The Oscars which we all of us have dreamt for years may finally arrive, as this year there are 4 Indian nominations out of which atleast 2 Oscars will be definitely brought home to make it our year. A. R. Rehman, Guljar and Rusel Pookutty surely will bring home the glory!!!!!!!!
The movie of the this time is "Slumdog Millionaire" One of the most engaging and entertaining movies I have ever watched. But with all this, as always have sprung many controversies. From Amitabh Bacchan to NGOs have contributed to the growing debate.
I am not really a fan of the Bhatt Camp but I must tell you, I found myself supporting Mr. Mukesh Bhatt over this issue. Among other things, I think we must understand and appreciate that SM (Copyright Big B) is
not an Indian movie. It is a British film, adapted from an Indian novel, shot in India with help of few Indian actors and technicians. I think if we understand that half of the controversies will quell.
As I said, I support Mr. Mukesh Bhatt when he says we should not run after the Oscars, after all they are simply an award given by Westerners to honour their movies. No doubt, the Oscars have their own prestige, honour and glamour. I frequently decide whether to watch a particular movie only on its performance in the Oscars. Having said this, Indian Film industry has its own genre of movies typically what we call
MASALA MOVIES. Movies having their own recipe (!) for the story. Back in seventies with the lost memory to typical Govinda and Mithun movies of nineties. Indian films not only have their own class (!) but also their own fanatical fan following all over the world. I support Mr. Bhatt when he says that we don’t need a westerner to tell how to make movies.
The other point being raised is the depiction of the poverty in India and commercially abusing the plight of Indian poverty. The argument would have been quite tenable but one has to understand that the movie is based on the novel of an Indian diplomat, no one accused him then. The only argument which I agree with what if the movie would have been made by an Indian film makers? To this hypothetical question it’s difficult to answer but Indian movies definitely have never got their true rewards at the Oscars, may be we failed at lobbying movies, especially Mother India. But our expert Oscars committee doesn’t help on this either, as it recommends the movies which are just not up to the mark, other wise why would we send
Eklavya to Oscars?
Well but having said everything Oscars are indeed the top most honour for any film. Though SM is not the best of works of AR or Guljar ,if they get the award(s) it will be well deserved.
N.D.K. NIKHIL
