‘The Lunchbox’ makers spark Twitter debate after failing to make it to Oscars

Karan Johar,who presented the film and Anurag Kashyap,who co-produced it,took to social networking site Twitter to express their disbelief and disappointment that the Film Federation of India chose to pick ‘The Good Road’ instead of the ‘The Lunchbox’.

Director Anurag Kashyap tweeted,”feeling very very disappointed,can’t comment on the film i have not seen,but it better make it to final five.”

He further added, “I dont know who the federation is.but it goes to show,why we completely lack the understanding to make films that can travel across borders.”

Karan Johar on the other hand said,“Really shocked and disappointed….#LUNCHBOX had every factor working in its favour…we may have just lost our golden chance….SAD!!!”

Director and Producer of ‘The Lunchbox’ Ritesh Batra also penned his displeasure at the selection on Twitter.

“Congrats to The Good Road,hope it makes it all the way,else it will be a lost chance by FFI apptd jury that lacks vision. Hope I am wrong.”

But the movie,which has been appreciated both by critics and fans alike also found support in a quite a few prominent names from the industry.

Pritish Nandy: I’ve no idea how good the Gujarati film is,the one chosen for the Oscars. But I am sad #TheLunchbox missed out. It was ready with the buzz.,” he tweeted.

Producer Gunnet Monga: “very very sad…. i have lost faith in continuing doing the films we do if this is what the film federation does!!”

But director Sanjay Gupta said it was sad that The Good Road was being panned without being watched at all.

“Its unfair that THE GOOD ROAD is being panned without being seen. LUNCHBOX is good but where is the gaurantee that it would be selected?,” he asked?

However,the chairman of the selection committee,filmmaker Gautam Ghose stood by the FFI’s decision,saying that Amitabha Singh’s film,’The Good Road’ edged past others as it had a new experience to offer.

He also claimed that he has suggested that the FFI committee write a letter to the Academy requesting that India be allowed to send atleast five films owing to a wide variety.