SS Rajamouli’s blockbuster film Eega is the only Telugu film that has been shortlisted by the Film Federation of India to nominate India’s official entry to the Oscars. Can it break the 26-year-old jinx?
SS Rajamouli’s Eega, one of the most
critically and commercially successful films of the year, is going to
compete against 17 other films in the race to be India’s official entry
to the Oscars. It’s the only Telugu film in contention this year, and
the first Telugu film to find a place in the final list in several
years.
Despite being one of top three film
industries in the country, Telugu films are rarely in the spotlight when
it comes to awards at the national or international stage. K
Vishwanath’s Swathi Muthyam, which released back in 1986, is the only
Telugu film to have been nominated as India’s entry to the Oscars in the
Best Foreign Film category, although it couldn’t make it to the final
five nominees. Can Eega break this 26-year-old jinx?
Over the past few years, FFI has been
under tremendous amount of criticism for ignoring regional cinema and
favouring Hindi cinema. In the past five years, one Malayalam film
(Adaminte Makan Abu), one Marathi film (Harishchandrachi Factory) and
three Hindi films (Peepli Live, Taare Zameen Par and Eklavya) were sent
to the Oscars. Out of the 18 films shortlisted this year by FFI, there
are 11 Hindi films, including Paan Singh Tomar, Barfi!, Kahaani, The
Dirty Picture, Heroine, Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 1 & 2. Can Eega
beat all odds to bag this honour of representing the country at the
Academy Awards? “We have made a technically superior film and its
innovative storytelling makes it stand apart from the rest. Let’s see
how it goes,” Suresh Babu, one of the producers of the film, says,
adding, “It’s true that there’s overwhelming competition from Hindi
cinema. They’ll continue making their Paan Singh Tomars, Barfis and
Dirty Pictures, but where will you find a fly taking revenge?” The jury,
appointed by FFI, is currently in Hyderabad to watch all the 18 films
and an announcement is likely to be made next week about which of these
films will be sent to the Oscars. Films like Paan Singh Tomar, Kahaani
and Barfi! have been universally acclaimed and analysts say that the
odds are in their favour, but Telugu movie aficionados would be rooting
for Eega, which has been the most innovative film in years. It’s our
only ray of hope.
Race to the Oscars- Eega (Telugu)
- 7am Arivu (Tamil)
- Vazhakku Enn 18/9 (Tamil)
- Akasathinte Niram (Malayalam)
- Heroine (Hindi)
- Paan Singh Tomar (Hindi)
- Kahaani (Hindi)
- Barfi! (Hindi)
- GoW – part 1 & 2 (Hindi)
- Arjun – The Warrior Prince (Hindi)
- Gattu (Hindi)
- Jalpari (Hindi)
- The Dirty Picture (Hindi)
- Ferrari Ki Sawari (Hindi)
- Deool (Marathi)
- Veer Hamirji – Somnath Ni Sakhate (Gujarati)
- Anhey Ghore Da Daan (Punjabi)
Author : 
Hemanth Kumar C R
Follow Him On Twitter https://twitter.com/crhemanth
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