Abdul
Gani
Guwahati:
How does it feel for an Assamese to learn English Vinglish? “Feels good,”
according to the man who has done it.
Adil Hussain, the ‘face’ of Assam in Bollywood at
present, is going places. And how. After a globe-trotting venture in the
action-thriller Agent Vinod starring Saif Ali Khan, Hussain is now playing the
role of Sridevi’s husband in her comeback movie set against the backdrop of
London.
Sridevi, once the heartthrob of the country, is
making a comeback to Bollywood after 15 long years. English Vinglish, an R
Balki produced film, is slated for release on October 5 after its global
premiere at the Toronto Film Festival on September 14.
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| Adil Hussain (centre) with Oscar winning sound designer Resul Pukooty and Amrit Pritam (left) |
Significantly, the film has another Assam connection
in the form of Amrit Pritam, who is the sound designer. Adil Hussain, who has
already created a niche for himself in the world of acting, said that this film
is essential for Indian viewers.
“I would say (this film is) very essential for
Indian viewers to see because it deals with the hierarchy of language,
especially the colonial language which is English. We have a tendency to look
down on people who cannot speak English. You may be from Delhi or Goalpara — we
all have this colonial hangover to look up at English which is simply a
language, no more, no less,” Adil who also features in Ang Lee’s Life of Pi,
told Seven Sisters Post.
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| Adil with Sridevi in English Vinglish |
He also feels that this film would give a “hint why
it is important to see our languages with respect and the importance to feel
proud of them”.
Besides Sridevi and Adil, Priya Anand, Mehdi Nebbou,
Sujata Kumar, Neelu Sochi Sodhi, Ross Nathan and others feature in the film
which will also be released in Tamil and Telegu. Amitabh Bachchan makes a guest
appearance in the Hindi version while renowned South Indian actor Ajith Kumar
will be seen in the Tamil version. The film is being directed by debutant Gauri
Shinde.
Adil, whose character as the sinister Colonel in
Saif Ali Khan’s Agent Vinod recently was widely appreciated by the viewers and
whose name is now frequently pronounced in Bollywood and beyond, said that his
responsibility as an actor or a human being has increased.
“In one word… it feels good,” he said responding to
this. “At the same time it becomes a responsible position. Because when people
know you, they follow you or read every word you utter. People make a role
model out of you. I’m concerned about that. One has to be vigilant about it,” he
added.
Adil, who used to perform in a group of stand-up
comedians — the Bhaya Mama Group in the early 1980s in Assam before moving to
the National School of Drama, is excited to play husband to Sridevi.
“She has been extremely supportive to an actor like
me who is not a star. Her way of acting — how she is aware of the camera and at
the same time how she is truthful about it. That kind of acting she does which
is very professional. She delivers at the highest level of satisfaction for the
director. It’s been learning process from her,” he said.
Adil, who hails from Goalpara, has several projects
in the pipeline in the coming days in which he would be seen in different
roles. In Ang Lee’s Life of Pi, he plays Pi’s father. He will be also seen in a
very important role in Vikramaditya Motwane’s Lootera which also features
Ranveer Singh and Sonakshi Sinha.
“I’m an actor and I’m supposed to play every kind of
role given to me. I need to find a way to be truthful and convincing in every
possible role. Actors are meant to be act — no matter whether it’s Gandhi,
Godse, Hitler or Jesus Christ,” he added.
Besides Adil, another Assam youth Amrit Pritam has
designed the sound of the film with Oscar award winning Resul Pookutty. “I
think it is a nice movie to watch with the family. I quite enjoyed working here
and now we are waiting for the release. I’m also happy with Adil da’s acting in
the film,” Amrit, who rose to fame working in Slumdog Millionaire in 2008, told
Seven Sisters Post from Mumbai. (Seven Sisters Post)
http://sevensisterspost.com/bollywood-mixes-assamese-english-vinglish/
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