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Irrfan Khan, India’s homegrown actor extraordinaire has passed away after a series of health complications. This news has shocked everyone who knew him and his work over the span of his acting career. His fan base revered him for his ability to breathe life into the extraordinary lives of ordinary people.
I still remember watching him in New York (2009) where he played the role of an FBI agent who tracks down terrorists in a post 9/11 world. His acting was so effortless that it made me believe he was really a part of the FBI. He was the king of representation for Indians in foreign-language movies. His humble beginning in the industry has inspired people from diverse backgrounds to take up acting.
If one simply recalls the screening of Life of Pi (2012) in India, one would remember the score of applause and whistles from the audience upon his entry in the movie. We remember him today through some of his most iconic roles in the film industry.
I. Life of Pi
Life of Pi is about a young man Pi who survives a disaster at sea and is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery. While cast away, he forms an unexpected connection with another survivor: a fearsome Bengal tiger. The film is based on the book Life of Pi by Yann Martel and received critical acclaim.
When adult Pi Patel said, “I suppose in the end, the whole of life becomes an act of letting go, but what always hurts the most is not taking a moment to say goodbye.” we all felt it, regardless of what we’ve been through. Irrfan gave life to the profound Pi from the movie Life of Pi. His smooth voice narrating the entire movie in the voiceover lends the requisite justice to the story.
II. Karwaan
Avinash and his friend Shaukat decide to take a trip to Kochi to sort out a misunderstanding. However, due to a twist of fate, a teenager ends up joining them on the trip. The character of Shaukat is played by Irrfan.
For every sequence Irrfan is not on the screen, you notice that the film suffers. Irrfan’s fun persona and comedic timing elevates the movie experience for its audience.
Read the full review here.
The movie is available on Amazon Prime.
III. The Namesake
Ashima and Ashoke, immigrant Bengali parents, try to adjust to life in America, while Gogol, their son, tries to find his identity and choose between the two worlds. Irrfan plays the role of Ashoke. The above clip shows the beautiful bond between a father and his young child.
The film is directed by Mira Nair and was one of the early indicators of the mammoth of talent possessed by Irrfan Khan.
The movie is based on a book by Jhumpa Lahiri.
IV. Hindi Medium
Raj and Mita are Pia’s ambitious parents who are vying for a seat in one of the best schools in Delhi. True to their selfless nature, the family jumps through hoops of fire in order to snag a seat for Pia. The film has tackled a lot of societal issues in high-income and well as low- income communities of Delhi.
I love the last scene when Irrfan’s character Raj gives a speech about the accessibility issue of quality education to children from low-income households. He points out the fact that children in public/ government schools can be limitless if presented with the same opportunities as private school children.
After watching this movie I only wanted to say “I Ishq you Raj” to Irrfan’s character Raj.
The movie is available on Amazon Prime.
V. The Lunchbox
An unlikely mistake by a tiffin carrier service results in Ila’s tiffin, that was made for her husband, being delivered to soon-to-retire Saajan Fernandes. An unusual friendship soon develops between the two.
The Lunchbox is the most honest love story to come out of Bollywood in ages. It is a delightful story of love blossoming slowly, one letter a day, between two most unlikely but equally despondent characters you could ever match make.
Saajan Fernandes is a memorable character for all Irrfan fans. His portrayal of a middle-class man on screen makes the character extremely relatable to a larger audience.
You may watch the movie on Netflix.
VI. Piku
Piku is perhaps one of Indian cinema’s most beloved movies owing to its star cast and its endearing storyline. Piku (Deepika Padukone) lives with her 90-year-old father who has age-induced bowel issues, making him irritable and downright mean to everyone around him (Sorry, not sorry, Bhashkor da!). On a road trip from Delhi to Kolkata, Piku and her father befriend their driver for the journey, Rana Chaudhary, played by Irrfan. Irrfan’s character owns the car rental company and bears with the old man’s philosophical rants in between the bathroom trips to ease his troubled bowel. The film also explores the budding romance between Deepika’s and Irrfan’s characters, a pair we would have loved to see more often in upcoming movies.
You may read the full review here.
Feature Image Credit: Cinecelluloid
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