‘Academy Awards’ or popularly known as ‘Oscars’ are considered to be the highest recognitions for any movie, presented annually by the United States Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). Does it deserve so much importance for Indian Movies which are qualified to be nominated only in best foreign language category?
The Academy Awards were started in 1929 to recognize the excellence of film makers of Hollywood basically and not for the whole world. There are about forty categories for the awards but any non-English dialogue movie is qualified only for one category ‘Best Foreign Language Film’. Does our nominations for only one category not makes Hollywood movies superior?
We produce about three times the movies which are being produced by Hollywood. We can’t disagree the facts that many of them are mere copies of Hollywood movies and lack technology, but not all. Many of them have the potential to claim the quality and originality. So far 34 Indian movies have been sent as official entries for the Oscars including the 2008 entry ‘Taare Zameen Par’ but only three of them could get the nomination- 'Mother India' (1957), 'Salaam Bombay' (1988), 'Lagaan' (2001). Do they need American Stamp to prove themselves?
Amitabh Bachchan, visiting Britain to receive several awards, told a news conference at the Houses of Parliament in London he did not believe that an Indian film winning an Oscar was the "ultimate recognition for any great film" and added that it was offensive to suggest that.
Indian Culture and traditions are obviously different from that of western and these appear in our movies. Many things in Indian Movies may appear funny to the western audience and especially to the jury. If we watch the movies which could make the nominations, you will find all of them were about the undeveloped, poor India, including foreign productions ‘Gandhi’ (1982) and ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ (2008). Do they not want to see the progressive, developed India? I appreciate Indian and western co-productions like ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ which got 8 Oscars in 10 categories nominated, including A R Rehman for best original score and best original song, but this does not indicate that he deserves recognition only for this movie.
Monday, March 2, 2009
The Ultimate Recognition ???
Saturday, January 17, 2009
'An Inconvincible Truth'
e are proud of India for its growing economy, its global impact in business; which has the foreign reserves greater than the required, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF). But the other side of the story is often unspoken!
One side, we have many kharabpaties (billionaires), some of the best companies in the world, hi-Tech cities, shopping malls, international brands etc. Our economy, science and technology, IT; is discussed all over the world and this is something we can proud of. As we have much diversity, there are many kangalpaties (penniless), biggest slums and child beggars greeting you at every signal, telling the unspoken story. 
The recent FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) report ‘The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2008’ reveals that India stands 66th of 88 countries in Global Hunger Index (GHI). The situation in India is worse than many African countries. Even in South Asian countries it is better than only Bangladesh. According India State Hunger Index (ISHI), the worst affected Madhya Pradesh can be compared with Ethiopia and Chad. Jharkhand and Bihar follow MP in hunger and malnutrition.
‘Slumdog Millionaire’ critically acclaimed all over the world, to be released on 23 Jan, 2009 in India; portrays the life of in a slum. Though, all slum dwellers are not fortunate like Jamaal to have two million rupees and a girl friend too. The movie may be criticized for showing the poor, undeveloped India to the world. But, becoming an ostrich, can we conceal the ground realities? Should we not reveal the dark side to the world?
Smiling India
A R Rahman- The Golden Globe Winner
Crying India
Satyam Loses Appeal in Forgery Case
 |