Shahrukh Khan starrer Bollywood blockbuster ‘Chak De’ India, which was shot in scenic locations of Sydney and Melbourne, has won the best film award at the fifth Australian Indian Film Festival (AIFF).
No doubt, this is good news for Indian movie lovers and filmmakers but the irony is that ‘Chak De’ is not going in Oscar as an Indian entry. I am baffled with the jury decision because of the simple reason that ‘Eklavya’ official Indian entry for Oscar doesn’t do well in box office leave alone good reviews from critics.
Anyway, this is a separate issue altogether. Coming to ‘Chak De’, directed by Shimit Amin, film features around 90 Australian hockey players and more than 9000 locals as extras. Talking about the storyline of ‘Chak De’ it is inspired by the Indian women’s hockey team’s win at the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games.
Another good news for Indian contingent in the Australian Indian Film Festival event was the fact that actor Akshaye Khanna won the best performance award for his portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi’s son Harilal in Feroz Khan’s ‘Gandhi My Father’.
