'Ardh Satya was the turning point'
Om Puri tells that Govind Nihalani's cop drama changed the industry's perception of him as an actor
Om Puri's collaboration with director Govind Nihalani has usually borne fruit. Their first film together, Aakrosh, is considered by many to be among Puri's finest performances. When Nihalani approached Puri for their second film together, Ardh Satya, Puri knew they were on to something big.
"I was delighted to read the script Nihalani gave me, and the fact that he wanted me to play the lead character, sub-inspector Anant Welankar. The film was based on a short story written by a customs officer, and was based on his experiences. That lent the film the authenticity that was much spoken about after its release," says Puri, adding that Ardh Satya was the film that "changed my fate."
"I had already won a National award (for Arohan), but the industry truly took note of me only after Ardh Satya's release. It got me a lot of work, and an entry in mainstream films," says Puri of the film that won him his second National award as best actor. Puri says he lived in a one-room-kitchen flat in Andheri (E) before the release of the film, and moved into a more spacious garage flat in Seven Bungalows a couple of years after, as an indication to the extent the film went in establishing him as a bankable actor.
As part of research, Puri visited Goregaon police station with Nihalani, which at that time was in a ground floor flat, to witness the interrogation of a real suspect. Puri was made to stand in a corner of the detection room and see the good cop-bad cop routine for himself. "One of the two officers had a violent streak, and was aggressive with the suspect, whereas the other was the calm one who spoke to the suspect in a friendly manner. It was helpful to see the psychological gameplay first-hand."
Research aside, Nihalani left Puri to interpret the actor the way he wanted, "I was 33 then, and had a lot of experience as a theatre actor under my belt. I was politically and socially aware and so didn't take long to understand the working of the system as was shown in the film," he says. The only preparation, says Puri, was to learn to ride a bike.
Ardh Satya was among the first few films to explore the frustrations of an honest cop to function in a system handicapped by political manipulations. "The film, and my character, is relevant even today. Our police force can do wonders if they are not made answerable to politicians, who bully police officers who are honest and want to do their work without any interference," he says.
Puri says Welankar was the most real cop in a film. "Nihalani portrayed him well."
Om Puri tells that Govind Nihalani's cop drama changed the industry's perception of him as an actor
Om Puri's collaboration with director Govind Nihalani has usually borne fruit. Their first film together, Aakrosh, is considered by many to be among Puri's finest performances. When Nihalani approached Puri for their second film together, Ardh Satya, Puri knew they were on to something big.
"I was delighted to read the script Nihalani gave me, and the fact that he wanted me to play the lead character, sub-inspector Anant Welankar. The film was based on a short story written by a customs officer, and was based on his experiences. That lent the film the authenticity that was much spoken about after its release," says Puri, adding that Ardh Satya was the film that "changed my fate."
"I had already won a National award (for Arohan), but the industry truly took note of me only after Ardh Satya's release. It got me a lot of work, and an entry in mainstream films," says Puri of the film that won him his second National award as best actor. Puri says he lived in a one-room-kitchen flat in Andheri (E) before the release of the film, and moved into a more spacious garage flat in Seven Bungalows a couple of years after, as an indication to the extent the film went in establishing him as a bankable actor.
As part of research, Puri visited Goregaon police station with Nihalani, which at that time was in a ground floor flat, to witness the interrogation of a real suspect. Puri was made to stand in a corner of the detection room and see the good cop-bad cop routine for himself. "One of the two officers had a violent streak, and was aggressive with the suspect, whereas the other was the calm one who spoke to the suspect in a friendly manner. It was helpful to see the psychological gameplay first-hand."
Research aside, Nihalani left Puri to interpret the actor the way he wanted, "I was 33 then, and had a lot of experience as a theatre actor under my belt. I was politically and socially aware and so didn't take long to understand the working of the system as was shown in the film," he says. The only preparation, says Puri, was to learn to ride a bike.
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Ardh Satya was among the first few films to explore the frustrations of an honest cop to function in a system handicapped by political manipulations. "The film, and my character, is relevant even today. Our police force can do wonders if they are not made answerable to politicians, who bully police officers who are honest and want to do their work without any interference," he says.
Puri says Welankar was the most real cop in a film. "Nihalani portrayed him well."
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