2008 Literature Workshop: Interview with Author of ‘Off-Centre’

Title says it all. I finally found the small notes I made during last year’s Literature Workshop when the previous 4E2 was interviewing Haresh Sharma on ‘Off-Centre’. We haven’t recapped the story since the start of this year so I hope this can actually help everyone refresh their memories if they have forgotten some things about ‘Off-Centre’…

(These notes are NOT in order. The sequence of the questions asked was jumbled up and I have forgotten most of the questions that were asked.)

What is the Symbolism of the Bird in ‘Off-Centre’?

Symbol of Freedom:

- Singing

- Flying, yet dangerous

Symbol of Oppression (Related to Saloma):

- Entrapment (cage)

- Trapped, yet safe

(Compare to ‘The Martyrdom of Helena Rodrigues’ in Island Voices. George is trapped by Helena, but is he safe?)

Magic Realism:

- Vinod enters Saloma’s room in his dream.

- Emily takes a clothes hanger in dream and died the next day.

**Note: Vinod and Emily’s deliberate likeness with each other.

What is the use of the Narrator in ‘Off-Centre’?

Narrator— the fracture in mental patients

(a friend/ positive consciousness)

- represents the character to audience (mental patients— awkward, eg: Saloma)

- idea of direct speech for Vinod and Saloma (eg: Vinod’s stand-up, trying to win audiences’ favour)

What is the significance of Emily and Razali?

**Metaphorical Characters

Emily:

- metaphorical ‘angel’

- dramatic character who empowers others

- shows sanity

- words like ‘pure’ and ‘impure’ (relates to impact) signify metaphorical personality

- turning point made for Vinod (appearance, after robbery, in dream/ tries to ‘heal’ Vinod after robbery)

- elements of Vinod in Emily

Razali:

- connection with Saloma (eg: Saloma ‘sings’ in her heart and he can ‘hear’)

- ‘guard’ related to ‘guardian’ (connection to ‘God’)

- ‘Narrator’ for Vinod (switches to and fro from ‘Character’ to ‘Narrator’)

What is the relationship between Vinod and Saloma? (***Compare and Contrast)

- Similar in ways of being a ‘mental patient’

- Difference in backgrounds (eg: education, family) (Relate to ‘Evening Under Frangipani’ in Island Voices)

- Vinod always ‘takes care’ of Saloma (earlier parts)

- Saloma becomes more independent, Vinod loses his ‘purpose’ (later parts)

- Saloma tries to help Vinod but unable to ‘save’ him

What do the songs in ‘Off-Centre’ represent?

- Songs used as transitional devices in play (*no specific representations)

- Dance: gives ‘freedom’ (eg: Vinod— fidgety, intense music results in death in the last parts)

“Give. Sympathize. Comfort.”— Emily’s attempt to impart (empower) it into Vinod to show his mind.

(Relate to Island Voices, lack of Community Spirit, too much Individualism)

Does Mak in ‘Off-Centre’ represent a part of the Society?

- Typical Singaporean of not knowing what to do. (Relate to ‘Corridor’ in Island Voices)

- Fragile character yet trying to be strong (eg: telling Saloma, she will take care of her)

- Pressurized trying to raise Saloma who had mental illness (Relate to ‘Release’ in Island Voices)

- Opposition to Saloma taking medicine but meant well

Structure of ‘Off-Centre’

Idea of film—

- Begins at Oasis Club Functions, Ends at Oasis Club Functions

(Structure mirror/symmetry of Vinod and Saloma)

No real beginning or ending—

- Sense of entering ‘Reality’ (Similar to Island Voices, Beginning and Ending of each story are open)

Scenes in Present— Chronological

Scenes in Past— Anti-Chronological

Climax of present and of the flashbacks— Meets in a single scene

- Breakdown for Saloma: Azman

- Breakdown for Vinod: Army

(Relates to Island Voices. Each main character finds their life going downhill after one single incident)

Metaphorical and Symbolism of places—

- Half-way house: Incompletion

- Void-deck: Emptyness