| Praying With Anger | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | M. Night Shyamalan |
| Written by | M. Night Shyamalan |
| Starring | M. Night Shyamalan Mike Muthu |
| Music by | Edmund Choi |
| Distributed by | Cinevistaas |
| Release date(s) | September 12, 1992 (USA) (Toronto Film Festival) |
| Running time | 107 min. |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $800,000 |
| Box office | $1,400,000 |
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 work exploring the clash of Western values with those of the Indian subcontinent.
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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.[1] 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.[2]
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.
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, and The Namesake.
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