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Om Puri was seen in a very unusual English-language film titled The Hangman directed by debutant Vishal Bhandari. Subhash K Jha looks back at the drama, which clocks 15 years on February 5th.

Said Om, “It’s about the turmoil of a hang-man. It’s a somber film about a man who doesn’t want his son to be a hangman. My son finally ends up in the gallows. We all know how tough it was for them to find a hangman for the recent execution of that boy for rape and murder in Kolkata. My character portrays the stress and drama of being in the most thankless job on this earth. It’s not an entertaining film by any means. But it’s a very powerful film.”

Om Puri, playing a character apparently inspired by real life, is in emotional form as the doting dreaming father of an earnest son who,...

Film: ‘The Hangman’; Cast: Om Puri, Shreyas Talpade, Gulshan Grover, Amrita Bedi; Director: Vishal Bhandari; Rating: ** 1/2

It is a long-delayed film but one that comes with its own baggage of silent merit. ‘The Hangman’ hinges on a rather heart-wrenching irony. A noble hangman called Shiva (Om Puri) must finally execute the son on whom hinges his whole hope of the future.

Tragically, this executioner’s tale suffers from a linguistic anomaly. For some strange and inexplicable reason, the characters located in a Maharashtrian village speak in English. Their clipped, self-conscious accent jars and reduces the impact of the powerful.

Genre: Social Director: Vishal Bhandari Cast: Om Puri, Gulshan Grover, Shreyas Talpade, Smita Jaykar Synopsis: The Hangman is the story about one man’s quest to attain redemption. Actor Om Puri, who gives a compelling performance as the aged and tired executioner Shiva, has been forced into his forefathers’ profession. Shiva’s overwhelming desire is to create a better life for his son Ganesh (played by Shreyas Talpade). He seeks help from his friend, the prison jailor (played by Gulshan Grover). Ganesh is taken to the city under the jailor’s guardianship where he pursues his father’s ultimate dream — that of becoming ...

Akshar Media Productions forthcoming film The Hangman stars perfectionist Om Puri, Gulshan Grover, Shreyas Talpade, Smita Jayakar, Tom Alter, Nazneen Ghani and Amrita Bedi. The Hangman is produced by Bipin Patel and directed by Vishal Bhandari.

The Hangman is an unconventional film on crime and punishment in English language. It’s a story of a man (Shiva) who has executed hundreds of criminals as he was forced into this work due to the family tradition. Shiva (Om Puri) battles the social stigmatism which surrounds his unique profession. The film portrays the guilt-ridden executioner who wants his only.