A still from the movie The Lunchbox
Highlights
- The Film Federation of India, the apex body that decides Indian entry for the Oscars, and The Lunchbox director Ritesh Batra were today locked in a wordy duel over the selection of The Good Road for the best foreign film category.
- In a strongly worded letter to Ritesh Batra, which has also been marked to Karan Johar's Dharma Productions, Kashyap and UTV, FFI secretary general Supran Sen demanded an unconditional apology from the Director for his "unsavoury comments" against the Federation and its appointed jury.
- Replying to Sen's letter, Batra pointed out that only he, a first-time filmmaker, was asked to apologise despite many industry stalwarts raising their voice against the selection. He, however, offerd an apology.
- "If an apology is what you demand, you have it. Both you and the jury have my wholehearted apology. There was no intent to hurt anyone, but rather to participate in the vigorous debate that this decision ignited in the public domain.
- "Sir, please use your good offices to give us a transparent, objective process with a public and not a secret jury. It is a direct and humble request, not a criticism," Batra said in the reply.
- Batra, producer Anurag Kashyap and presenter Karan Johar had expressed their disappointment at the selection of Gyan Correa's Gujarati-language film as India's Oscar entry last month, alleging lack of transparency in the selection. "Congrats to The Good Road, hope it makes it all the way, else it will be a lost chance by FFI apptd jury that lacks vision. Hope I am wrong (sic)," Batra had tweeted soon after The Good Road's announcement as Oscar entry.
- Taking exception to their remarks, Sen, in a letter, threatened to take the matter with the Academy and the I&B ministry. "Film Federation of India takes great umbrage at the way you have gone about demeaning a film when an eminent jury has selected it as India's entry. You might not agree with the selection, that's your prerogative. But to continuously and recklessly make comments and innuendos about it is really not done," Sen wrote in the letter.
- The Lunchbox created a great buzz in festivals like Cannes, Telluride and Toronto. With Sony Pictures Classics buying its US rights, the makers had contended that it had a better shot at winning the foreign film Oscar.
The Film Federation of India, theapex body that decides Indian entry for the Oscars, and
TheLunchbox director Ritesh Batra were today locked in a wordyduel over the selection of
The Good Road for the bestforeign film category.
In a strongly worded letter to Ritesh Batra, which has also beenmarked to Karan Johar's Dharma Productions, Kashyap and UTV,FFI secretary general Supran Sen demanded an unconditionalapology from the Director for his "unsavoury comments" againstthe Federation and its appointed jury.
Replying to Sen's letter, Batra pointed out that only he,a first-time filmmaker, was asked to apologise despite manyindustry stalwarts raising their voice against the selection.He, however, offerd an apology.
"If an apology is what you demand, you have it. Both youand the jury have my wholehearted apology. There was no intentto hurt anyone, but rather to participate in the vigorousdebate that this decision ignited in the public domain.
"Sir, please use your good offices to give us atransparent, objective process with a public and not a secretjury. It is a direct and humble request, not a criticism,"Batra said in the reply.
Batra, producer Anurag Kashyap and presenter Karan Joharhad expressed their disappointment at the selection of GyanCorrea's Gujarati-language film as India's Oscar entry lastmonth, alleging lack of transparency in the selection."Congrats to
The Good Road, hope it makes it all the way,else it will be a lost chance by FFI apptd jury that lacksvision. Hope I am wrong (sic)," Batra had tweeted soon after
The Good Road's announcement as Oscar entry.
Taking exception to their remarks, Sen, in a letter,threatened to take the matter with the Academy and the I&B ministry."Film Federation of India takes great umbrage at the wayyou have gone about demeaning a film when an eminent jury hasselected it as India's entry. You might not agree with theselection, that's your prerogative. But to continuously andrecklessly make comments and innuendos about it is really notdone," Sen wrote in the letter.
The Lunchbox created a great buzz in festivals likeCannes, Telluride and Toronto. With Sony Pictures Classicsbuying its US rights, the makers had contended that it had abetter shot at winning the foreign film Oscar.