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Indian actress in lead female character in American TV network
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By Gadfly
At last the long-unexpected and lately much awaited red-letter day arrived. It was huge; it was historic and it was happening in America.
Most Indians in America (or anywhere) didn’t imagine or expect it until recently but they all rejoiced in it. One of their gals made it. India’s daughter made it big in America too. For the first time in TV history, at least in America, an Indian actress is not only a female lead (a big deal in itself) but THE lead character in a major network TV series. Quantico.
The person leaving behind his/her mark of uniqueness is often the one least expected as is the case here. Perhaps I am the minority who least expected it. Obviously Madhuri Dixit, the biggest star in recent past and a top-quality talent was not the type for this role. She also wouldn’t have accepted it even if she was young enough for it. However, in her as well as all other actresses’ case, the accent would have been a major issue. Priyanka Chopra had that advantage over other Indian actresses.
Before the premier of Quantico, I also saw Miss Chopra on Jimmy Kimmel Live. She came across as intelligent, comfortable in her skin & more importantly, carried herself with a good measure of confidence. Obviously, she has a square head on her shoulders for which
I would credit her upbringing even though her intelligence is an added advantage. In her past interviews, long before her debut on American TV talk show circuit, she came across as a down to earth person. She wins your heart and head.
Talking to a newspaper in the context of a biopic touching on her life, she’s reported to have said, “I don’t think I have become so big that people would make a film on me. There are a lot of things that I still need to achieve. Maybe when I turn 40, people can decide to make a film, because I am sure I will achieve whatever I want to by that age,” (Apparently, she’ll learn at the age of 60 that she achieved a lot more from age 40-60 or7 0 than before 40.)
About Quantico though, it’s largely an unknown quantity being only a week old.
The pilot seemed like a 24 (Fox series)-redux. I have wondered for quite some time why I have been less impressed with most of today’s (last decade or so) films & TV shows. Is it my age? To some extent, that may be so.
But I always believed (& said so) that the sign of a good play/film/TV series is how many lines you remember later. It doesn’t matter if it’s a comedy or drama.
Profundity is not necessarily a serious stuff but it has to be articulate. Yes, articulate, as in a person. And how you say something comes out more effectively when you have something substantive to say. And with those two, characterization follows automatically. And that is the problem with Quantico’s pilot episode. Shallow characters.
Yes, I know it’s only one episode so far. Too early to look for depth. But what we have seen in the pilot is the set-up. And the set-up doesn’t show much promise for depth. It shows a lot of gimmicks. In Hollywood they call it ‘shtick’.
If the pilot reminded me of the Fox series 24, Miss Chopra’ character reminded me of badass Olivia Benson character from Law & Order-SVU. Though not a great example of good lines, it would be a good start if Quantico aspired to that level.
More gimmicks than depth (even considering it’s a pilot episode) creates a problem because that ties down your lead character to a shallow representation of someone trying to be deep. Won’t work. Though, Miss Chopra shows her talent in this pilot episode, the script doesn’t leave much room for depth. And you can’t blame her for that.
Here’s an example. The pilot opens with two recruits – Ryan Booth & Alex Parrish (Chopra’s character) on a flight on their way to their FBI training. Two lines over drinks on the flight and the next scene finds them having sex in the conventional American way (you figure it out) in the front passenger’s seat of a car.
When later they come face to face after being surprised to see each in the same FBI training, the guy - Ryan Booth - holds his hand out, introduces himself and says, “Nice to meet you,” perhaps being gentlemanly (God forbid) not wanting to embarrass her by reminding of their earlier libidinous encounter. ‘Thanks but no thanks’ seems to be Alex Parrish’s response to that gesture.
With a sardonic nod of her head and face to match (sardonic), she says, “We had sex in your car six hours ago.” (Even Olivia Benson of SVU wouldn’t be so much in your face.) Mark her words. She didn’t say ‘we just made love in your car six hours ago’. No. Equal rights means casual sex works both ways.
Not giving up, Ryan says, “I didn’t think you’d want everyone to know that.”
Our Miss Parrish says, “Why not?”
I guess having indiscriminate sex is as pc (pun intended) as breast-feeding in public these days. Message received.
I’d have had Ryan respond to that with: “Decency, stupid? Have you heard of that? If not, I’m sure you have at least heard of dignity? No? Such a pity because I thought being a woman and being dignified goes together. My bad.”
Later he asks her, “You & me in my car. Do you do that often?” Now there is an insulting put-down right there.
But how does Alex Parrish respond? She says, “Not as often as I would like.” Now there is an unusual American woman - in your face and in your bed without embarrassment or shame.
Or is she? Equal rights again. If that sounds too old-fashioned, I plead guilty. I don’t mean to demand higher standards of behavior from women. It’s just that women do maintain higher standards of behavior and more dignity than most men. In most societies, women constantly set the standards because men keep breaking those standards, going below par. I suggest it is better to try and raise men’s standards of behavior than lower women’s standards and dignity. But that’s a (moral) discussion for another day.
That exchange gives you an idea about the depth of writing. Unfortunately, that is true of most of the hit TV series on the network TV today. It reminds me of the drama critic (Cary Grant) in Arsenic and Old Lace talking to a guy going to jail, about a play that had just opened on Broadway in New York. “That play is so bad, “says the drama critic, “It’ll still be running on Broadway five years from now when you get out of jail.”
So it is possible that this series could be a hit. No one can predict the success or failure of play or a film or a TV series. However one thing is certain. The Quantico role has catapulted Miss Chopra into a league of her own among the Indian actresses. She has made a place for herself on American TV probably for a longer run and will be getting more offers in the US. That is a safer bet than Quantico.
Finally, her screen debut occurred in the 2002 Tamil film Thamizhan as the love interest of the hero played by Vijay. The film was praised for its wit and dialogue, although Chopra’s character was seen as lacking in depth; Indian news and entertainment portal Rediff.com wrote that she showed “no promise”. If the character was lacking in depth, how much promise can she show? Since then, though, she has left no doubt about her promise.
Get ready to achieve a lot more Miss Chopra, even beyond 40. You will, most likely, surprise yourself.
Send responses to [email protected]
At last the long-unexpected and lately much awaited red-letter day arrived. It was huge; it was historic and it was happening in America.
Most Indians in America (or anywhere) didn’t imagine or expect it until recently but they all rejoiced in it. One of their gals made it. India’s daughter made it big in America too. For the first time in TV history, at least in America, an Indian actress is not only a female lead (a big deal in itself) but THE lead character in a major network TV series. Quantico.
The person leaving behind his/her mark of uniqueness is often the one least expected as is the case here. Perhaps I am the minority who least expected it. Obviously Madhuri Dixit, the biggest star in recent past and a top-quality talent was not the type for this role. She also wouldn’t have accepted it even if she was young enough for it. However, in her as well as all other actresses’ case, the accent would have been a major issue. Priyanka Chopra had that advantage over other Indian actresses.
Before the premier of Quantico, I also saw Miss Chopra on Jimmy Kimmel Live. She came across as intelligent, comfortable in her skin & more importantly, carried herself with a good measure of confidence. Obviously, she has a square head on her shoulders for which
I would credit her upbringing even though her intelligence is an added advantage. In her past interviews, long before her debut on American TV talk show circuit, she came across as a down to earth person. She wins your heart and head.
Talking to a newspaper in the context of a biopic touching on her life, she’s reported to have said, “I don’t think I have become so big that people would make a film on me. There are a lot of things that I still need to achieve. Maybe when I turn 40, people can decide to make a film, because I am sure I will achieve whatever I want to by that age,” (Apparently, she’ll learn at the age of 60 that she achieved a lot more from age 40-60 or7 0 than before 40.)
About Quantico though, it’s largely an unknown quantity being only a week old.
The pilot seemed like a 24 (Fox series)-redux. I have wondered for quite some time why I have been less impressed with most of today’s (last decade or so) films & TV shows. Is it my age? To some extent, that may be so.
But I always believed (& said so) that the sign of a good play/film/TV series is how many lines you remember later. It doesn’t matter if it’s a comedy or drama.
Profundity is not necessarily a serious stuff but it has to be articulate. Yes, articulate, as in a person. And how you say something comes out more effectively when you have something substantive to say. And with those two, characterization follows automatically. And that is the problem with Quantico’s pilot episode. Shallow characters.
Yes, I know it’s only one episode so far. Too early to look for depth. But what we have seen in the pilot is the set-up. And the set-up doesn’t show much promise for depth. It shows a lot of gimmicks. In Hollywood they call it ‘shtick’.
If the pilot reminded me of the Fox series 24, Miss Chopra’ character reminded me of badass Olivia Benson character from Law & Order-SVU. Though not a great example of good lines, it would be a good start if Quantico aspired to that level.
More gimmicks than depth (even considering it’s a pilot episode) creates a problem because that ties down your lead character to a shallow representation of someone trying to be deep. Won’t work. Though, Miss Chopra shows her talent in this pilot episode, the script doesn’t leave much room for depth. And you can’t blame her for that.
Here’s an example. The pilot opens with two recruits – Ryan Booth & Alex Parrish (Chopra’s character) on a flight on their way to their FBI training. Two lines over drinks on the flight and the next scene finds them having sex in the conventional American way (you figure it out) in the front passenger’s seat of a car.
When later they come face to face after being surprised to see each in the same FBI training, the guy - Ryan Booth - holds his hand out, introduces himself and says, “Nice to meet you,” perhaps being gentlemanly (God forbid) not wanting to embarrass her by reminding of their earlier libidinous encounter. ‘Thanks but no thanks’ seems to be Alex Parrish’s response to that gesture.
With a sardonic nod of her head and face to match (sardonic), she says, “We had sex in your car six hours ago.” (Even Olivia Benson of SVU wouldn’t be so much in your face.) Mark her words. She didn’t say ‘we just made love in your car six hours ago’. No. Equal rights means casual sex works both ways.
Not giving up, Ryan says, “I didn’t think you’d want everyone to know that.”
Our Miss Parrish says, “Why not?”
I guess having indiscriminate sex is as pc (pun intended) as breast-feeding in public these days. Message received.
I’d have had Ryan respond to that with: “Decency, stupid? Have you heard of that? If not, I’m sure you have at least heard of dignity? No? Such a pity because I thought being a woman and being dignified goes together. My bad.”
Later he asks her, “You & me in my car. Do you do that often?” Now there is an insulting put-down right there.
But how does Alex Parrish respond? She says, “Not as often as I would like.” Now there is an unusual American woman - in your face and in your bed without embarrassment or shame.
Or is she? Equal rights again. If that sounds too old-fashioned, I plead guilty. I don’t mean to demand higher standards of behavior from women. It’s just that women do maintain higher standards of behavior and more dignity than most men. In most societies, women constantly set the standards because men keep breaking those standards, going below par. I suggest it is better to try and raise men’s standards of behavior than lower women’s standards and dignity. But that’s a (moral) discussion for another day.
That exchange gives you an idea about the depth of writing. Unfortunately, that is true of most of the hit TV series on the network TV today. It reminds me of the drama critic (Cary Grant) in Arsenic and Old Lace talking to a guy going to jail, about a play that had just opened on Broadway in New York. “That play is so bad, “says the drama critic, “It’ll still be running on Broadway five years from now when you get out of jail.”
So it is possible that this series could be a hit. No one can predict the success or failure of play or a film or a TV series. However one thing is certain. The Quantico role has catapulted Miss Chopra into a league of her own among the Indian actresses. She has made a place for herself on American TV probably for a longer run and will be getting more offers in the US. That is a safer bet than Quantico.
Finally, her screen debut occurred in the 2002 Tamil film Thamizhan as the love interest of the hero played by Vijay. The film was praised for its wit and dialogue, although Chopra’s character was seen as lacking in depth; Indian news and entertainment portal Rediff.com wrote that she showed “no promise”. If the character was lacking in depth, how much promise can she show? Since then, though, she has left no doubt about her promise.
Get ready to achieve a lot more Miss Chopra, even beyond 40. You will, most likely, surprise yourself.
Send responses to [email protected]