When Om Puri got the Mario Miranda treatment

Here is another way to commemorate the great actor Om Puri. The Mario de Miranda Gallery in Loutolim has released a caricature of the veteran (left) done by the late cartoonist in his inimitable style. Miranda (below) did not immortalise too many Indian movie stars, and it is not known whether the two were friends (though he was a great movie buff, watching up to three movies a day). In fact, it’s quite unlikely given Mario’s Portuguese-Goan roots and fondness for Western movies; and Om Puri’s earthy northern bearing and theatre background.

“He must have been commissioned to create the caricature after Om won an award. I don’t think they had a special connection,” guesses architect Gerard da Cunha, close friend and custodian of Mario’s work.

The original is now up for sale at the online Mario de Miranda gallery (www.mariodemiranda.com) for a deserving Rs 1.5 lakh. A wonderful way to combine our love for two great artists and sons of the soil. 

In other news, Miranda was conferred the Medal of Cultural Merit by Portugal on Thursday and his wife, Habiba (right), accepted it on his behalf from the Portuguese Minister of Culture in Goa.