Target : Oscar

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Rimjhim

@samir_soni

Inactive

Posted: 20 years ago

Target: Oscar
VRUSHALI HALDIPUR

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ashvin Kumar still can't quite believe that his short film Little Terrorist has received the Oscar nod

VRUSHALI HALDIPUR Times News Network

It's the sole Indian nominee at the Oscars this year. Filmmaker Ashvin Kumar's film Little Terrorist is in contention for the Best Short Film (Live Action) Oscar. "It's yet to sink in," says Ashvin speaking from New Delhi. "I didn't expect this at all — but it's fabulous."

The Little Terrorist bagged the Best International Short Film award at the Montreal Film Festival in 2004 which made it eligible to apply for the Oscars. The film, about a 10-year-old Pakistani boy accidentally crossing over to Indian territory and the military's search for the 'terrorist' made the international circuit, going to the Manhattan, Chicago, Telluride Sao Paulo Shorts and the Palm Springs Shorts film festivals. At the latter it was voted as 'Best of the Fest'. At the Oscars, it will be up against Everything in This Country Must, 7.35 in the Morning, Two Cars, One Night and Wasp. "The competiton's tough — I've seen Andrea Arnold's Wasp, " says Ashvin, who adds that the category does not allow for much lobbying, unlike some of the other sections.

Is it ironic that in an industry dominated by an all-encompassing Goliath like Bollywood, a short film like Little Terrorist is what makes it to the Oscar grade? The filmmaker doesn't pooh-pooh Bollywood though. "Bollywood is a genre by itself. Short films are more like a filmmaker's portfolio where he can showcase his skills," says Ashvin, who's now looking forward to his full length feature, Road To Ladakh, starring Irrfan Khan and Forest, a film on conservation set in the Kumaon hills.

As for his good luck charms? "Well, that's just going to be everybody's good wish-

Other contenders

Everything in This Country Must

7.35 in the Morning

Two Cars, One Night

Wasp

Edited by samir_soni - 20 years ago