making fun of indians?
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ejavignon — 20 years ago(December 31, 2005 10:32 AM)
Saw the movie last night for the first time, and was wondering the same thing, so I was glad to see this thread in imdb. Although Hrundi is an awkward bumbler, that is Sellers' trademark. I don't think his character was any more offensive than Inspector Clousseau should be to the French.
I did wonder though why it was necessary for him to play an Indian, and I think it was to give an outsider's perspective into American culture. It is an old narrative device to critique one's own culture by portraying through the eyes of a foreigner (think Montesquieu's Persian Letters). While on the surface the movie was another vehicle for Sellers' slapstick, it is really a story about someone on the outside looking into the shallow, self-centered, vulgar culture of late 60s America.
But then again, maybe I'm reading into it too much -
oy___vi — 20 years ago(January 25, 2006 06:34 PM)
I think the character is Indian not just because they needed an "outsider", but also because the Indian culture is reputedly "spiritual" and as such a great contrast to the culture that Blake Edwards is commenting on.
As far as him being "offensive", I totally agree that he is basically as bumbling as Cluseau (but without the arrogance). -
prashant_87 — 20 years ago(February 06, 2006 07:26 PM)
Well im an Indian but this is one of my all time favorites, far from being offended I really enjoy this movie.. I dont see any religious offense in the movie whatsoverits one fun, easy to like classic comedy that will entertain for decades to come
ps someone stated that The temple of doom was stereotypicalit most definitely wasI found it really crazy and over the topthe worst of the Gr8 INdiana Jones Triology for sure
You! Off my planet! -
kathiemoffett — 18 years ago(December 14, 2007 02:02 AM)
Quote:
" by oy___vi (Wed Jan 25 2006 18:34:55)
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I think the character is Indian not just because they needed an "outsider", but also because the Indian culture is reputedly "spiritual" and as such a great contrast to the culture that Blake Edwards is commenting on.
As far as him being "offensive", I totally agree that he is basically as bumbling as Cluseau (but without the arrogance)."
EXACTLY.
if the French aren't insultedLOL.
Plus, as others have pointed out, Sellers' and Longet's characters are the only decent people in the film, fergawdssakes.
I do think they perhaps chose to make the character Indian because, simply, Bollywood (the Indian film industry) is apparently second only to Hollywood in world profit volume (or maybe they surpass Hollywood, lol, I forget.) Plus, I seem to recall that in the mid to late 60's cinema, Indian filmmakers like Satyajit Ray and all were really coming to world prominence. Makes sense at that point that an Indian actor would be trying to make the jump to Hollywood, and that Hollywood would've wanted to try him out. -
rmkbklyn — 19 years ago(September 24, 2006 12:28 PM)
I am a big fan of Peter Sellers, but as an Indian-American, I was really offended by this movie. I didn't think it was funny at all. If he had been in blackface, there would have been an uproar, but somehow it's ok to do "brownface"
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sun_mig31 — 19 years ago(September 30, 2006 03:55 AM)
i am an indian living in india, and i do not think that this movie is offensive at all to indians,if at all it pokes fun at the upper crust hollywood society, and I think we need a sense of humour to appreciate and the ability to take oneself less seriously. I can imagine why someone would be incensed when they see the depiction of indians in temple of doom, which despite being helmed by a director like spielberg has some of the worst stereotyping of indians, still rather than be offended i would put it down to the ignorance of the makers as well as that of the average viewer.
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ejavignon — 19 years ago(November 10, 2006 04:59 PM)
I think the new Borat movie might be relevant to this thread. One might find his Kazakhstani character to be an offensive (and grossly inaccurate) stereotype, but his real target is western prejudices. Sometimes juxtaposing one set of stereotypes against another can be very enlightening.
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TheMagpie — 19 years ago(November 14, 2006 08:22 PM)
Damn, I was about to make that same intelligent comment.
The use of Hrundi is for the fish out of water aspect and the outside looking in aspect, nothing racial. The same goes for Borat, but it looks as if Kazakhs have a far smaller sense of humour than Indians.
Why do I fall in love with every woman I see who shows me the least bit of attention
Joel Barish -
Rickieroo — 19 years ago(December 14, 2006 07:03 PM)
This movie was not attempting to be racist towards indians but instead having the audience understand what immigrants must go through when arriving to different countries.The whole movie was metaphorically stating the fact that the protagonist , Hrundi was a foreigner trying to conform with these stereotypical north americans. His spot in line? Not having a seat on the dinner table? Like thrid world countries not having a spot in certain assemblies because they are not as technoligically advanced and industrialized as we are. Over all the film, was trying to prove a point that immigrants must face these conflicts and stereotypes everyday but learn how to conform to society.
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cfire-4 — 19 years ago(January 22, 2007 09:01 AM)
I first saw this film in 1976, a week before the Indian Parliament, showing a regrettable lack of humour, banned the film. Interestingly, the film was running to packed houses as the impending ban was well anticipated. My friend and I had to buy tickets from a scalper and I think we paid about double the official price.
If memory serves me well, I remember the theatre (Aurora at Kings Circle, Bombay) was full to bursting they even had people seated in the aisles. And the roof shook with repeated roars of laughter. Far from causing offence, the completely Indian audience loved the film.
If I could make one film that worked as well as this one, I would die a happy man. -
juliano66 — 19 years ago(February 15, 2007 08:24 PM)
Thank you for the enlightening description of an Indian audience's reaction to "The Party" as shown in 1976. I am not surprised that the audience enjoyed the filmSellers' overthetop yet sympathetic performance is even more poignant in
retrospect given the man's complete dedication to his craft and his obvious love for his character and the culture. There is much joy and humour to be had in this movieSellers was his own Austin Powers for a gerneration that was not anywhere near retro yet still backwards in many respects. Movies like The Party we're subtle attempts at breaking through racial attitudes that went way beyond stereotypes Movies like Ghandi could not have happened without stuff like this
preceding it. -
vmacek@mindspring.com — 19 years ago(February 03, 2007 06:27 AM)
I remember in 1968, when this movie came out, people here in the West were quick to stereotype Indians as possessing spiritual enlightenment and a transcendence of the grubby, venal material world. Sellers' character (easily his most likeable and sympathetic) kind of follows the pattern - if you're going to get stereotyped, better to get a good one, I say.
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Grammaw_Oddree — 19 years ago(February 05, 2007 01:38 AM)
I never really thought about it that much, not being Indian myself, but I think that Hrundi is so likable and harmless that we are actually laughing with him and not cruelly at him. The Beatles movie "Help!" from 1965 is more fitting for the that criticism than this film.
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harish-kumar-1955 — 19 years ago(February 19, 2007 11:20 AM)
I think things have changed in India so much that a lot of people would take it as a humorous movie rather than feeling offended.It was stupid to ban this movie in India then..I laughed my heart out watching sellers speak like an indian.I dont think anybody can do even half of sellers job if there was a remake.
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robbystrauss666 — 19 years ago(March 07, 2007 08:54 AM)
i've just watched the film and him and the female french leading lady are the only principalled characters.
sellar's character would find it impossible to be offensive to the other characters in the film through his almost pathological politeness, and i find this character his most endearing part.
listen dear, they are playing our tune. -
radiounactive — 18 years ago(April 17, 2007 03:15 AM)
I'm an Indian, and I loved the movie, I don't know why it should offend anybody. Aren't there people like Hrundi in India?
Many!
I'm Indian too and I didnt find the movie offensive at all.
And said that just one word.
But it was a word that set my heart singing.
Querida