Praying with Anger

Infobox Film | name = Praying With Anger


writer = Story:
M. Night Shyamalan
Screenplay:
M. Night Shyamalan
starring = M. Night Shyamalan
Mike Muthu
director = M. Night Shyamalan
distributor = Cinevista
released = September 12, 1992 (USA)
(Toronto Film Festival)
runtime = 107 min.
language = English
budget = $750,000
imdb_id = 0105162

"Praying with Anger" (1992) was the directorial debut of M. Night Shyamalan. Shyamalan wrote, directed, and starred in the film, which was about a young Indian American's return to India. To date, the film has been shown primarily at film festivals and never received a wide release for mainstream distribution. It has gradually developed a cult following as a seminal work exploring the clash of Western values with those of the Indian subcontinent.

Plot

The film deals with the cultural evolution of Indian American Dev Raman (M. Night Shyamalan), who was raised in the United States but returns to his native country to spend a year as part of a college exchange program. He is initially reluctant, but his mother insists and he respects her wishes. While there, he discovers that his cold and distant father, now deceased, carried a quiet and profound affection towards him. [cite web|url=http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/movie.html?v_id=146949|title='Praying With Anger' Movie Review|author=Stephen Holden|year=1992|publisher=New York Times] While he is in India, he receives guidance and advice from his friend Sanjay (Mike Muthu). Later in the movie when he ignores Sanjay's suggestions, the interaction between Indian and Western cultures quickly precipitates into misunderstanding and violence. [cite web|url=http://www.reelviews.net/movies/p/praying.html|author=James Berardinelli|title=Review: Praying With Anger|source=Reelviews.net|date=1993]

The title of the movie is a reference to Dev's realization that it is possible to pray to the deities of the Hindu pantheon in almost any emotional state except indifference. As he explores his past, and sees the injustices and miscommunications of two very distinct cultures, Dev becomes overwhelmed by conflicting emotions and in his despair finds himself only able to pray with anger.

South Asian American genre

The film joins a relatively limited roster of films dealing with coming of age themes in the South Asian American community. Other notable contributions to the genre include the classic "American Desi", "Green Card Fever", "ABCD", "American Chai", "Americanizing Shelley", "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle", "Monsoon Wedding", "Bend it Like Beckham", "My Son the Fanatic", "My Beautiful Laundrette", "The Namesake" and the East Asian American classic "Better Luck Tomorrow".

Cast

*M. Night Shyamalan - Dev Raman
*Mike Muthu - Sanjay
*Richa Ahuja - Rupal Mohan
*Sushma Ahuja - Mrs. Mohan

References

External links

*imdb title|id=0105162|title=Praying with Anger