Page 266 - They Also Served

Davies – the show was a great success. Rangi was a wise, if a little devious, central character who considered himself more British than the conscript British soldiers. However, the series is now considered controversial, partly because Bates wore dark make-up to play the role. This view was vehemently disputed by the series creator, Jimmy Perry, who said there were no suitable Indian actors available and that, Bates, who was of Indian descent anyway, did not wear ‘blackface’, merely slightly darker make-up. This, and the fact that the sergeant-major frequently refers to the concert party as ‘poofs’ and Rangi Ram refers to his fellow Indians as ‘damned natives’, has ensured that the BBC has never repeated the series. Michael Bates
died in London on 11th January 1978, survived by both of his parents and leaving three children, including Rupert, who also became an actor.
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