Mumbai- Every Om Puri fan will have a favourite Om Puri film and a best loved Om Puri scene.
Mumbai Live culls out a few of his roles that stood out in a lifetime of memorable roles - Puri, who passed away on Friday morning, was a master of the realistic and had a terrific sense of comedy as well. His 'Ardha Satya' stands out as much in memory as do his roles in 'Malamaal Weekly' and 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro'.
'Ardh Satya' launched an unlikely hero in the form of Om Puri. He was not the conventional chocolate face lead man the Hindi film viewer was accustomed to, but Puri swept the audience off its feet with his measured acting and that deep baritone.
Puri started his career at almost the same time as Naseeruddin Shah. 'Aakrosh', 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron' and 'Mirch Masala' were some of the films they starred together in. Vishal Bharadwaj's 'Maqbool' however stands out for the perfect accord the two shared on screen.
Outspoken on and off screen, Puri had the chance to hit out at the system with a great role in Gulzar's 'Maachis'.
Govind Nihalani's television series 'Tamas' helped reach Om Puri in every household in the pre satellite TV days. His role of a poor man, torn by Partition, was a gripping one.
Ashwini Chaudhary's 2003 'Dhoop' had Puri portraying the role of a father, browbeaten by the system, rendered helpless by an apathetic bureaucracy.
If art films were his forte, comedy was his speciality too. Priyadarshan's 'Hera Pheri' had Puri essaying the role of the impetous Khadak Singh, which had the audience in splits.
Puri also acted in several crossover and Holllywood films. His role in 'The Hundred Foot Journey', costarring with Oscar winner Helen Mirren.
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