Will Jallikattu end India’s Oscar drought?

Mona

As soon as Jallikattu was announced as India’s official entry for Oscars 2021, hope resurfaced, once again. Yet, the big question still haunts — why does India do so poorly in the Oscar race? Though Indians have won Oscars, no Indian film has won the award for Best International Feature Film till date!

Lijo Jose Pellissery’s Jallikattu is the third Malayalam film to be chosen as India’s submission to Academy Awards. Rajiv Anchal’s Guru and Salim Ahamed’s Abu, Son of Adam were the official entries in 1997, but none made it to the ‘nominated’ cut. With Jallikattu, there is hope, as Pellissery is a feted director known for his long shots, non-linear timelines and an unconventional approach.

Different take

Jallikattu earned him the Kerala State Film Award for Best Director, Best Director (special mention) International Film Festival of Kerala and Silver Peacock Award for Best Director at the 50th International Film Festival of India. His Ee.Ma.Yau (2018), Angamaly Diaries (2017) and Amen (2013) fetched him laurels as well. While non-linear narratives have been Pellissery’s signature move, 11-minute long take at the climax in Angamaly Diaries and that the film’s entire cast had 86 newcomers have been the talking point too! Critically acclaimed Jallikattu, which is submitted for the International Feature Film category at the 93rd Academy Awards, follows the story of a bull’s escape from a slaughterhouse and entire village’s chase to hunt it down.

Elusive award

Since 1957, India’s been sending entries for the Best International Feature Film, ever since the category was announced. It’s been a generous mix of Hindi films as well as regional, but none has yet bagged any award. Among the entries, only Mother India (1957), Salaam Bombay! (1988) and Lagaan (2001) have made it to final five, which is nominated in the category, yet none could win the award. The closest to a win was Mother India, which eventually lost to Nights of Cabiria by one vote!

Worthy of praise

Actor Tillotama Shome, tweeted, “Congratulations to #lijojosepelliserry and the entire team of #Jallikattu for being India’s entry for the foreign language film category. Kangana Ranaut wrote on Twitter, “All the scrutiny/ bashing Bullydawood gang got is finally yielding some results, Indian films aren’t just about four film families, movie mafia gang is hiding in their houses and letting juries do their job and congratulations team #Jallikattu.”

Actor-photographer Mark Bennington, who was seen lately in Angrezi Medium, Bhangra Paa Le and Commando 3, says, “To be completely honest, I don’t know why India doesn’t do better at Oscars? However, at end of the day, it’s all very political, so I don’t give it a lot of thought. But it is surprising that such a huge film industry is not taken seriously. I haven’t seen the film that is nominated this year. But I was surprised that Gully Boy didn’t win last year.”

National award-winning director Ashwini Chaudhary adds. “It’s not like great cinema is not made, but somehow right films never get sent to Oscars.” Chaudhary, who won Best Debut Film of a Director for Laado at the National Awards1999, is however thrilled by Jallikattu’s selection, “After years we have selected the right film as our Oscar entry. I am very happy and excited for Jallikattu. It is an amazing work and stands a strong chance.”

The Last five outings

Court (Marathi)

Chaitanya Tamhane’s directorial debut, a court drama, this film had its world premiere at the 71st Venice International Film Festival.

Visaranai (Tamil)

Visaranai is a crime thriller that too premiered at the 72nd Venice Film Festival, winning Amnesty International Italia Award.

Newton (Hindi)

Amit V Masurkar’s Newton is a black comedy drama with Rajkummar Rao playing a rookie government clerk on election duty in the Naxal-controlled jungles of Chhattisgarh.

Village Rockstars (Assamese)

Rima Das’ Village Rockstars premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival. It won the Best Feature Film Swarna Kamal award at the 65th National Film Awards along with winning in Best Child Artist, Best Location Sound Recordist and Best Editing categories.

Gully Boy (Hindi)

Zoya Akhtar’s Gully Boy is a musical drama set in Dharavi slums, Mumbai with Ranveer Singh in the role of a rapper.

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