Does India need an Oscar?

I am not a film buff, the film awards have never interested me in any ways. But, looking at the glorification that the world media devotes to the Oscars, i just cannot resist it. For India, the category that they always focus on is the best Foreign film category. This time everybody in India were hoping that they would recieve the elusive Oscars for the best film. The choice of India was 'Rang De Basanti', a film which talks about the awakening of the new generation. It had made big waves in India, and it was expected to do the same Internationally as well. However, it was dissappointing as Rang De Basanti was voted out of the final shortlist for the award. Lots of Post Mortems were carried out by the Indian Media, some of them were asking wether India really needs an Oscar or not?

First and formost, as far as the choice was concerned, the film fraternity in India got it absolutely correctly. A film like Rang De Basanti is something which Indian Cinema always craved for after a Mediocre 1990's. This film was different than the rest in that it mixed Modern Generation's thinking with the backdrop of the Freedom struggle. It tells Citizens to wake up and fight for a Cause of the Right. Power punched dialogues and great Cinematography made the film the stuff that Indian films should be made off. In this front, i will go as far to say that the Oscar Awards might be Blind as far as Quality is concerned on some fronts. So, the people of India need not despair, for they know that the film is better than an Oscar.

Secondly, perhaps the Oscars might not relate to the style of the Film Making of the East. India's most prominent actor Amitabh Bachchan has said that the West does not relate to the style of Film Making practised in the East. Another noted film director in India made a valid point when he said that India in the past had sent a lot of wrong choices to the Oscars. This created a mindset among the Oscar Jury about the Quality of Indian films, and hence Indian films do not have much luck at the Oscars.

Thirdly, but perhaps the most controversial of the lot, the very structure of an Indian film should be revamped if they are to match up to International standards. The song and Dance equation, in the middle of the story, might put off the Western Audiences, and hence they do not fare well in the Oscars. The last Indian person who won an Oscar was Satyajit Ray in 1991, and in all of his Masterpieces, there were no song and dances. The very fact that Indian Cinema functions mostly on the song and dance bit, mioght not be helping their cause to get the Oscars.

Another year passes by, and Indian films return empty handed from the Oscars. But, do we need an Oscar to put Indian Cinema on the Map? Already, the Indian film culture is making ways in Europe, and in a small way is also appealing to American Audiences. India has created an Impression around the world in ways which are similar to the spread of American Culture. What America witnessed in the 60's and the 70's on their Cultural front, India is undergoing that now, perhaps not to the level of America. India does have a unique style of Film making, and I am proud of that aspect. However, if the Industry is aiming at International Awards like the Oscars, a Compromise with the structure has to be followed. This year, Rang De Basanti did not make the Cut. I conclude that it is a loss for the West, not for India, for we know how good it truly is.