after which he went to the Film and Television Institute of India. Having featured in the film Chor Chor Chhup Ja, his debut in the mainstream is considered by his performance in a Marathi movie Ghashiram Kotwal in the year 1976.
Not only in India he has worked in Hollywood too. The only Indian actor to have worked with mainstream Hollywood directors like Roland Joffe, Mike Nichols, Lasse Halstrom, and others.
East Is East is the cult British film which got him a Bafta nomination and the OBE from HRH Queen Elizabeth II for his contribution to British cinema and television. Awarded in India and the world over, with the Padmashri, the Soviet Land Nehru, the Karlovy Vary and several National Awards amongst others.
Om Puri Foundation which has started in 2017 by his wife Nandita Puri and son Ishaan Puri has decided to celebrate late actor’s 70th birthday by launching a YouTube channel “Puri Baatein” which will talk about him, his films and beyond. Ishaan Puri, late actor’s son will launch his 4 min film on Om Puri in Puri Baatein on 18th. “We will celebrate him globally with year long programs celebrating one of the greatest actors of our times. The Om Puri Foundation will apart from having his retrospective in India, Cannes and London, will also be having a festival in Punjab, several contests with various organizations. The highlight is Litmus…a festival of literature, theatre and music in his memory. We also look forward to releasing a few film in his memory like Ram Kamal Mukherjee’s Rickshawala as well as a couple of his unreleased Hollywood films. Hoping you will all join and be a part of keeping Om Puri’s memory and legacy alive!” says his wife Nandita Puri.
One more interesting news is this year Boston Asian Film Fest is kickstarting the celebration by honouring the late actor with Outstanding contribution to cinema.
