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Why only Bollywood Films for the Oscars?

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poppy2009

@poppy2009

Rocker

Posted: 15 years ago

India officially started to send films to the Oscar from the year 1957, starting with Mother India, a film that is considered a classic in the history of Indian Cinema! And what's more, the film got nominated in the Foreign Film Category too! A feat which remained unparallled for decades to come! Fair enough then! Mother India more than deserved to go to the Oscars!

From 1957 till 2010, there have been 45 films that have been India's official entry to the Oscars!

Out of which, 31 Films have been in Hindi...from the Bollywood Factory! And the remaining from various parts of India! And in those 31 films, only 2 have made it to the short-list in the Foreign Awards Category!

So my topic of conversation is, whether Hindi / Bollywood films are the only ones worth sending to the Oscars?

Are there not good enough films in vernacular languages that can compete with Hindi films in the Oscar Race?

Are films from West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala (which has an incredible rate of National Award Winners) and Maharashtra (Marathi films) not competent enough? And other parts of the country too...like Punjab, J&K and the Eastern States! They too make films....isn't there a single film from these parts of the country that can compete with our Bollywood films?

I have put across this question because there are many members on the forum who come from various parts of India and can probably speak up for films made in their Mother Tounge and whether they deserve to be part of the Oscar Race as much as Hindi / Bollywood films or not?

Just as an example. Peepli Live is the Official Indian entry to the Oscars this year, when there are clearly many superior films in other languages that deserved this chance. (I am saying this based on a couple of articles that appeared in the media questioning the choice of this film for the Oscars)

If some of you guys watch films in other languages apart from Hindi, could you share your views on any film in a vernacular language that you felt deserved to go to the Oscars than Peepli Live?

And if some of you think that the Oscar Awards can go and rot in hell, then please feel welcome to write that too!😆

Edited by poppy2009 - 15 years ago

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-Mmmmm-

@-Mmmmm-

Sparkler

+ 2

Posted: 15 years ago

Great topic for discussion...... Poppy. 👍🏼

Yes, Some of the Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Marathi movies are far more superior than the Bollywood ones sent to the Oscars.

What they lack is Marketing the product, PR skills, Strategies, exposure, publicity.. etc.

In one word all they need is One Aamir Khan in all different regional languages..

From 2001 onwards out of 9 movies sent to the Oscars, 5 movies are directly or indirectly associated with Aamir. 😊

Edited by maddy1973 - 15 years ago

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tina

@tina59

Sparkler

+ 3

Posted: 15 years ago

I watch Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam movies and know that far superior movies are being made in tamil and Malayalam and not only movies but in acting too. Unfortunately as someone said, since Bollywood represents Indian cinema primarily coz of the finance, thats what gets noticed.

I am sure bengali, marathi, gujarathi or any regional movie for that matter has better scripts and performances unfortunately they dont get the exposure they need to make it nationally.

There is also this bias abt the whole Bollywood that people fail to even acknowledge that better movies are made outside of Bollywood.

Another bias which I find revolting and unacceptable is this whole focus on Looks in Bollywood.

The first thing when they see regional cinema and esp as a tamil and malayalam movie fan is the common statement " fat, ugly, dark . moustache etc" and I am like who cares, many can act better than the whole of them yet unfortunately the first thing that comes to mind is outer beauty which according to many is " fair, no moustache, slim or ultra slim" ...

sorry had to vent, anyway until regional movies get national recognition this is what will happen. for this the jury has to be from all regions and have to have an equal say and be unbiased, unfortunately this isnt going to happen for a long time...

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Nuktaacheen

@Nuktaacheen

Dazzler

Posted: 15 years ago

i think part of it also has to do with that hindi is a far more recognized language as compared to some of the regional languages...

most of the desi population is familiar with hindi... and of course, the exposure...!

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tomnjerry2

@tomnjerry2

Icon

+ 9

Posted: 15 years ago

that's coz Bollywood represents Indian film industry abroad !!!!😛

Keep--------------Smiling !!!😊

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qwww

@qwww

Dazzler

Posted: 15 years ago

I dont understand it either. A lot of malyalam and Bengali movies win national awards so its not like they are not recognized.

If a regional movie gets selected for national award why not then send the same to the Oscars?

When it comes to the Oscars I think the Selection committie is heavy on Hindi speaking members so they select the ones that appeals to them? This is just a guess.

Like the time that Paheli was selected - really they didnt have anything better than that from India?

IMO Oscars doesnt have anything to do with which language represents India etc - its just asking for a good movie which appeals to the western sensibilities.

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31609

Suspended

Posted: 15 years ago

gr8 topic Poppy....

Its not like they never nominate regional movies....films like Indian, thevar magan, Anjali, Nayagan, Jeans etc have been nominated for the oscars in the past along with films from other regional films like Swati muthyam(telugu), and Harishchandrachi Factory (Marathi)...The latter was infact nominated just last year so they do consider regional cinema if its good...its not totally biased...

but yes...they do tend to focus more on Hindi cinema and Bollywood...but tht has been happening only in the recent years...past year's jury were very objective..

and i agree with everything tina said...I watch tamil, telugu and hindi movies and the content (even in masala movies) and technical values of southie films are brilliant...and yes...i do notice that we go through this entire "hes so ugly" exercise with each regional male actor....but as tina pointed out...who cares abt all that when u can entertain someone for 3 odd hours??...

Rajnikanth was called a beast, "that" and what not on IF when robot was releasing....but now does anybody care his looks?? all ppl know is that its a blockbuster...this supposedly ugly man starred opposite the worlds most beautiful woman...but who got all the accolades?? who is responsible for the movie doing well?? ....if 60 year old baldie can give all the srks and hrithiks a run for their money, dosent that speak ounces abt his talent and the film industry he hails from??

Edited by smarie pants - 15 years ago

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Nuktaacheen

@Nuktaacheen

Dazzler

Posted: 15 years ago

Originally posted by: qwww
I dont understand it either. A lot of malyalam and Bengali movies win national awards so its not like they are not recognized.
If a regional movie gets selected for national award why not then send the same to the Oscars?

When it comes to the Oscars I think the Selection committie is heavy on Hindi speaking members so they select the ones that appeals to them? This is just a guess.

Like the time that Paheli was selected - really they didnt have anything better than that from India?

IMO Oscars doesnt have anything to do with which language represents India etc - its just asking for a good movie which appeals to the western sensibilities.

i do think that is more of the case... because to the oscar jury, all the regional languages are the same as hindi....!

which is really stupid actually... they should send a movie which has a higher chance of winning, no matter which language it is in... at least, that will bring more recognition to the country...!

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-Mmmmm-

@-Mmmmm-

Sparkler

+ 2

Posted: 15 years ago

Originally posted by: qwww
I dont understand it either. A lot of malyalam and Bengali movies win national awards so its not like they are not recognized.
If a regional movie gets selected for national award why not then send the same to the Oscars?

When it comes to the Oscars I think the Selection committie is heavy on Hindi speaking members so they select the ones that appeals to them? This is just a guess.

Like the time that Paheli was selected - really they didnt have anything better than that from India?

IMO Oscars doesnt have anything to do with which language represents India etc - its just asking for a good movie which appeals to the western sensibilities.

and something like Ekalavya?? what was that... 😕

Vidhu Vinod Chopra, is Aamir part 2 when it come to networking and marketing...

2009 he tried hard to get 3 Idiots too the nomination... but the Chetan Bhagat contoversy surrounding it killed his chances.

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31609

Suspended

Posted: 15 years ago

#10

3 idiots to the oscars??? i loved the movie but its what was he thinking?? the oscar jury will start chanting "all izz well"?????

anywayz...dunno abt regional movies but Udaan definitely was more deserving for the oscars than peepli...

all the recent tamil and telugu muvies have been of the masala type of love stories, neither of which are oscar material....so yeh cannot think of any...