I had, like everybody else, noted Sultan Qureshi's killer glances and the iconic "Ye Wasseypur hai.." dialogue, rather a statement in an abattoir, when Gangs of Wasseypur arrived on the movie scene. Similarly did I like the Jaago Re campaign where he plays a politician canvassing for votes. Being a selective, infrequent movie watcher, that was pretty much about it. Last year, during the productive wastage of time from my work I happened to watch a series of interviews of actors that I deeply admire. It is there on YouTube- Guftagoo on Rajya Sabha TV.
It so happened that I started discussing the lives of those actors and how they evolved as actors as a result with a close friend. It was then that he suggested that I watch the Guftagoo episode featuring Pankaj Tripathi. It was then that I realised this is a person whose observations of life are so deeply rooted into reality that despite being above par in his profession, he is just a witness to the drama that is life. This, in a profession full of narcissistic personalities, which anyway is becoming more commonplace in the age of Fb and Instagram, is in itself a towering achievement. He does not carry any weight. And his observations of life are a gold standard for even non movie watchers, people interested in society, psychology, human behaviour, literature, and even spirituality. Post that, I have watched almost all his interviews available on YouTube, and make it a point to watch as many of his movies as I can make time for.
Unlike most actors &/or people who live in a delusional world, it feels like he is mentally sorted, realistically. Most other actors of his calibre would feel wronged or not being given their due despite being acting powerhouses. Unlike most, he seems to have just enjoyed the flow without letting it become a "struggle". Having a wife who is well educated and earns well has helped, he quips. But having the intuitive ability to not rush through the self created pressure is what sets him apart. Organic growth is his personal style, not disestablishmentarianism.
It is not just his career that seems organic, it is also his characters. When he is nice, he is not overly nice. When he is cursing, he is not overly cursing. When he is humorous, he is just as much is required. And, most importantly, he is always contemporary to the context. Who else could have thought that even a bhootni could have access to Aadhar card numbers!
He almost has mastered the fine art of being in the headspace of the deadliest cold blooded criminal kingpin, a rural /semi-urban nautanki company owner and a Buddha at the same time. Whatever he plays, almost seems like has come out to be done by a real person placed in that time, space and those situations. And, on top of that, he sincerely promises he will bring down his acting a notch when he senses that the insecurity of his fellow actors is threatening his acting ki dukaan !
Needless to say, his entire body of work must be on anyone's watchlist, be it "cinema" cinema or "entertainment" cinema. Here are a few of my observations from some of his works that I have watched so far. Thank God he got rid of his local gunda avatar tag on screen!
Gurgaon- It is one of his finest performances. This movie reached a very limited audience and hence I mention this at the top of the list. The movie is a thriller and I won't give away spoilers, but his eyes and his body language speak much more than he does in this. It couldn't have been a more bone chilling realistic thriller in fiction on celluloid. The movie reeks of the smell of dust, concrete and blood that Gurgaon is beyond the city lights.
Anaarkali of Aarah- Who could have imagined that the ruthless butcher Sultan Qureshi from Wasseypur could have turned into a Rangeela who dons a nachaniya type gait on stage as he introduces a Bhojpuri local singer of double meaning songs! And with the same agility, he turns into a hapless man whose wife runs away with a milkman and into near-pimp shades when pressured by the powerful. And all of it is every bit believable.
Bareilly Ki Barfi- Mishra ji is any reasonable relatable uncle who does not fret about the unimportant, unlike the most in his place and time.
Mirzapur- Kaleen Bhaiya Ka Bhokaal needs no introduction. Watch it to believe it.
Newton- Men in uniform are mostly portrayed as either too stiff or too macho and heroic. But Atma Singh is neither, yet he has an impeccable sense of duty, and a reasonable dose of aam aadmi's reality check on fresh youthful idealism, humourously or otherwise.
Stree- The omniscient Rudra Bhaiya can also turn into a witch- fearing normal male to avoid being hunted down in a haunted haveli. It does not matter how small face time he's given. He manages to steal the show despite only comparitively fewer minutes- which must bring me to...
Masaan- If Sadhya Ji would have fed me poison, I would have happily consumed it, what to say of the kheer! It is his warmest and most sincere on screen character, which he confesses is closest to his actual personality. He actually chose to play this 2 minute ,2 scene character over the one of Devi's father played by equally gifted Sanjay Mishra, which has a much longer screen time. Reason- packing more of himself into a smaller screen time forces him to be more effective with his acting toolbox, and his intimate personal connect with the role .
Sacred Games fans are already waiting impatiently for the next season where his part becomes more pivotal in the plot. I am no exception.
Watching him and other such contemporary actors makes me cringe even at the thought of watching the trailers of the big Khans of Bollywood.
I just happened to watch the Actors' Round Table 2018, and there he happens to mention how acting for him is a yogic experience (and so it is for other brilliant actors on this show with him), and how he is the actor and witness at same time. He also mentions how connect with literature and society around gives him fodder for his performances. In one interview, he even lightly says he's becoming more known for his interviews than his actual work- and for this, I am totally guilty of being one such fan :D
Happy Pankaj Tripathi interviews binge watching! If you haven't already, what are you even doing?
It so happened that I started discussing the lives of those actors and how they evolved as actors as a result with a close friend. It was then that he suggested that I watch the Guftagoo episode featuring Pankaj Tripathi. It was then that I realised this is a person whose observations of life are so deeply rooted into reality that despite being above par in his profession, he is just a witness to the drama that is life. This, in a profession full of narcissistic personalities, which anyway is becoming more commonplace in the age of Fb and Instagram, is in itself a towering achievement. He does not carry any weight. And his observations of life are a gold standard for even non movie watchers, people interested in society, psychology, human behaviour, literature, and even spirituality. Post that, I have watched almost all his interviews available on YouTube, and make it a point to watch as many of his movies as I can make time for.
Unlike most actors &/or people who live in a delusional world, it feels like he is mentally sorted, realistically. Most other actors of his calibre would feel wronged or not being given their due despite being acting powerhouses. Unlike most, he seems to have just enjoyed the flow without letting it become a "struggle". Having a wife who is well educated and earns well has helped, he quips. But having the intuitive ability to not rush through the self created pressure is what sets him apart. Organic growth is his personal style, not disestablishmentarianism.
It is not just his career that seems organic, it is also his characters. When he is nice, he is not overly nice. When he is cursing, he is not overly cursing. When he is humorous, he is just as much is required. And, most importantly, he is always contemporary to the context. Who else could have thought that even a bhootni could have access to Aadhar card numbers!
He almost has mastered the fine art of being in the headspace of the deadliest cold blooded criminal kingpin, a rural /semi-urban nautanki company owner and a Buddha at the same time. Whatever he plays, almost seems like has come out to be done by a real person placed in that time, space and those situations. And, on top of that, he sincerely promises he will bring down his acting a notch when he senses that the insecurity of his fellow actors is threatening his acting ki dukaan !
Needless to say, his entire body of work must be on anyone's watchlist, be it "cinema" cinema or "entertainment" cinema. Here are a few of my observations from some of his works that I have watched so far. Thank God he got rid of his local gunda avatar tag on screen!
Gurgaon- It is one of his finest performances. This movie reached a very limited audience and hence I mention this at the top of the list. The movie is a thriller and I won't give away spoilers, but his eyes and his body language speak much more than he does in this. It couldn't have been a more bone chilling realistic thriller in fiction on celluloid. The movie reeks of the smell of dust, concrete and blood that Gurgaon is beyond the city lights.
Anaarkali of Aarah- Who could have imagined that the ruthless butcher Sultan Qureshi from Wasseypur could have turned into a Rangeela who dons a nachaniya type gait on stage as he introduces a Bhojpuri local singer of double meaning songs! And with the same agility, he turns into a hapless man whose wife runs away with a milkman and into near-pimp shades when pressured by the powerful. And all of it is every bit believable.
Bareilly Ki Barfi- Mishra ji is any reasonable relatable uncle who does not fret about the unimportant, unlike the most in his place and time.
Mirzapur- Kaleen Bhaiya Ka Bhokaal needs no introduction. Watch it to believe it.
Newton- Men in uniform are mostly portrayed as either too stiff or too macho and heroic. But Atma Singh is neither, yet he has an impeccable sense of duty, and a reasonable dose of aam aadmi's reality check on fresh youthful idealism, humourously or otherwise.
Stree- The omniscient Rudra Bhaiya can also turn into a witch- fearing normal male to avoid being hunted down in a haunted haveli. It does not matter how small face time he's given. He manages to steal the show despite only comparitively fewer minutes- which must bring me to...
Masaan- If Sadhya Ji would have fed me poison, I would have happily consumed it, what to say of the kheer! It is his warmest and most sincere on screen character, which he confesses is closest to his actual personality. He actually chose to play this 2 minute ,2 scene character over the one of Devi's father played by equally gifted Sanjay Mishra, which has a much longer screen time. Reason- packing more of himself into a smaller screen time forces him to be more effective with his acting toolbox, and his intimate personal connect with the role .
Sacred Games fans are already waiting impatiently for the next season where his part becomes more pivotal in the plot. I am no exception.
Watching him and other such contemporary actors makes me cringe even at the thought of watching the trailers of the big Khans of Bollywood.
I just happened to watch the Actors' Round Table 2018, and there he happens to mention how acting for him is a yogic experience (and so it is for other brilliant actors on this show with him), and how he is the actor and witness at same time. He also mentions how connect with literature and society around gives him fodder for his performances. In one interview, he even lightly says he's becoming more known for his interviews than his actual work- and for this, I am totally guilty of being one such fan :D
Happy Pankaj Tripathi interviews binge watching! If you haven't already, what are you even doing?
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