‘Slumdog Millionaire’, which is presently the talk of the nation for being nominated for 10 Oscar Awards this year, is given an insight by Indian Film industry’s most experienced Director-Producer and pioneer in filmmaking, Mr. Mahesh Bhatt, who is also often referred to as The Encyclopedia.
‘Slumdog Millionaire’ is going to do no use to India and it is not at all an Indian Film is what he says. “It is Danny Boyle’s film and he is just using India’s finest talent to hit hard at the Oscars this year. I think the film would be very good as is being praised by many and I don’t criticize its content. But my question is, why is it that the same Indian talent is never recognized by the Oscar Jury when it independently enters the race of awards? When it is a foreign film with Indians, you honor it and when it is an Indian Film of same caliber, why not even have a look at it”, asks Mahesh Bhatt.
‘Slumdog Millionaire’ might be starring Anil Kapoor and Irfaan Khan in the film, but Mahesh Bhatt doesn’t think it to be as best of their works. In fact he believes that there are much better Indian Films that they have worked in. He says, “Anil Kapoor is just playing a cameo in the film and is not in the main lead. The main leads in fact are not Indian actors even. So it is just like making hay while the sun shines for Danny Boyle, who is using the Indian effect for grabbing an Oscar.”
In Delhi to promote his film ‘Raaz-The Mystery Continues’, India’s most expensive horror film till date which released yesterday worldwide, Bhatt saab very confidently said that ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ is not the best work of even A.R Rehman. “If you see his work in the past, he has produced such a quality product that it shouldn’t even take a minute to award this legend. His music in ‘Taal’, ‘Rang De Basanti’ or even ‘Lagaan’, which was nominated for the Oscars, stood nowhere in eyes of the Oscars’ Jury. However, when his music has a white connection, it comes to the priority list of the awards. Why? So is it that we Indians are incapable of making it to Oscars? Or it is just that we would be used for other’s benefit and just left unrecognized,†questions Mahesh Bhatt.
He firmly said that India is on path of yet another slavery and if others can’t respect our talent, they have no right to use us. He also said, “In my opinion, if any Indian related to this film gets the Oscar, it should not be kept in India, because we want to actually win the Oscar and not be given as an offering.â€
Mahesh Bhatt who is busy promoting his film ‘Raaz The Mystery Continues’ is very confident about his film and says that “I don’t want to make any comparisons of my film with ‘Slumdog’. It may be a very nice film; however I can’t comment on it as I haven’t seen it. But yes, RTMC is what I can guarantee you is the perfect 21st century horror film. Never can a film like this in this genre be made again.â€
Emraan Hashmi and Kangna Ranaut saw the first day first show of RTMC film at G3S Cinemas at Rohini in Delhi on Friday amongst the Full House audience and were mobbed for appraisals. “I am highly touched with audiences’ reaction. The other day, my daughter found a beggar on the streets of Mumbai singing ‘Maahi’, and there and then I knew that there is nothing stopping Raaz now. It is going to be a genuine hit,†signs off Bhatt.
By Joginder Tuteja
