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Sending Anurag Basu’s Barfi! as India’s official entry for the Oscars 2013 has irked many among the film circles for a variety of reasons.
While director of Vicky Donor, Shoojit Sircar is disheartened at his film not being considered, based as it was on an ‘original idea’; acclaimed Bengali filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh is peeved citing discrimination against regional cinema.
The scenario remains the same year after year when India’s official entry to the Oscars is announced. Each time doubts are expressed as to whether the film deserves the honour of representing the country at the world’s glitizest stage. Eyebrows were raised when films like Lagaan, Eklavya - The Royal Guard, Paheli and Jeans were selected for the same.
Barfi! starring Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Ileana D’Cruz, has found high appreciation from its audiences cutting across age groups and has garnered tremendous critical acclaim too. However, when Metrolife asked movie buffs, whether the film is worth it, not everyone was sure if it deserved to be sent for the Oscars.
Akshar Pathak, a young professional, feels Barfi! is a well-made film but a lot of scenes are direct lifts from the Hollywood flick The Notebook and the Sanjeev Kapoor-Jaya Bachchan starrer Koshish.
“I think Vidya Balan’s Kahaani should have been sent. Barfi is a good film and I loved it but the fact is that it’s not completely original, so the decision is disappointing.”
Dheeraj Jindal, a young filmmaker, seconds him. He says that Barfi! is a “good copy” but sending it to Oscars is like encouraging such work. “I don’t mind it if Indian directors copy scenes from international films as only two to three per cent Indians have seen those films but for Oscars we should send something original. I really feel sad when these well-known directors send copied works for competition when they know that it’s not original,” he says.
Many say that Barfi! lacks ‘Indianness’ and originality to stand out among the films from across the world but perhaps that was the only choice. Film director Anand L Rai says, “Barfi! is one the finest movies in recent times and we don’t have a better option. However, a little more originality and Indianness will represent us better on the international platform.”
Tanuka Roy, a professional, shares similar views. According to her, going by the standard of films in Bollywood, it is a good movie but Oscars is a different story altogether.
“There are umpteen number of films made in Hollywood based on differently-abled characters. Barfi! lacks that Indianness to stand out in films from across the world,” she says.
Ankur Bhardwaj, a movie buff says, “Before criticising, we should ask, are there better options available? Every year, one film has to be sent for the Oscars and Barfi! has touched everyone’s hearts. Rather than pointing out the negatives, let’s hope that the film makes the cut.” Amen.