Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Oscars, and other movies

It looks like Rang de basanti is India's entry to the Oscars this year, for best foreign film. I felt the movie was above average, with some reasonably good acting performances and good music. But that doesn't make a winning movie, though it might be tremendously successful commercially. My own choice would have been that rather intriguing adaptation of Othello, Omkara. Still, good luck to Rang de basanti.

In other news more exciting for me, I'll get to watch some excellent short films, movies and documentaries at the always excellent Independent South Asian Film Festival right here in Seattle. I'm looking forward to the four days of fun with the excellent selection of films from across South Asia. Science blogging will take a break till next week, but there almost certainly will be some posts about the festival and the movies, from Thursday through Sunday.

And if you're in Seattle, don't miss this excellent opportunity to get a small glimpse of South Asia.

6 comments:

P said...

I would have preferred Omkara too... RDB was entertaining but hardly oscar worthy...

Anonymous said...

So, everyone except the comittee seems to think omkara was a better choice.

Sunil said...

perspective inc, vishnu........well, clearly there must be "reasons" why RDB is going to the oscars. That said....I don't think it matters. Indian movies are watched and enjoyed by millions, and not all "Indian" movies are similar.......so, to each his/her own taste.....

Vikram Nandwani said...

I guess maybe, Omkara being an adaptation, the foriegn movie goers might difference a little difficult to comprehend. Maybe that's why it lost out to Rang De Basanti. Oscas or no Oscars, both were pretty good

Sunil said...

vikram......Shakespeare has been adapted by just about all cultures across the globe. One person who did it consistently well was Akira Kurosawa, who transported Shakespeare to a Japanese setting, during the Shogunate. His "Throne of blood" (Macbeth) or "Ran" (King Lear) are absolute masterpieces. And they were widely appreciated across the world. Amongst other things, he was given an Oscar for lifetime achievement. If a movie is good, people will watch it!

Anyway....its all good.

Anonymous said...

yeah....but the cultural references in omkara...dashrath ka vaada etc...may have been difficult to understand and enjoy...