The name Aamir Khan is becoming almost synonymous with the Oscars in India, considering the fact that two of his earlier films (Rang De Basanti and Lagaan) were both chosen as India’s official entry to the Oscars. Competing for Best Foreign Language Film, his directional debut Taare Zameen Par will head to the Oscars this upcoming February.
After last year’s Oscar fiasco where the jury was accused of being biased when they chose Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Eklavya over Bhavna Talwar’s Dharm, the committee seems to have finally made a decent choice. However, being sent to the Oscars is far from being nominated. Now that the film has been chosen, it has to go through a rigorous ordeal of being watched by the Academy Award jury, who also watches hundreds of films from other countries. Out of all these foreign films, the Academy picks only the best five to be “official nominations”. Note that in the past Lagaan and Deepa Mehta’s Water made this cut.
Of the joyous honour, Aamir said, “I’m really happy that Taare Zameen Par has been selected to represent India at an international forum like the Oscars. It is a film that is extremely close to my heart. It’s a film that first sensitised me as a parent and as a person and then went on to have same effect on the audience in India and across the globe. I hope that it has an equally strong impact on the members of the Academy as well.” Let’s hope for the best!
Other films that were considered this year were: A Wednesday, Jodhaa Akbar, Rock On!!, Mumbai Meri Jaan, Black & White, Tingya (Marathi), Valu (Marathi) and Gamayam (Telugu). Check out our poll to vote for the one you would have chosen! For now, let’s hope the Indian Film Federation made the right choice.
