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un_real_boyNirupam Singh is the only sensible person in his class, and probably in most of Larwood House.
In Nirupam's world, witchcraft is illegal, and the laws against it are excessively severe. Anyone suspected of being a witch will be turned over to the inquisitors and, more than likely, burned at the stake. This is a worldwide matter of fact, and has led to a society where words like "magic" and "witch" have the same shock value as "fuck" and "shit" do in ours.
Nirupam is from India originally, but now lives in England, attending Larwood House, a boarding school in a smallish town. He is one of many "witch-orphans" at Larwood -- his older brother was burned for witchcraft, and his mother for trying to help his brother, prompting his father to move to England.
The thing is, Nirupam is a witch, too.
When Nirupam discovered his witchcraft, he was very, very careful to not use it, to not give anyone any reason at all to suspect him. And that's what sets him apart from his classmates in 6B. As they discover their witchcraft, they can't resist using it, in big or small ways. Nirupam forbears -- his brother and mother's deaths are too powerful for him to forget himself (except once, but that was very small).
He's tall for his age, and lanky, and smart, and uncoordinated and weak enough that his size doesn't protect him from the school's bullies. He does his best to avoid drawing attention to himself, of course, and so he spends much of his time quiet, in the background, observing and figuring things out. But he's sure of himself, and when given a chance, he has a very strong personality indeed.
He's a very good actor, too.
Witch Week is one of my favorite books by any author, and by Diana Wynne Jones in particular. And nearly every person I know who's read it has said that Nirupam is one of their favorite characters. I have to agree -- I have a soft spot for characters who are competent, and in a sea of adolescent hubris and flat-out stupidity, Nirupam's logic, maturity, and competency stand out.
The other thing that intrigues me about playing Nirupam in Milliways is his race. DWJ even touches in canon, very lightly, on Nirupam being Indian-British. As has been mentioned more than once, Milliways has a lot of white characters in it -- this is my bit to balance that a little. Which isn't to say that I'm not terrified of screwing up that aspect of his character, but it's a chance to push my own boundaries as well as those of the bar.
In Nirupam's world, witchcraft is illegal, and the laws against it are excessively severe. Anyone suspected of being a witch will be turned over to the inquisitors and, more than likely, burned at the stake. This is a worldwide matter of fact, and has led to a society where words like "magic" and "witch" have the same shock value as "fuck" and "shit" do in ours.
Nirupam is from India originally, but now lives in England, attending Larwood House, a boarding school in a smallish town. He is one of many "witch-orphans" at Larwood -- his older brother was burned for witchcraft, and his mother for trying to help his brother, prompting his father to move to England.
The thing is, Nirupam is a witch, too.
When Nirupam discovered his witchcraft, he was very, very careful to not use it, to not give anyone any reason at all to suspect him. And that's what sets him apart from his classmates in 6B. As they discover their witchcraft, they can't resist using it, in big or small ways. Nirupam forbears -- his brother and mother's deaths are too powerful for him to forget himself (except once, but that was very small).
He's tall for his age, and lanky, and smart, and uncoordinated and weak enough that his size doesn't protect him from the school's bullies. He does his best to avoid drawing attention to himself, of course, and so he spends much of his time quiet, in the background, observing and figuring things out. But he's sure of himself, and when given a chance, he has a very strong personality indeed.
He's a very good actor, too.
Witch Week is one of my favorite books by any author, and by Diana Wynne Jones in particular. And nearly every person I know who's read it has said that Nirupam is one of their favorite characters. I have to agree -- I have a soft spot for characters who are competent, and in a sea of adolescent hubris and flat-out stupidity, Nirupam's logic, maturity, and competency stand out.
The other thing that intrigues me about playing Nirupam in Milliways is his race. DWJ even touches in canon, very lightly, on Nirupam being Indian-British. As has been mentioned more than once, Milliways has a lot of white characters in it -- this is my bit to balance that a little. Which isn't to say that I'm not terrified of screwing up that aspect of his character, but it's a chance to push my own boundaries as well as those of the bar.
