East and West, the twain, which, according to Mr. Kipling “shall never meet”, have indeed met with the film ‘East is East’.
A stupendous success with the audience and the critics in the west and screened at more than 25 international film festivals, East is East is surely an international offering.
‘East is East’ is the story of Gorge Khan, a Pakistani immigrant married to an Englishwoman Ella (Linda Bassett) and their six sons and a daughter living in a racially mixed neighborhood near Manchester in the 70’s. George is a man who cannot accept ideas and concepts that are alien to his upbringing. Moreover, he is determined to give his young children a traditional Muslim upbringing, but the young Khans want to be the citizens of the modern world. They feel caught between the bell bottom culture of the 70’s and their father's orthodox ideals.
Unable to digest his father's ideals the eldest son runs away from home and other siblings adopts a rebellious attitude towards George. Stuck between their father’s future plans for them and their personal aspirations they, like all mixed race kids, are searching for their own identity.
The young Khans launch a full-scale rebellion on George when he selects their life partners without their consent. George feels humiliated and bewildered by his children’s disrespect and rebellious attitude towards his ideals. On the other hand Ella plays the typical role of a wife and an understanding mother to keep the family from falling apart and make George realize now important it is for their children to have their own life.
Om Puri’s portrayal of George Khan in the movie is absolutely commendable. As the film’s producer, Leslie Udwin says, “Om brings a vulnerability and a charm to George that won’t allow you to hate him, and the audience reaction to the character becomes more and more complex because of Om’s performance.”
Leslie Udwin was overwhelmed when she saw Ayub Khan Din’s play by the same title and decided to bring it to the silver screen. Soon Irish director Damien O’Donnell was roped in to direct the movie, and Om Puri was their first choice to play George Khan.
‘East is East’ has certain dramatic moments as well as many extremely funny ones, and they gel together beautifully. Besides the 70s look which gives a funny shade to the movie, the issues with which it deals are very much contemporary and relevant today. Therefore, more than a film about Pakistanis in England, ‘East is East’ is a film about tradition verses progress, about old values versus new ideologies. And these are the themes, which everyone can relate to.
East and West, the twain, which, according to Mr. Kipling “shall never meet”, have indeed met with the film ‘East is East’. 