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The jury at the Film Federation of India had earlier announced that "Eklavya" would be India's entry in the Best Foreign Film category to compete for next year's Oscar. However, the last minute assault came from close contender "Dharm," whose first-time director, Bhavna Talwar, launched a petition in the High Court alleging bias in the federation's selection process.
Talwar, whose critically acclaimed film was screened at the Cannes Film Festival, claims she lost out because the producers and directors of "Eklayva" knew some members of the film board's jury. However, she says she withdrew her challenge in the face of lengthy court proceedings that would have made her petition pointless, as the question could not be resolved until the entry deadline set by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had passed. "'Eklavya' has already gone to the Oscars and that's fine. We let that go," Talwar told the press.
Thomas George, head of marketing for "Eklavya," disputes that claim. "The Honorable High Court opined that the matter was beyond a judicial review as the federation is a private body acting under recognition of another overseas private body (namely the Academy) and the procedures of a private body cannot be amenable to judicial review," he says.
As per industry reports, the Academy had written to the Indian selection committee expressing surprise that courts were adjudicating decisions like nominating a film, and had set a deadline of Oct. 17 to confirm its choice. It also criticized the Film Federation, which appoints the selection committee that nominates India's official entry to the Oscars, for poor judging standards.
Oscar-worthiness is a hotly debated issue in India's megabucks Bollywood film industry, where contestants spar over issues from commercial viability to visual supremacy, feature length to star power.
"Eklavya," with superstar and Indian film icon Amitabh Bachan in the title role, is deemed technically superior with stunning cinematography and breathtaking locales. It tells the story of an aging sentry and his struggle to protect a royal dynasty and its secret legions.
Rivaling that is Talwar's powerful film, which explores the philosophy of right thought and action through the relationship of a staunch Hindu Brahmin priest who adopts an abandoned child only to discover later the child's Muslim background and roots.
Vidhu Vinod Chopra, the director of "Eklavya," takes great pride in quoting Western media calling his work a "lost film of David Lean." But the head of the Film Federation of India, Vinod Pandey, said he was surprised that the board chose it as India's entry. Though the selection was made in accordance with directives from the Motion Picture Association of America, Pandey feels that on this occasion a better film was overlooked. "It was a shock to me that 'Dharm,' a competent, poignant, and relevant film, didn't make it. The only thing it did not have were superstars," he says.
Of course judgments differ based on personal preferences. Some viewers have rejected both films and vouched for a more commercially successful one as an Oscar entry, while critics have slammed the politicization of the selection process. Pandey admits that some members of the selection committee were not aware that others may have been biased. Committee member Ranjit Bahadur, for example, was the editor of promotional films for "Eklavya." Other members of the committee allegedly have close ties with director Chopra.
"Eklavya" may have won a victory in Bollywood, but the classical epic in modern wrappings faces the real battle in Hollywood, where a record 62 contestants in the Foreign Film category will compete for the world's top prize for motion picture excellence.
Bollywood may be the world's most prolific movie factory, churning out close to 500 titles each year. However, its Oscar record has been far from impressive. Only three Indian films have ever made it to the final nominations. None has won. If "Eklavya, the Royal Guard" wins, it will not only depict history, it will make history.
