Come Oscar season and we hear that so and so Indian film is going to be nominated for the Oscars. We hear it every year and the outcome we all already know even before it gets nominated. The question is why do we all get hyped?
The question is, is this nomination of any benefit to our film industry? It is the reply of Hollywood to Bollywood that it is fine to make soooo many movies but it lacks what it takes to be there. This happens every year without fail.
Our film makers get exited by the name Oscar as the reason is that at present there are so many other film awards and it seems most are fixed. If Zee gives award to one film (and its makers) then Filmfare gives awards to some other film. We as viewers do not know who actually and really won? It has become a commercial proposition to get nominated. Are the Oscar awards fixed too? It would seem so because while Lagaan was in the running the entire team was in Hollywood lobbying for the movie!!! Lobbying is not fixing but just canvassing and it is part of the game. I am told the interest in Lagaan by the jury members was so low that they used to lock the doors when the movie started. Many members did not understand the game of cricket so they asked what the big deal was all about.
IS IT LIKE THOSE BEAUTY PAGENTS!!
For a number of years Indian girls were suddenly winning beauty contests and seemed the most intelligent on the world stage in those contests. But equally suddenly we stopped making (producing those good girls) quality product – and none was good enough out of half billion!! I understand all big cosmetics makers wanted to target India as part of their product marketing hence it was required to have an Indian face hence we had one after the other Indian beauties!! It would seem that the marketing campaign has come to an end.
WHY WE NEED TO LOBBY
These awards are Hollywood’s way of putting a seal of approval to its commercial successes with critical acclaim. These awards also present an opportunity for Hollywood to tell the world its supremacy in art of film making. Do we really make cinema that fits in that mould? Mainstream commercial cinema of Hollywood is beyond any Indian film maker of the present era. We do not have any filmmakers of the calibre of K Asif in Bollywood. Bollywood provides the entertainment from Fiji to Egypt, from Dubai to Tokyo but our mindset is such that an Oscar to one and just one Indian film maker will bring confidence in ourselves that yes we also make good cinema. We all just want one night stand with Oscars!!!
DO WE DESERVE TO BE THERE
We have to deserve before we desire. The quality of cinema we are producing lacks quality of product that will make grade in the final round. Our movies look like an amateurish attempt at film making. Even the epics we filmed for our TV audiences that used to stop traffic on the roads and used to get the flights delayed till the Ramanyan episode was over looked cinematically pathetic. How do we expect to go ahead if we keep our quality at bootlace level?
Indian cinema has despaired over missed chances for such a long time that the disappointment over the fate of Shwaas is not a surprise. With this our hopes for Oscar nomination in the best foreign film category come to an end for another year.
WHAT WHEN WE MISS IT AGAIN
Starting to make meaningful cinema will be a good starting point. We need small film festivals in every area that has a video camera. Let us take those cameras sitting in our cupboards and give it away to someone who has an idea. Any cultural tradition’s evaluation is strongest when it emanates from within. We need to start courses in film making in schools and look at it as a career and not just a hobby. The talent is there and it just needs to be alighted. Ashvin Singh’s 15-minute film, Little Terrorist, has lighted hope in our hearts that there is an Indian who can make the difference. Short narratives tend to be commercially unviable and by the same token too long a film is also not going to make it to top and Lagaan was very long.
Outside of festivals, screening of short films presents all kind of difficulties but the Internet, for instance, provides an avenue for makers of short films to display their films without loosing their limbs, thereby giving the viewer the choice to see only what they want.
DO WE KNOW WHY?
Our quality of production and special effects need to be polished and we need to improve our act there. No doubt we can not afford to put so many songs and most are meaningless. Our music is seldom meaningful and is too loud at most times but these are easy fixes.
WHAT IS OUR ANSWER
Short films till now have been seen mostly as learning experiences for future masters. Look at the example of Night Shamalan who started making films when was very young. Short films have tremendous scope they offer for experimentation and real life extensions without extraneous frills, this change could be liberating. Perhaps our little stories will finally find wider viewer ship. This medium could certainly give depth to the message. GET THAT CAMERA OUT OF THE LOCKER AND GIVE IT TO ONE WHO KNOWS WHAT TO DO WITH IT.
FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT
We certainly need to develop talent and get small groups and make films and get together once a year and give each other prizes. In this way we will also learn how to lobby and fix an award and you will not need Aamir Khan or Ashutosh Gowarikar how to do it when it gets there.
Good Luck