00:00Mr. Shadri, first of all welcome to INS and talking about the film Gondal which has gone to Oscars.
00:06So what do I have to say about that? What was there in the film according to you is the
00:11best film?
00:12Gondal is a mesmerizing musical story which happens in one night. So many things happens in
00:20one night. This was shot in the night and also the first shot you know it was around single
00:26shot taken for 22 minutes. Along with this the musical play and also the performances, the costumes
00:33and the culture, the ritual, how the directors handle it is very good and that's why it was
00:41it became one among 33. There were 14 Hindi films, there were 4 Telugu films, there were 5 Marathi
00:48films, 2 Tamil films and also films from Nagaland and also from Gujarat. So competing with
00:56all these regional best Indian cinemas you know it is not an easy job but the whole team of Gondal
01:02has done a good job. That's why now it has been selected as an Indian official entry this year.
01:10Mr. Shadri, we also wanted to know that tell us about the criteria of judging. What were the criteria
01:15of judging from Oscars? What were the criteria? Main thing is there are around 80 countries
01:22where films where films were sent to Oscars. The main criteria is that film has to be shot in
01:29same country and also 60 to 70 percent of the it should go for the regional language and also the
01:37local tradition and other things. So in that criteria, Gondal was perfectly matched.
01:46There were many Hindi films also as we have seen the list. So what according to you, what was the
01:51negative thing that... No, I can't tell negative things. They are all good films. I can tell the
01:56reason for the selection but I can't tell the reason for which were eliminated. Even those are very good
02:04films. Other contenders were even for example, Ang was very good. It was in the TIFF and also other
02:10film Ikis was in the race. Ultimately, we have to select only one film. Finally, Gondal got selected.
02:17Okay. So, every Oscar entry, there is always a debate.
02:25Talking about the selection process and transference. So, what do you think?
02:29Yeah, 14 days, you know, I did not get a single call from the industry, film industry,
02:35and there was no pressure from any organization. FFI gave us a free hand. That's why we could
02:43deliberate transparently and unanimously select one good film.
02:48So, do you think that regional cinema is making good content other than Hindi cinema?
02:54Definitely. Now, India shines through regional cinema only. There are very good films made in Tamil,
03:01Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam especially. And also, I was surprised to see a film Ang from Nagaland,
03:07where there is no industry. And also, we had films from Gujarat also, Rajasthan also. Really,
03:15certain state governments should support Indian cinema, regional cinema to compete with in
03:21international circuit. Congratulations to all the regional filmmakers who are making good cinema.
03:27So, last question is, there is always a decision that industry, that there is always a controversy
03:34that Film Federation selection reasons publicly, they should explain that what were the selection
03:40reason and why this film has gone for the Oscars? That you have to ask FFI only. FFI are the
03:48official
03:48submitters for Oscars from India. It is not an easy job, difficult job. And also, one more thing,
03:57I request regional filmmakers, they should submit their films for the Oscars. They think that
04:02it is only for mainstream cinema. No, it is not meant for mainstream cinema. In my understanding,
04:09there are only two categories. One is good cinema, one is bad cinema. So, who knows, any film can compete
04:15and it may get selected. In that way, regional filmmakers, they should come in good number and
04:21submit their cinema for the Oscars, so that they may get a chance. Sir, but when we go to the
04:27Oscars,
04:27there are many things that there should be a proper promotion. Yeah, we have to do that. It is part
04:32and
04:32parcel of the system. So, do you think that the Indian government plus the Maharashtra government have
04:36to come forward for this? Yeah, last time also, I have heard in 2003, it seems, Shwas was selected.
04:42That time, the Maharashtra government gave one or two crore rupees for the promotion. Now,
04:47it has 20 years passed. Now, fourth time, Marathi cinema is competing. Maharashtra government
04:52and as well as Indian government and other organisations, we are all as Indians, one Indian.
04:59We should support good cinema and Gondal. Let the Gondal win Oscar this time.
Comments