The blame game has begun in right earnest. The frenzy is worse than a Martian attack. So Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Rang De Basanti lost out to the Oscars. What of that?
Another year, another film hitting a trough after nationwide applause. So the Best Foreign Film category remains a fugitive gold. But does it justify our yen for contention? Our U-turn post Oscar-eviction? Makes one wonder if the initial ovation was just a mirage.
The big debate:
Why do we doubt the credentials of a film because it loses out in the big race? Says Siddharth Roy Kapoor of UTV (the producers), “Anyone who had a change of heart must introspect. How can we forget that the film changed the youth’s psyche?” The big debate has already begun. Call it an annual exercise post-ouster.
Was Rang De Basanti the right choice for Oscars? Not again! The opinion polls have opened. The esteemed panel of judges is ready with the pronouncements. Hold your breath — the post mortem will continue for days. But do we need an Oscar as a badge of merit for our films, ask critics?
The real picture:
Adman Prahlad Kakkar feels it is wrong to criticise a film just because it loses out in the Oscars. “People who nitpick should keep in mind, it is the same film that broke all records.”
The road ahead:
Prahlad feels it’s better we talk about issues that will help the industry grow and stop behaving like sore losers. Agrees film director Madhur Bhandarkar, “Such a conduct will only discourage the filmmaker.”
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh adds, “We lost because there were better films in the list but that does not mean our film was bad.” Anyone listening?
The road ahead:
Prahlad feels it’s better we talk about issues that will help the industry grow and stop behaving like sore losers. Agrees film director Madhur Bhandarkar, “Such a conduct will only discourage the filmmaker.”
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh adds, “We lost because there were better films in the list but that does not mean our film was bad.” Anyone listening?