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The Road To Oscars
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What They Say?
Sanjay
Leela Bhansali, Director:
"I'm very happy
because the film is truly representative of Indian cinema.
People complain it's so loud, kitschy and melodramatic,
but it's nothing of the sort. Devdas stands for all that
we've inherited from classical literature, music and dance,
as well as greats like K. Asif and Mehboob Khan. We have
a long way to go, lobbying and strategising for the Oscar.
I'm going to ask Aamir Khan and Ashutosh Gowariker how
to go about it."
Shahrukh Khan (playing Devdas):
"It has been a tough ride for Sanjay (Bhansali) and Bharat
Shah. There could be no greater reward for the film than
this. I thank the people who chose it for the Oscars and
Sanjay for giving me a chance to be a part of his dream.
For once, Devdas is very happy. I never thought I could
be so thrilled"
I would rather say,
‘Bha se Bhalo'
-Jackie
Shroff (playing Chunilal)
"There is no doubt
that Devdas is the best choice for India's Oscar entry
this year. When mainstream Hindi cinema represents the
majority of Indian cinema, why should we be hypocritical
about what we send to the Oscars? It is a certainly a
more representative choice than any Indian art film."
-
Komal Nahta, Editor,
Film Information.
"The film has a
very good chance of notching up an award since it excels
in every section be it photography, performance or even
costumes. The music and the story of the film is of international
standard." - Bharat Shah, Producer.
'Devdas is the right
film to be sent to the Oscars after Lagaan. It has the
richness and the splendor that is essential for a film
that is being sent to the Oscars. Devdas belongs to the
Indian mainstream musical genre." - Ashutosh Gowarikar,
Director of last year's Oscar nominee Lagaan.
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Note: India’s official entry into the Oscar Foreign
Film category, Devdas, lost out in the nomination shortlist
that was announced on Tuesday, February 11 2003.
Shahrukh Khan fans have a reason to celebrate this October
when it was announced that Sanjay Leela Bhansali's lavish
Devdas is India's entry for the Oscars. Devdas, a story about
love and the pain that accompanies it mixed with a little
alcohol will compete with other films for the nomination for
the Best Foreign Language Film at the academy awards. The
heart rendering film starring Shahrukh Khan and the two lovely
ladies - Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit is an adaptation
of Saratchandra Chatterjee's novel. The novel has already
been made into films, eleven times till now. Devdas, has already
achieved international acclaim by being invited for a special
screening at the Cannes film festival this year. It remains
to be seen whether Devdas will win unlike it's protagonist.
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Pros:
- Devdas has splendour
and can boast of being the costliest ever Bollywood
film. And the money spent does show on screen and is
a sheer visual treat
- Mind blowing performances by the leads
- If money is spent properly Devdas can be publicized
well in America
- Not a conventional love triangle where all is well
that ends well
Cons:
- - Melodramatic
and loud at times
- - The script
has some loopholes
- - The
story is of an alcoholic loser.
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Producer-director Shakti Samanta who headed
the 16-member committee of the Film Federation of India (FFI)
to select India’s entry to the Oscars for the best foreign
film (2003) says that Devdas got five votes out of a possible
16. Devdas edged out Mani Ratnam’s Tamil film Kannathil Muthamittal
based on the LTTE movement in Sri Lanka, apart from Rajkumar
Santoshi’s biopic The Legend of Bhagat Singh, Karan Johar’s
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Arjun Sajnani’s Agni Varsha, and
Bengali films Manda Mayer Upaakhyan and Anjan Dey’s Saanjhbhatir
Roopkathara.
Only three Indian films — Mother India, Salaam
Bombay and now Lagaan — have reached the nomination stages
of the Academy Awards.
"It's a great feeling," Sanjay Leela Bhansali
told reporters after hearing the news. "We are currently planning
the lobbying and strategies for Devdas. We will certainly
talk to Ashutosh Gowarikar and Aamir Khan about their experiences
from last year. I'm absolutely thrilled."
Speaking about the film Aamir Khan said, “Devdas
is a wonderfully crafted movie, with grandeur, elegance and
style powered by brilliant performances by all the actors.
Be it Shahrukh, Madhuri or Aishwarya. Even Kiron has put in
a commendable performance. My support goes to Sanjay’s team.
Their rich work has paid off. This time, they should get the
award for us.” When asked if Shaheed Bhagat Singh may have
been a better choice, Khan said, “I guess the jury knows exactly
which film has got potential. It’s their work and I should
not be commenting upon that,” Khan added.
"This is the greatest reward we could have
received for Devdas," Shah Rukh Khan said. "Everyone involved
in the film gave so much commitment and now their efforts
are being rewarded. I'm just happy that I was also part of
the team."
Eros International is planning to re-release
Devdas as a mainstream film in the US. Incidentally, producer
Bharat Shah's office revealed that Aishwarya Rai is already
in Hollywood, discussing some film scripts.
Last year Lagaan won the nomination for Best
Foreign Language Film and has opened avenues for the West's
interest in Indian films. SLB has been consulting Ashutosh
Gowarikar, director
of Lagaan for tips to promote Devdas. In an interview Gowarikar
said "I am ready to impart to Sanjay Leela Bhansali whatever
knowledge we have got through our experiences. In fact Jhamu
Sugandh (financier), Aamir (Khan) and I will definitely tell
Sanjay (Bhansali) and his team what we have learnt."
- Compiled by VLuvShahrukh.Com.
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