Lost in Translation

Courtesy of Indiafm.com, we've got a few insights on how bollywood actors perceive gay roles. It must be said however, that if you're finding these actors a tad bit unfamiliar, its because they are. But here's my take anyways...

Arshad Warsi: "I'd willingly play a gay character. It will be a new challenge to me as an actor."

Translation: Hand that role to me on a plate and i'll chew it up faster than you can say "Philadelphia"

Anuj Sawhney: "If heroes can play grey characters, I guess it proves the walls between 'this' side and 'that' are breaking. It's up to an actor's individual craft and study of the character to portray a character in a way that leaves a lasting impression."

Translation: I'd be surprised if anyone gave a role like that to me and even if i was offered one like that, i'd screw it up...BIG TIME!

Nakul Vaid: "I've no issues playing gay. Doing any character depends on how deep you can explore it and portray it convincingly for yourself and the audience. The character's sexual preference is secondary…unless it is forced into the script, Then I'll have nothing to do with it.

Translation: I'm so jobless i'll do it for half my fee....Hell i'll throw in a item dance for free!!

Neil Mukesh: "Well, It's a character and we are actors. So if the script demands it, why not?

Translation: You can have my ass for twice my asking price..thrice if i need to do brokeback mountain in hindi...

Sammir Dattani: "I must admit playing one makes me slightly uncomfortable at this stage of my career when I'm still finding my bearings. For my new film, Dhoom Dhadaka, I had to get into drag and I was very uneasy. It took Tom Hanks and Irrfan years before they came to Philadelphia and Migration. I need to be experienced as an actor before I attempt a character so distanced from me."

Translation: I know i'm not really getting the roles i want...but really, do i have to?

Prashant Raj: "I don't think I'd do justice to a role like that. My structure and built might not be conducive to playing such a role."

Translation: Come on yaar... are you kidding me...Check out my biceps...my arms...my thighs...ooo my abs...I can't play gay.....You guys need anyone to play Johnny Bravo? Ohhh...i see a hot man over there..oh hang on, its just me in the mirror..

Mohit Ahlawat: "For me it's difficult to play gay as I won't be able to identify with such a character. Sorry, I can't play a role I'm so far removed from. But I respect an actor like Irrfan or Sanjay Suri who can."

Translation: STAY AWAY FROM ME!!!! That includes you , Irfan and Sanjay, you pussies!!!

Vinay Pathak: "Excitement of portraying any character lies in the strength of the character's graph and progression in the plot and its conflicts. How a character helps a narrative grow is what interests me the most. The cast's sexual orientation and other factors are all secondary."

Translation: Gay? Do i smell an award?? Do of course note, all this is tongue in cheek..and i don't mean any insult to either the homosexual community or these actors..hopefully this saves me from a defamation action...

KLKombination

We have a fresh debutant, all the way from Australia [the feeling is magic], Thiagesh. He tells us why we should embrace our brothers from other mothers. Different land mass or not.

If everyone thinks that we, as Indians, have an identity crisis in Singapore, we ain’t seen nothing yet. Our identities, our loyalties, hell sometimes even our sanity, is tested when we meet our estranged (separated at birth MGR-style) brother, the doppelganger himself, the INDIA INDIAN.

In the security of sanitized Singapore, being Indian is very simple. We appreciate our ethnicity, proudly claim we rather wash than wipe (we’re probably the only race who does that) and yet assimilate into one collective identity when an event brings us together, like the Tiger Cup final.

Yet, when we face an Indian national, we become the fallen angels. We share heaps in common with them. The desire for hot food, similar culture, music, movies, but the fact is “yaar” and “la” can never be reconciled. The similarities stop at the above. Then comes the damning truth. The Indian diaspora is not only diverse in regards to language and geography, it’s also diverse in terms of viewpoint.

What’s worse however, is that the India Indian thinks the Singaporean Indians are nuts. They can’t understand the fact why we don’t find cricket exciting and instead crow that we’re champions of South East Asia. They can’t understand the fact we don’t understand Hindi and dispute the fact that Singapore is even a country!

How do we then interact with the Indian nationals in Singapore? In a recent event to celebrate the Tamil language, Prof S Jayakumar said that Singaporean Indians need to interact more with Indian immigrants.

This statement may have meant well, but it is damning evidence of what is happening in Singapore between these two groups of people. We may look the same and eat the same, but in regards to mentality we are poles apart. It gets even worse because discrimination is inherent in India. In North India, if you can’t speak Hindi, you’re a second class citizen. People don’t speak English to adapt to your needs, its because they take pity on you.

Its something which takes place on a smaller scale in Singapore. As a Tamil speaking majority(I say tamil speaking because not all tamil speakers are tamil), we tend to look after our interests than any other dialect group. And that I might add, is putting it mildly

Its time we stop that. We have a collective national identity, yet our ethnicity is fractured. We complain about our interests being overlooked, but are we really establishing a collective identity?

Its only if we stay united that we can make others understand about us. This includes India Indians. Its only then we will be able to adapt and allow them to assimilate. Its not hard really. Our grandfathers did it. As their progeny, why can’t we?