Stills from Shri 420 and Gravity
New Delhi:
British-Indian actor PhaldutSharma, the voice behind the "goofy guy" singing Mera jootahai Japani in Gravity, feels the classic number from RajKapoor's film Shri 420 fit beautifully in the movie starring SandraBullock and George Clooney.
Sharma, who has worked with director Alfonso Cuaron onChildren of Men and in TV shows like EastEnders, Hunted,Casualty and Roger Roger, said he opted for this songbecause it was "a classic, playful and celebratory" number.
"Alfonso Cuaron had asked me to put together a 20 minutepitch when he was trying to get the film made. They had thisslow romantic Bollywood song but I don't remember what it was.
This song suited the character's nature and mood better."It has a different kind of tempo to it. It is much morecelebratory and playful. I also liked the idea of this man whois floating above in space and looking down and is mentioningthat his shoes are from Japan, his hat is from Russia but hisheart is Hindustani," Sharma told PTI over phone from London.
Sharma said that since the actual process of making thefilm was very closed, he did not understand why they wanted tohave an Indian origin character in the movie but realised itsimportance after watching the complete film.
"The actual process of working on the film was very closedand very confidential. I was in but I had no understanding whythe character was of Indian origin. But it made sense when Isaw the complete film," Sharma said.
The actor says though it was a small part, he decided tobe a part of the project because it had Cuaron as a helmer."In effect, there are only two characters in the film.
But, I like the small impact this character had. He puts theaudience in ease, gets few laughs before the actual storykicks off. I enjoyed being able to provide that small relief."The Warner Bros film, which released in India on October11,crossed the USD 300 million mark at the global box officein just three weeks after its release.
Sharma, whose ancestors settled in Guyana from UttarPradesh and later moved to London, calls himself "a SouthAmerican, Indian, Londoner".
He is happy with the way his part of fellow astronaut'Shariff' in the 90 minute film has captured the imaginationof people.
"It is such a classic and the role seems to have capturedthe imagination of people. Aziz Ansari tweeted that he loved'Gravity' but was disappointed that he did not get to play thegoofy guy. On my part, I would have loved to watch it withIndian audiences."
The actor is currently busy producing and acting in hisown film called "I Gotta Be Me"."I enjoy playing quirky and colourful characters. I amworking on my movie called 'I Gotta Be Me'. I play a guy whois working on a tribute show for Rat Packs. I play a TV starwho is down on his luck in the movie. I am also producing it."Sharma said he likes the idea of multi-culturalism whichis finding more space in the entertainment sphere.
"I have worked in all areas so I have experienced a lot ofthe industry but there are always going to be limitations. InAmerica, most of the people are from somewhere else, so theplaying field is more level. I think the world is gettingsmaller today and these things are happening sooner ratherthan later," Sharma said.
Asked whether Hollywood is finally acknowledging Indiantalent, Sharma said including India and China makes betterbusiness sense.
"It would be silly to cut out that kind of massivepopulation. They put together a version of Iron Man especiallyfor China that had two popular Chinese actors because theywanted to key in on that part of the world. The more peoplefeel included, the more successful it is," he said.
Sharma, who has worked with director Alfonso Cuaron onChildren of Men and in TV shows like EastEnders, Hunted,Casualty and Roger Roger, said he opted for this songbecause it was "a classic, playful and celebratory" number.
"Alfonso Cuaron had asked me to put together a 20 minutepitch when he was trying to get the film made. They had thisslow romantic Bollywood song but I don't remember what it was.
This song suited the character's nature and mood better."It has a different kind of tempo to it. It is much morecelebratory and playful. I also liked the idea of this man whois floating above in space and looking down and is mentioningthat his shoes are from Japan, his hat is from Russia but hisheart is Hindustani," Sharma told PTI over phone from London.
Sharma said that since the actual process of making thefilm was very closed, he did not understand why they wanted tohave an Indian origin character in the movie but realised itsimportance after watching the complete film.
"The actual process of working on the film was very closedand very confidential. I was in but I had no understanding whythe character was of Indian origin. But it made sense when Isaw the complete film," Sharma said.
The actor says though it was a small part, he decided tobe a part of the project because it had Cuaron as a helmer."In effect, there are only two characters in the film.
But, I like the small impact this character had. He puts theaudience in ease, gets few laughs before the actual storykicks off. I enjoyed being able to provide that small relief."The Warner Bros film, which released in India on October11,crossed the USD 300 million mark at the global box officein just three weeks after its release.
Sharma, whose ancestors settled in Guyana from UttarPradesh and later moved to London, calls himself "a SouthAmerican, Indian, Londoner".
He is happy with the way his part of fellow astronaut'Shariff' in the 90 minute film has captured the imaginationof people.
"It is such a classic and the role seems to have capturedthe imagination of people. Aziz Ansari tweeted that he loved'Gravity' but was disappointed that he did not get to play thegoofy guy. On my part, I would have loved to watch it withIndian audiences."
The actor is currently busy producing and acting in hisown film called "I Gotta Be Me"."I enjoy playing quirky and colourful characters. I amworking on my movie called 'I Gotta Be Me'. I play a guy whois working on a tribute show for Rat Packs. I play a TV starwho is down on his luck in the movie. I am also producing it."Sharma said he likes the idea of multi-culturalism whichis finding more space in the entertainment sphere.
"I have worked in all areas so I have experienced a lot ofthe industry but there are always going to be limitations. InAmerica, most of the people are from somewhere else, so theplaying field is more level. I think the world is gettingsmaller today and these things are happening sooner ratherthan later," Sharma said.
Asked whether Hollywood is finally acknowledging Indiantalent, Sharma said including India and China makes betterbusiness sense.
"It would be silly to cut out that kind of massivepopulation. They put together a version of Iron Man especiallyfor China that had two popular Chinese actors because theywanted to key in on that part of the world. The more peoplefeel included, the more successful it is," he said.
