RGV’s Oscar connection

Ram Gopal Varma has just discovered a connection with the coveted Academy Awards. All thanks to Sri Lankan filmmaker Chandran Rutnam, who is acknowledging Varma’s help for his film, The Road From Elephant Pass.

Ram Gopal Varma has just discovered a connection with the coveted Academy Awards. All thanks to Sri Lankan filmmaker Chandran Rutnam, who is acknowledging Varma’s help for his film, The Road From Elephant Pass. The film is Sri Lanka’s entry in the Best Foreign Film category.

According to a source, Rutnam’s association with Varma began last year when the filmmaker went to Sri Lanka to shoot Agyaat. That’s when the Lankan filmmaker showed Varma a rough cut of his film. Varma then suggested certain editing changes.

Rutnam’s film revolves around an army officer and a woman informant whom he picks up to take to Colombo. How the two escape an attack by the Tigers and reach their destination though the Elephant Pass. This forms the crux of the film.

Confirming the information, Rutnam said, “I have a high regard for Ramu as a filmmaker. We met when he came down for Agyaat, and we became good friends. I showed him a rough cut of my film. He suggested certain changes in the edit and the result is there for us to see... Ramu’s suggestions certainly helped to enhance the final product. So I decided to run a ‘Thank you Mr Ram Gopal Varma’ credit for his contribution in making it a better film.”

Rutnam, who’s currently in Chennai, working on the film’s sub-titles at NFDC, will not be able to meet his filmmaker . He says, “I’m in Hyderabad and I’m leaving for Los Angeles on September 29, to submit my film to the Academy.” He adds, “I’ll meet Ramu after I return and show him my film. He doesn’t even know that I’m giving him credit before the titles roll. ”

On his part, Varma remains non-committal. “I liked The Road From Elephant Pass when Chandran showed it to me. I made some suggestions, but I don’t know if he’s implemented them. I’m surprised to learn about him thanking me in his film’s credits,” he says.