MovieChat Forums > Monsoon Wedding (2002) Discussion > Character of P K Dubey

Character of P K Dubey

posted 18 years ago by rteirney
8 replies | jump to latest

The actor who played PK did a remarkably good job to enrich the script with a great deal of subtlety and depth of expression.

PK came across as rather a showman, a loveable rogue, a real fast talker and a man who commands attention, generally.

I am interested to learn if the character spoke Punjabi too or whether his speech was in Hindi.

Could anyone hazard a guess as to his caste? Would he have been of a higher caste than Alice ... is that one reason he initially resists his attraction to her or is confused by it?

Tell me about the yellow powder anointing his forehead in the earlier part of the movie. Does that symbolise that he is a Hindu devotee or is it just a fashion item or to bring him luck with the stocks and shares? I thought it was interesting that when he made the decision to propose to Alice, he washed that off. (What is it called on men - I think it's a bindi on women if stuck on, but I'm not sure of the powder ash.)

As you can see, I have many questions about PK, so please respond and enlighten me, if you can.

[–] len_dsouza 18 years ago

I think he spoke hindi but a far unrefined dialect of it. Its been ages since i saw monsoon wedding but i think he speaks 'street' hindi in the movie.

Yea i think he was of a higher caste to Alice too, like i said its been a while since i saw the movie and as im not hindu, i might be wrong, but when he reaches home to his mother, and takes his shirt off, IF he wears a white thread-like thing diagonally around his torso, he is a 'Brahmin', i dont quite rememebr if he does have that , if he does then he is a brahmin....it was the highest among 4 casts,from wht i know, thats y, as u pointed out, he probably resisted Alice.

Bout the yellow powder, i think that signifies him being a hindu devotee yea:S

cheers!

[–] radhaone 18 years ago

Hello,
Just someone here who longs for India and Indian people in any form. My spiritual teacher is in South India and I'm sometimes "homesick". Ridiculous westerner, I guess. All the same, this actor was an absolute revelation to me with his rubber face and depths revealed in a surprising instant. What an unsympathetic, sympathetic guy! Talk about an adorable, complex anti-hero. I was so rooting for him by the end, he was breaking my heart worse than the oh-so-conflicted girl who was harboring the dark secret about her "funny uncle".

This crazy movie is so HUMAN, so universal and so determinedly and unashamedly Indian at the same time, I could have sold my house for a plane ticket and a room at the ashram for a month. LOL. The nature of the people of India gets under your skin. They are so earthy, smart and yet refined. They are like from another planet.

I used to live where I could meet other devotees and go to bhajans, but not now. I miss it all!

[–] harleyquinnn 18 years ago

I loved this movie and I especially loved Vijay Raaz's performance as Dubey. The romance between him and Alice was so subtle and moving.

The hitman needs a ride.

[–] i-am-time 18 years ago

Dubey - Going by his last name, He is probably a Brahmin and as for Alice - as you can tell, she is Christian so she doesn't fall under the hindu caste system..which is why he might be hesitant in considering her as his gf/wife.
The thread is a sign of a brahmin - all brahmin men(after puberty) have to wear that as a sign that they are grown and have reached a new phase in their lives...and most wear it till the end of life..but some wud prefer not to wear it always.
The thing on his forehead(its called teeka in hindi..not pronounced the same as chicken 'tikka' lol) is also a sign tht he's religious.

well... hope tht helped.

[–] tsrts 16 years ago

The guy who played PK made me think of him as an Indian version of Vince Vaughn.

[–] IzzyTree 16 years ago

Good comparison -- a professional wedding planner/crasher/perpetual bachelor. :)

[–] everlastingGOBSTOPPER 16 years ago

looks wise, he reminded me of an indian marc anthony. i really liked his character.

[–] robschmidt 16 years ago

I don't know much about caste, but Alice was a humble servant girl. PK fancied himself a bigshot businessman--wheeling and dealing on his cellphone, too important to get his hands dirty, etc. He's the type who initially would overlook a nearly invisible girl in any culture.