One Kol-connect film goes to Oscars, another loses out
Times of India | 25 September 2024
12 Kolkata: The nomination of ‘Laapataa Ladies’ as India’s official entry for the Oscars, based on Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) alumnus’s screenplay, has led to a portion of Kolkata’s populace perceiving it as a personal triumph. However, another faction is surprised with the omission of Payal Kapadia’s Cannes-award-winning ‘All We Imagine as Light’, which boasted cinematography by Kolkata’s Ranabir Das and music composed by Dhritiman Das.
Biplab Goswami, story writer of ‘Laapataa Ladies’ said, “From seniors, juniors, and professors of SRFTI to scientists and cops — everyone has been congratulating me. Their excitement is making me feel like I am one of their own and that this achievement is as much theirs as it is ours.”
However, celebrations from within the Bengal film fraternity have been slightly muted. “Many people working in Tollywood don’t know me that well. Even then there are a few people from Tollywood who have reached out to convey their wishes including director Saibal Mukhopadhyay, writer-director Paromita Munshi, and writer-director Ananda Bikas Datta.”
But some from the film industry have also brought up the exclusion of Payal’s film. Sushmit Ghosh, the co-director of Oscar-nominated documentary ‘Writing with Fire’, wrote, “Not nominating All We Imagine as Light, with its incredible momentum, is a masterclass in diving headfirst into a sinkhole, all eyes open.” Devashish Makhija, the director of ‘Joram’ wrote, “I cannot remember a country in the recent past not sending in a Cannes top prize winner as their official entry. Last year’s Cannes Grand Prix winner also won the Best Foreign Film Oscar — ‘The Zone of Interest’. This year’s Cannes Grand Prix winner was ignored by its home country.”
Some have pointed out that Payal’s documentary is produced by a French company called Petit Chaos. Having a French company as its producer can be a reason why the film did not make it to India’s Oscar entry list.
Dhritiman Das, music director of the film, told TOI that France has not selected Payal’s film as an Oscar entry. “This non-selection from India means our film is not in the Oscar race at all. I have not watched ‘Laapataa Ladies’ but I have heard that it is a good film. Hopefully those in India can watch the film at some point in time and decide if it is an Indian film or not.” On the issue of non-selection of Payal’s film, Goswami said, “I am sure the movie was also deserving of the nomination. However, the nomination is up to the Film Federation of India and the jury must have selected it based on certain parameters on which we have no say.”