London: The ease with Delhi boy Suraj Sharma slips into a character has confirmed that he is truly the best Indian export to the international cinema.
Proving his mettle as Piscine Patel in Ang Lee's 'Life of Pi', he effortlessly turned into a rustic villager mouthing chaste Bundlekhandi dialect in Prashant Nair's crossover, independent film 'Umrika'. The widely appreciated film dabbling with the rosy notions about USA and the deadly outcome of illegal immigration was screened at the 6th Bagri Foundation London Indian Film Festival (LIFF) held in Cineworld Haymarket in London as the opening film.
“Umrika is exactly opposite to 'Life of Pi', which took the audience to an imaginary world. This film deals with emotions and raw aspirations,” says Suraj, who was conferred with ‘Outstanding Young Talent Award’, at LIFF. After battling the monstrous sea and a graphically created Tiger in 'Life of Pi' to playing the naive boy hailing from a fictitious village located in back of beyond was "tough and challenging". "Speaking in Bundelkhandi dialect was hard. I worked with the dialogue coach to get it right while a culture coaches made us understand the mind of a villager," says Suraj. "I am enjoying every bit as an actor."
Tony Revolori, applauded for his comic portrayal in Wes Anderson’s 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' was a revelation. The American actor had failed the dialogue test while auditioning through Skype, but effortlessly played the Indian village boy with a rustic humour. "It was through humour that we bonded well and the chemistry sparked off," said Suraj.
Growing up in Kalkaji, a plush urban locality in New Delhi, Suraj has witnessed rising exodus within the country where villagers move into big cities with dream in their eyes. “Growing up in Kalkaji, I witnessed two sides of the world-one which consisting of stinking rich living in palatial houses, while the other side was that of the slum in which villagers came in search of work,” said Suraj, who studied in Delhi’s prestigious St. Stephens College before moving to New York to study filmmaking. “I enjoyed my college days in St Stephens, and finally moved to studying cinema which has always been my passion,” adds Suraj.
Directed by Indo-American filmmaker Prashant Nair, Umrika was premiered at the Sundance Film Festival where it won the World Cinema Dramatic Audience Award. Shot on a shoe-string budget, the film was completed in a 51-day schedule. “The film is set in the 80s and depicts vulnerable and naive Indians, who had strange dreams regarding America. They would resort to dangerous routes to reach their destination,” says Prashant Nair, highlighting the illegal process of transportation of immigrants in ship containers.
Son of a diplomat, Nair spent his life in various countries where his parents were posted. He realised that filmmaking was his calling, after working for several years as an Engineer. “Till date, people in the west live with misconception about India. I often encounter absurd questions if elephants walk on Indian streets or if we have snakes at home,” laughs Prashant.
Dressed in an off-white saree Konkona Sen Sharma was a stunner, as she walked the LIFF red carpet. Her films Saari Raat, directed by Aparna Sen and Gour Hari Dastan: The Freedom File directed by Ananth Mahadevan will be screened at the festival. Documentary film Death of A Gentleman will be yet another highlight of the closing day of LIFF.
Comments
0 comment