The chatter about Zohran Mamdani dissuading his mother, director Mira Nair, from helming the ‘Harry Potter’ films, is everywhere. Apparently, at the age of 14, the New York City mayoral frontrunner asked Nair to direct ‘The Namesake’, instead. Nair told Variety, “He said to me, ‘Mama, many good directors can make ‘Harry Potter’, but only you can make ‘The Namesake’.”
That got us thinking: what if Mira Nair had directed the iconic Harry Potter films? What would be different?
Much has been said about Parvati and Padma Patil’s costumes for the Yule Ball, that takes place in ‘Harry Potter and The Goblet Of Fire’. However, for the desi kids who watched the Patil twins attend Hogwarts’ biggest party in those outfits, wounds haven’t healed. Would Mira Nair have let that fly if she’d helmed the series? Surely not.
Lehengas would have been sourced. Jewellery would have been worn. Dupattas wouldn’t have been folded into sashes. There would have been justice for Parvati and Padma.
The United Kingdom isn’t among the places where Indians are hard to come by, and London is one of the most racially diverse cities. But in the world of Harry Potter, we don’t see too many desi folk. In fact, Barring J.K. Rowling retroactively assigning characters different races amid outrage about the lack of diversity in the books, Caucasians take centrestage in the narrative.
But, if Mira Nair directed these films, would we still see no Indians except Parvati and Padma Patil? While Harry Potter isn’t exactly rooted in reality given that it’s about a wizard going to a magical school, we’re pretty sure a bit of inclusivity wouldn’t have shattered any illusions.
Harry Potter’s chemistry with Ginny Weasley (or lack thereof), his yearning for his parents, Ron’s jealousy of Harry, the deaths of major characters: these stirring elements were glossed over in the films. Would Mira Nair, the maker of ‘Monsoon Wedding’ and ‘The Namesake’, have let the central characters’ emotional depth be as bland as a bag of flour? We think not.
So, all in all, while these films shaped the childhoods of many a millennial, and turned actors like Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson into household names, Potterverse would have looked very different if Mira Nair had directed it. But, to Zohran Mamdani’s credit, where would cinema be if not for the masterpiece that is ‘The Namesake’? For that call alone, Zohran definitely passes the vibe check!
