OM PURI BIRTH ANNIVERSARY: The late veteran actor Om Puri was a highly celebrated figure in Indian cinema. He was famous for his versatility and outstanding performances in films. Over his nearly 45-year career, he delivered numerous remarkable acts after investing a lot of effort and dedication. The late actor was known for infusing unwavering dedication into every role he portrayed, and he was regarded as a cornerstone of the art-house movement in Hindi cinema.
The actor won two National Film Awards for Best Actor, two Filmfare Awards and India’s fourth highest civilian award Padma Shri in 1990. In 2004, he was made an honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire
If Om Puri were still with us, he would have celebrated his 73rd birthday on October 18, 2023. He was renowned for leaving a lasting impact with his well-crafted roles in both mainstream and independent films. On his birth anniversary, let’s reflect on some of his timeless movies that are a must-watch.
- AakroshDirected by Govind Nihalani and based on a play by the renowned Marathi playwright Vijay Tendulkar, the film focuses on an oppressed tribal man played by Om Puri. Even with minimal dialogue, Puri effectively conveys his character’s emotions through his intense expressions, aided by Naseeruddin Shah and Smita Patil. This movie earned Om Puri his first Filmfare award.
- Chachi 420This versatile actor didn’t just excel in passionate and anguished roles like no one else, but he also confidently ventured into comedy. In addition to delivering fantastic performances in cult classics like ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro’ and ‘Hera Pheri,’ he brought laughter to Kamal Hasan’s film with impeccable comic timing.
- Ardh SatyaIn this police drama directed by Govind Nihalani, Om Puri became the face of the angry young man in parallel cinema. In this unique film, he portrayed a principled cop determined to do his duty without any compromises, all while battling the scars of childhood trauma. His exceptional performance in this movie earned Om Puri a national award.
- Jaane Bhi Do YaaroFeaturing Naseeruddin Shah, Ravi Baswani, Om Puri, Pankaj Kapur, Satish Shah, Satish Kaushik, Bhakti Barve, and Neena Gupta, this film is a dark satire on corruption and was directed by Kundan Shah.
- MaqboolVishal Bharadwaj, influenced by Gulzar, adapted William Shakespeare’s classic Macbeth, offering Naseeruddin Shah and Om Puri two unique roles. In this brilliant piece of work, Om Puri, portraying a fortune teller, balances humor and seriousness with equal finesse.
According to an IMDb report, the actor became known internationally by starring in many British films such as My Son the Fanatic (1997), East Is East (1999) and The Parole Officer (2001). He appeared in Hollywood films including City of Joy (1992), opposite Patrick Swayze; Wolf (1994) alongside Jack Nicholson; and The Ghost and the Darkness (1996) opposite Val Kilmer.
In 2007, he appeared as General Zia-ul-Haq in Charlie Wilson’s War, which stars Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts. He had worked in Hindi television serials like Kakkaji Kaheen (1988) and Mr. Yogi (1989).
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