Om Puri was born in Ambala on October 18, 1950. His father worked in the Indian Railways. It seems his parents did not have a birth certificate so they registered his birthday as March 9, 1950. Years later, Om Puri found out the exact date and made it official. His mother had told him he was born two days after the festival of Dussehra. His father lost his job on allegations of cement theft. The family was raised by a maid. As a young man, he did odd jobs to make ends meet. Om Puri has studied in NSD and FTII, two of India’s most premier acting institutes. Here is a list of his five movies that prove he was a master at every given genre.
1. ‘Bhavni Bhavai’
Ketan Mehta’s movie Bhavni Bhavai came out in 1980. It was about the social evil of untouchability. The film was told in the manner of Bhavai (Gujarati folklore). It won the National Film Award for Best Production Design. Bhavni Bhavai starred Om Puri along with Naseeruddin Shah and late Smita Patil. The movie was widely acclaimed in the West as well. Om Puri played the role of a ‘Bhangi’ (sweeper from lower caste) in this film.
BFFs Naseeruddin Shah and Late Om Puri Were in ‘Bhavni Bhavai’
2. ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro’
Late Kundan Shah’s Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983) is loved by millions of Indians. It is one of the movies that has immense repeat value. You can watch it any time, every time. In the movie, he played the role of Ahuja, a corrupt contractor. The dialogues, satire, timing and acting is picture perfect in this classic.
3. ‘Ardh Satya’
Om Puri was stellar in Govind Nihalani’s Ardh Satya (1983) where he played the part of a cop. The movie was about how he deals with an underworld don without much support from his colleagues while navigating his newly married life. Smita Patil played his wife in the movie.
Smita Patil and Late Om Puri Were a Class Apart in ‘Ardh Satya’
5. ‘Arohan’
Arohan that came out in 1982 won two National Film Awards. Om Puri got the Best Actor award for his performance as Hari Mondal in this movie set against the backdrop of the Naxal uprising and rising communism in Bengal. Victor Banerjee had played the role of a land-owner Jotdar in the stirring movie.
6. ‘Narsimha’
Fans of Bollywood masala movies remember him fondly as Suraj Narayan Singh aka ‘Bapji’ from the N Chandra potboiler. The character was based on the mythological king Hiranyakashyap who became too drunk with power. Sunny Deol played the role of Narsimha in the movie.
Om Puri is survived by his wife Nandita and son, Ishaan Puri.
(The above story first appeared on Today News 24 on Oct 18, 2024 09:51 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website todaynews24.top).