April 9th sees the release of hilarious new British comedy, The Infidel, starring British-Iranian actor and comedian Omid Djalili as Muslim family man ‘Mahmud Nasir’
BY RAJIB RAHMAN | APR 6, 2010
Featuring an original screenplay by writer and comedian David Baddiel, ‘The Infidel’ brings a unique twist to the age-old question of nature versus nurture.
'The Infidel' also stars Archie Panjabi (‘Bend it Like Beckham’, ‘East is East’), newcomer Amit Shah, Ravin Ganatra, Igal Naor (‘Greenzone’, ‘House of Saddam’), and Emmy award winner Richard Schiff (‘The West Wing’), as well as featuring an array of comedy-cameos from Matt Lucas, David Schneider, Miranda Hart and Paul Kaye.
Djalili’s character Mahmud is a loving husband to wife Saamiya (Panjabi), doting father to Rashid (Shah) and something of a “relaxed” Muslim. After the death of his mother, Mahmud is hit by a shock revelation when he discovers not only was he adopted at birth, but that he is Jewish, and his real name is Solly Shimshillewitz!
Djalili says of his character: “Mahmud is a second generation Pakistani Muslim. He’s fat, he likes his football. He’s someone who’s very masculine and very London and very much a bloke. He feels as British as everyone else but he just happens to be a Pakistani and a Muslim... until he discovers that he was born a Jew, and then he has to deal with that.”
As Mahmud tumbles headlong into a full scale identity crisis, the only person he can turn to is his neighbour, Lenny Goldberg (Schiff), a drunken and somewhat anarchic cabbie who agrees to teach him – in his own inimitable style - how to be a Jew. What’s more, adding to his woes, Mahmud has to impress the fiery Islamic cleric Arshad Al-Masri (Naor), future father-in-law to his son Rashid.
The film is directed by Josh Appignanesi and produced by Uzma Hasan, one of the only female Muslim film producers in the UK. Hasan says: “'The Infidel' is a comedy about a British family with a poignant message at the heart of it – in the midst of learning whether he is a Muslim or a Jew, what Mahmud finds is his humanity.”
'The Infidel' is set to be released across the globe in over 62 countries, including the US and across the Middle East, after its UK release on 9th April. 'The Infidel' has its US premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on 25th April followed by an American theatrical release. Such international success is unusual for a £1m British Comedy.
'The Infidel' will have its world premiere in association with Comic Relief©, on 8th April at the 3,500 seat Hammersmith Apollo, the home of British comedy.
