Desi Today Magazine
Actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan, whose “Chachi 420” was based on actor Robin Williams “Mrs. Doubtfire”, mourns the death of the Oscar-winning star and also credits him for revolutionising the portrayal of men on the big screen and bringing dignity to male crying.
Williams was found dead Monday in his home in California. The suspected cause of death was suicide. He was 63.
“If the alleged story about his suicide is true then I dislike him for ending his life before his due date of expiry. That’s a copout that I don’t expect of an artist of his calibre. Same applies to my Indian idol Guru Dutt,” Kamal Haasan said in a statement.
Kamal considers comedians as “critics of society”.
“They have masked their anger with humour, constantly maintaining a funny facade leads to depression. Robin Williams’ true nature is being quick to tears. You can see it in his films,” he said.
Williams was popular for his roles in films such as “Good Morning, Vietnam”, “Peter Pan” and “Jumanji”.
“He could have never become a star in the 1960’s, for American film heroes were too scared to cry on screen. The Vietnam War changed the American psyche,” Kamal said
“Rambo was the first popular action hero to show panic cry and scream in fear. Robin Williams brought dignity to male crying. I like him for his talent,” he added.
Condolences poured after the shock announcement of the death of Oscar-winning US actor Robin Williams, whose body was found Monday in his residence in the San Francisco Bay Area.
US President Barack Obama and his family were among the many who sent condolences to Williams’ family, Efe news agency reported. “He arrived in our lives as an alien – but he ended up touching every element of the human spirit. He made us laugh. He made us cry. He gave his immeasurable talent freely and generously to those who needed it most – from our troops stationed abroad to the marginalised on our own streets,” said Obama in a statement.
Disney’s CEO, Robert Iger, described Williams as “an incredible actor and comedic genius” and said he would be remembered for bringing some of the world’s favourite characters to life, from his zany alien on ABC’s “Mork and Mindy” to the irascible genie in Disney’s “Aladdin”.
“I could not be more stunned by the loss of Robin Williams, mensch, great talent, acting partner, genuine soul,” fellow actor Steve Martin tweeted.
“Mr. Williams visited me the first day of filming ‘The Parent Trap’. I will never forget his kindness. What an enormous loss. My condolences,” Lindsay Lohan said.
John Cusack: “RIP mr Williams – beyond great talent – such a kind and lovely person.”
Miley Cyrus: “I can’t take the Robin Williams news. I’ve never cried over someone I’ve never met but I can’t stop????????”
BOLLYWOOD TWEETS:
Shabana Azmi: Robin Williams. What a loss! You leave behind a vacuum difficult to fill but your remarkable body of work will continue to inspire. RIP.
Arjun Rampal: Woke up to the awful and tragic news of Mr. Robbin Williams. He touched our hearts through so many wonderful characters. RIP captain o captain.
Dia Mirza: He warmed the cockles of the heart, tickled the funny bone and made one feel so deeply…But above all he made us think. #RIPRobinWilliams. My childhood would have been incomplete without #MrsDoubtfire #Flubber #Jumanji and so many more of his films… #RobinWilliams.
Abhishek Bachchan: Oh captain, my…… terrible news about the passing of one of my favourite actors. Mr. Robin Williams. This is the 1st time he made anyone cry.
Nargis Fakhri: RIP Robin Williams… makes me so sad to hear this news. My heart aches. Doesn’t matter how successful u r. The mind is a strange place.
