[icernet] The Oscar's political script

[Arul Selvan]

Devdas cannot weep any more. He has done enough of that in the Sanjay 
Leela Bhansali's celluloid version of a Bengali novel by Sarat Chandra 
Chattopadhyay. Despite its opulent sets, beautiful people and a 
desperate attempt to create a fantasy that Bhansali might have hoped 
would sweep selectors off their feet, "Devdas" failed to be nominated in 
the foreign film category for the 2003 Oscar awards. Not surprising at 
all. Unlike Ashutosh Gowariker's "Lagaan", which got a nod last year, 
but failed to win a statuette, "Devdas" is just pomp and show. It 
clearly lacks the punch and excitement of "Lagaan".

The Film Federation of India, which chooses the movie for possible 
nomination, is perhaps the least equipped for the job: it certainly 
lacks imagination and knowledge. It has little idea of how the Academy 
of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences works, and what its priorities are.

Source:
http://hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/stories/2003022300750300.htm