Friday, 14 Feb 2003
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MUMBAI: The Rs 50 crore extravaganza, Devdas, adapted from Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s novel about a frustrated lover’s masochistic journey into despair, alcoholism and death didn’t make it to the final five at the Oscars.
While most of the industry still stands by Devdas, there are those who believe that we should have picked another film to send to the Oscars. “The Legend of Bhagat Singh would have been a better choice,” thinks director David Dhawan. “It’s not only a well-made film with great performances, it echoes a sentiment Western audiences understand.”
Bhansali’s opus had pipped six others — Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, The Legend Of Bhagat Singh, Agni Varsha, Kannathil Mutthamittal, Manda Mayer Upakhyan and Saanjhbatir Roopkathara — to the post.
The Legend..., which stars Ajay Devgan, is one producer Vashu Bhagnani would have picked as well: “That film would have been a better choice. If the Film Federation of India (FFI) didn’t want to send a Hindi film, Mani Ratman’s Madhavan-starrer Kannathil Mutthamittal would have had more chance of making it to the final shortlist,” says Bhagnani. Rantam’s film is set in the backdrop of the Sri Lankan militancy.
On the other hand, there are others like Karan Johar, whose K3G was overlooked in favour of Devdas. And he’s strong in his support for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s epic. “Despite my film being in the running, I would have voted for Devdas. We couldn’t have made a better choice. It’s a good-looking film with a lot of soul. It doesn’t matter if it didn’t make it to the Oscars because the whole country knows that Devdas was the best film made last year,” he says.
When pointed out that Devdas may have lost out because it was too long or too extravagant, director Tanuja Chandra asks, “Why do we need to send a film which the Academy would like? They are looking for the best film from every country. We think Devdas was the best that we could have done. If they didn’t like it, not bad for them.”
While industrywalas wonder if they made the right choice, one thing’s certain — with no Indian nominee this year, Bollywood won’t be on the edge of its seat watching the Oscars.
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