In fact it kept going to the underdog ‘Slum Dog Millionaire’. The heart rooted for India but the mind kept telling me well this is not a 100 % Indian movie. A kind of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) version of a movie. It made me think why is that we go over the top when there is something that is India-inspired, or India-linked, or a India-backdrop but are always sceptical about anything that is indigenous or 100% Indian and world recognition is hard to come by especially in the tinsel world. If Slum Dog Millionaire could win this many Oscars why didn’t a Lagaan or a Kalaa Paani. Slum Dog portrayed the other India through the eyes of a Brit while movies like Lagaan or a Kaala Paani was a portrayal of the dark colonial days through the eyes of an Indian. Some questions probably will remain unanswered. Well let’s enjoy the moment for what it is now.
Looks like people with uncommon monikers like Omanakuttan and Pookutty are the flavour of the season. The acceptance speech by Resul Pookuty was what impressed me the most, a speech that underlined the cultural diversity of India. Resul said and I quote ‘’I come from a country and civilization that gave the world the word that precedes silence and is followed by more silence. That word is 'Om', he continued ‘’I dedicate this award to my country. This is not just a sound award but a piece of history that has been handed over to me,” Those were some words of wisdom from the man of sound. The mallu community will soon stake claims to their son of the soil but it’s a shame that it took a Danny Boyle all the way from Manchester to fetch him the laurel. And by the way he is yet to make his debut in a Malayalam movie.
Strange are the ways of the world…A R Rahman is from a state which not so long ago were seen as anti Hindi but here he was holding the most important trophy for a Hindi song and spoke in Tamil in his acceptance speech. Suddenly I could sense the bhai bhai feeling or simply put the world was really getting flat. Oh what a great leveler music is. Congrats to the entire Slum dog Team but still waiting for a day when a 100 % Indian produced, directed and cast movie will go on to win an Oscar.
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And did u notice Anil kapoor's puerile attempts at doling out soundbytes whenever he found himself in front of a mike.. he more than made up for shy and reticent characters of ARR and Pookutty...
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