FFI: Justice, bias or gamble?

The Oscar is the targeted arena any film maker eyes on and from years our Bollywood industry has been producing films worth the mettle. But are the movies promoted for Oscar really worth being even nominated? The recent 'Eklavya' row proves the incredibility of the Bollywood industry and thus questions and accuses the jury of prejudice.

eklavya 1

While we question the credibility of the movies being nominated for the Oscars, have a look at the credibility of the eleven member jury (appointed by the Film Federation every year which meets to choose India's entry to the Oscars, the FFI heads often-big distributors and producers).

Vinod Pande (Chairman) a B-Grade filmmaker who has made films like 'Red Swastika' and 'Sins'. Ravi Kottarkara is a financier from Chennai. Shahid Amir designed costumes for 'Just Married' and 'Kya Cool Hain Hum'.

Director Anil Sharma, a reputed film maker, but his patriotic films like 'Gadar' have little cinematic value. Veteran lyricist Ravi of 'Chaudavi Ka Chaand' fame is out of circulation for a while now.

Nadeem Khan cinematographer of the 80s hit 'Disco Dancer'. Director Sudheer Misha ('Hazaron Khwaishein Aisi' fame) was a strong contender for the Oscar entry in 2005.

The jury itself speaks a lot about the commercial bent of mind and thus leads to controversy.

While the FFI claims of fair selection which goes through two stages: First, the constituent groups of the Film Federation are asked to send in their nominations, then the jury members shortlist films. The final selection is made by the ballot.

Nandini Ramnath, a Film Critic, says,

Our jury comprises of professionals from the Bombay commercial film industry who like to select their kind of cinema, and project that abroad. The problem is their representation is skewed. They do not represent films across the country.They choose films obviously commercial interests dominate. Same goes for their choice of the jury.

Enraged Bhavna Talwar, Director, 'Dharm' asserts,

Who took the call on who the members of the jury were when they were taken on? Were they made to sign a letter that they were not directly associated with anyone? Is there any accountability?

FFI's choice over 'Chak De India', 'Gandhi My father' , 'Dharm' and the most strong contender 'Black Friday' is nearly as odd as it was when it selected 'Paheli' sidelining 'Hazaron Khwaishein Aisi' as India's official choice to the Oscar sometime back.

'Dharm' director Bhavna Talwar also went on to file a petition over Vidhu Vinod Chopra directed 'Eklavya' selection for the Oscars, as one of them Editor Ranjit Bahadur was part of the 'Eklavya' production.

The two have also been heard spitting fire over each other recently and the row highlights the fact that Bollywood is just limited to masala flicks and such movies are very mercilessly casting a veil over the true Indian Bollywood allegoric flicks which carry the burden of naked realities.

A common man would here ask what is the FFI promting- justice, prejudice or talent?

Image: [1]

Via: NDTVmovies