Praying with Anger
Encyclopedia
Praying with Anger 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 work exploring the clash of Western
values with those of the Indian subcontinent
.
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. 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.
The title of the movie is a reference to Dev's realization that one may pray to the deities of the Hindu
pantheon in almost any emotional state except indifference. As he explores his past and sees the injustice and miscommunication of two distinct cultures, Dev is overwhelmed by emotion and finds himself only able to pray with anger.
, Green Card Fever
, ABCD
, American Chai
, Americanizing Shelley
, and The Namesake
.
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
debut of M. Night Shyamalan
M. Night Shyamalan
Manoj Nelliyattu Shyamalan,known professionally as M. Night Shyamalan, is an Indian-born American screenwriter, film director, and producer known for making movies with contemporary supernatural plots that climax with a twist ending. He is also known for filming his movies in and around...
. Shyamalan wrote, directed, and starred in the film, which was about a young Indian American
Indian American
Indian Americans are Americans whose ancestral roots lie in India. The U.S. Census Bureau popularized the term Asian Indian to avoid confusion with Indigenous peoples of the Americas who are commonly referred to as American Indians.-The term: Indian:...
's return to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. 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 work exploring the clash of Western
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
values with those of the Indian subcontinent
Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent, also Indian Subcontinent, Indo-Pak Subcontinent or South Asian Subcontinent is a region of the Asian continent on the Indian tectonic plate from the Hindu Kush or Hindu Koh, Himalayas and including the Kuen Lun and Karakoram ranges, forming a land mass which extends...
.
Plot
The film deals with the cultural evolution of Indian AmericanIndian American
Indian Americans are Americans whose ancestral roots lie in India. The U.S. Census Bureau popularized the term Asian Indian to avoid confusion with Indigenous peoples of the Americas who are commonly referred to as American Indians.-The term: Indian:...
Dev Raman (M. Night Shyamalan), who was raised in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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. While he is in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, 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.
The title of the movie is a reference to Dev's realization that one may pray to the deities of the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
pantheon in almost any emotional state except indifference. As he explores his past and sees the injustice and miscommunication of two distinct cultures, Dev is overwhelmed by emotion and 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 DesiAmerican Desi
American Desi is a 2001 American film with Indian influence, notable for featuring many prominent South Asian American actors. Also featured is an a cappella version of the Hindi classic "Aap Jaisa Koi", sung by Penn Masala and originally from the movie Qurbani...
, Green Card Fever
Green Card Fever
Green Card Fever is an independent film from 2003. It was produced by Net Effect Media and released worldwide following a series of film festival runs....
, ABCD
ABCD (film)
ABCD is a 2005 Tamil language film released in India. It was directed by Sharavana Subbaiya.The film starred Shaam, Sneha, Aparna and Nandana Kumar along with Vadivelu, who provided the comic relief.-Plot:...
, American Chai
American Chai
American Chai is a 2002 film written and directed by Indian American director Anurag Mehta. His brother, Aalok Mehta, played the starring role opposite Sheetal Sheth, who had previously starred in the similar genre film ABCD...
, Americanizing Shelley
Americanizing Shelley
Americanizing Shelley is a Hollywood romantic comedy film with some Bollywood elements. It stars Beau Bridges, Namrata Singh Gujral playing the title role of Shelley, Shaheen Khan, Wil Wheaton, Noureen DeWulf, Tony Yalda and Ajay Mehta....
, and The Namesake
The Namesake
The Namesake is the second book by author Jhumpa Lahiri. It was originally a novella published in The New Yorker and was later expanded to a full length novel. It explores many of the same emotional and cultural themes as her Pulitzer Prize-winning short story collection Interpreter of Maladies...
.
Cast
- M. Night ShyamalanM. Night ShyamalanManoj Nelliyattu Shyamalan,known professionally as M. Night Shyamalan, is an Indian-born American screenwriter, film director, and producer known for making movies with contemporary supernatural plots that climax with a twist ending. He is also known for filming his movies in and around...
- Dev Raman - Mike Muthu — Sanjay
- Richa Ahuja — Rupal Mohan
- Sushma Ahuja — Mrs. Mohan