http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-LLCpM27WE

He was gay, right?

There is also a famous movie star of the 30s and 40s that also was desi – or half desi and I believe she tried to hide it – I’d be curious to read a bio about her — Merl Oberon Ms. Cathy from Wuthering Heights.

In fact Merle was discovered by, & later married to, Alexander Korda. Her imdb page has some reference to her biographies.

Tintin was one of my favorites comics but looking back from the eyes of an adult mind it appears that maybe many depictions were not PC – Tintin in America

Tintin and India -

But Tintin first brush with India inhabited by the ubiquitous snake charmers, saints and sacred cows — was in Cigars of The Pharaoh, where an argument with a cow nearly ends Snowy’s career until he is saved by the bumbling detectives, Thomson and Thompson. Tintin ends the adventure dressed in a turban and shervani, in a victory procession with the Maharaja of Gaipajama (cow’s pyjamas).

Inspite of “desi” cliches there are many admirers amongst artists and writers for his attention to detail.

You sure that wasn’t “Indianan?” I checked Wiki to confirm and while it says nothing about her race, blue eyes, brown hair, and being a member of 4H who raises dairy cattle all hint that she’s not desi.

And on topic: I actually find Apu more offensive than the Popeye thing. The Popeye thing was a one-shot joke that just comes across as “not funny.” Apu, on the other hand, is just annoying.

wow indeed – I don’t ever remember seeing this and it’s so strange and insulting. Somehow I don’t think Popeye was written with the same sense of social irony as say the Simpsons (in which I’m not offended by the Apu character).

Tipu – that was so interesting about Sabu. There is also a famous movie star of the 30s and 40s that also was desi – or half desi and I believe she tried to hide it – I’d be curious to read a bio about her — Merl Oberon Ms. Cathy from Wuthering Heights.

And this is OT – but the new Ms. America is also half-Indian, one of her parents is white and the other is Indian.

Just a reference to the Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom movie, go to your local library and find Gunga Din done by RKO pictures in 1941. Speilburg was heavily influenced by this movie. The whole cult of Kali thing and the villainous leader were all picked up from this movie. It is incredibly offensive. I wrote a whole paper about it.

I very recently saw that movie, and i didn’t find it that offensive as Temple of doom. Especially when it was made in 1939 and had more class to it than temple of doom. Sure there were some condescending scenes and brown faces, but at least it wasn’t completely out there with monkey brains. At least Gunga din was shown as the village idiot who saves the British army.

I found the episode of Popeye here it happens at about 5:40

Wow…I just finished watching the clip. They insulted not one, but both groups at the same time…Indians (South Asians) and the so-called “American Indians” (Native Americans). Popeye punches the Indian chief so hard, that he flies out of his clothes and turns in to Gandhi…that makes you wanna dig up Christopher Columbus, bring him back to life, kick his ass and kill him again.