Letters to the editor

Our films, their films8226; This refers to Shubhra Gupta8217;s 8216;And the Oscar didn8217;t go to...8217; IE, January 19. The choice...

Our films, their films

8226; This refers to Shubhra Gupta8217;s 8216;And the Oscar didn8217;t go to8230;8217; IE, January 19. The choice of Indian entries to the Oscars has always been faulty. Going by the track record of Oscar award-winning films down the years, it is clear that only grim, intensely serious, starkly real and profoundly hard-hitting movies depicting everyday situations and happenings which are absolutely original in concept, carry favour with the selection panel. A typical Bollywood film, meant purely for entertainment with an overdose of dramatic content, crass melodrama, song-and-dance routines, over-the-top emotions and high-pitched characterisation can never ever be accepted at the Oscars, popular though it may be in India. On this count, Rang De Basanti was no different from Lage Raho Munnabhai. Why did we not think of films like Hazaron Khwaison Aisi, or even Sarkaar, as entries to the Oscars?

8212; S. Chattopadhyay, Mumbai

8226; There was a big disappointment recently when Rang De Basanti lost out. Many have said that we should not bother about the Oscars. The debate raises several issues. First, why doesn8217;t the film industry have just one award ceremony like the Oscars? We have various film awards sponsored by any number of TV channels/corporates. Hence about half a dozen films normally monopolise the awards and everyone is happy that a very democratic situation prevails. Bollywood appears to be scared of having just one award ceremony since several egos will be bruised. This reflects on our inability to have peer level scrutiny. We prefer third party judgments, which can be commented upon, depending whether you were a winner or a loser. The quality of our films will improve only when the film industry institutes its own awards without any outside involvement. Only then will we reach the level of the Oscars.

8212; T.R. Ramaswami, Mumbai

Why the fuss?

8226; This refers to the report,8216;As Shilpa faces8230; Big brother sponsor pulls out8217; IE, January 19. Well, the racist insult if at all is not justified, but the matter does not deserve to be the prime story of all the major newspapers and TV channels. The media really made a big issue out of it. As it turned out, Shilpa Shetty herself has denied any racism. So what was the brouhaha all about?

8212; Amjad K. Maruf, Mumbai

Singur syndrome

8226; While Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is right in saying that industrialisation and urbanisation follow on agriculture, he is wrong in assuming that this can be done at his or his party8217;s free will 8216;On Record8217;, IE, January 19. Our West Bengal comrades and their JNU-trained, New Delhi-based intellectuals have wasted over 30 years shouting about the virtues of agricultural development over industrial development. Economic theories and principles have to be mainstreamed at the opportune moment in order to reap the desired benefits for the masses and not with a view to getting political mileage.

8212; G.S. Kulkarni, Delhi

Art of writing

8226; The world has become poorer with the death of Art Buchwald who died of kidney failure in Washington IE, January 19. His humour was second to none and he was the most read humorist across the world. He reminds me of 8216;Busybee8217;, aka Behram Contractor. I am sure both of them will have a great time in heaven now. RIP, Art Buchwald!

8212; S.N. Kabra, Mumbai