Episode 134: Agam Darshi Returns
When Agam Darshi visited the YVR Screen Scene Podcast in 2019, she was preparing to embark on the adventure of a lifetime: to Sri Lanka, to film a pivotal role in famed director Deepa Mehta’s Funny Boy. Funny Boy is an adaptation of Shyam Selvadurai’s 1994 novel about Arjun, a young Tamil boy from a wealthy family navigating hate against two key aspects of his identity: his sexuality and his ethnicity. Agam is Radha Auntie, the lone voice who encourages Arjun to be himself, to be precocious, to be the Grand Diva, to cherish those parts of him that make him different and special. The film has garnered much acclaim since premiering in December 2020 (Ava DuVernay’s distribution company Array acquired Funny Boy and released it internationally on Netflix), as well as controversy about its casting of non-Tamil actors in key roles.
In this riveting episode of the YVR Screen Scene Podcast, Agam discusses the joys, challenges, and controversy of Funny Boy, as well as what she’s learned about art and storytelling from Deepa Mehta. Agam also previews her feature film directorial debut, tentatively titled Indians in Cowtown and now filming in Regina – and for the first time, she reveals the shining stars that will appear alongside her in her film (a list that includes some beloved friends-of-the-podcast!).
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This episode of the YVR Screen Scene Podcast is sponsored by Fish Flight Entertainment. http://www.fishflightentertainment.com
RELATED LINKS
Funny Boy trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqD27WdiAkE
Funny Boy on CBC Gem: https://gem.cbc.ca/media/funny-boy/season-1/episode-1/38e815a-0136fc41662
https://www.yvrscreenscene.com/home/2019/10/10/episode-twenty-nine-agam-darshi
https://www.yvrscreenscene.com/home/2017/12/11/agam-darshi-is-unrecognizable-on-dirk-gentlys-holistic-detective-agency
https://www.vancourier.com/entertainment/agam-darshi-goes-undercover-1.882285
https://www.vancourier.com/entertainment/beyond-bollywood-vancouver-international-south-asian-film-festival-returns-nov-30-1.1622153
https://www.vancourier.com/entertainment/vancouver-actresses-create-their-own-film-industry-1.879239
https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/courier-archive/general-archive/filmmaker-delves-into-rape-culture-with-unflinching-new-feature-3043421
SOCIAL MEDIA
https://twitter.com/DarshiAgam
https://www.instagram.com/agamdarshi/
http://www.facebook.com/yvrscreenscene
http://www.instagram.com/yvrscreenscene
http://www.twitter.com/sabrinarmf
CREDITS
Host and executive producer: Sabrina Furminger
Editor: Simon Furminger
Producer: Paul Furminger
Patreon ad reader: Mariana Furminger
Technical support: Tyson Bradock
Original music: Dane Deviller