ARRahman will be the 1st Tamilan to bring back Oscars to Tamil Nadu... i think that is definitely a FIRST!!
--- In arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com, pratap <pratap_elen...@...> wrote: > > So, there's already some who had won an Oscar for India before.. I thought A.R. Rahman will be the 1st:( > > --- On Fri, 1/23/09, Prakash Balaramkrishna <prakysn...@...> wrote: > From: Prakash Balaramkrishna <prakysn...@...> > Subject: [arr] Oscars not ultimate recognition - Amitabh Bachchan > To: arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com > Date: Friday, January 23, 2009, 5:35 AM > > > > > > > > > > > > > http://timesofindia .indiatimes. com/Oscars_ not_ultimate_ recognition_ says_Bachchan/ articleshow/ 4022389.cms > > AIPUR: Bollywood superstar Amitabh > Bachchan on Friday said Oscar awards should not be considered as the "ultimate > recognition" for artists, > although he was glad that those working behind the > scenes were finally getting their due credit. > > > > "You people have taken > the Oscar as the best recognition and award," Bachchan said when asked if there > was dearth of good Indian movies as very few had managed to get into the Oscar > race. > > > > "They are great in their place and we are so in our place. It > is not that Oscar awards are the ultimate recognition, " he told an audience > during the release of the book "Bachchanalia" at the Jaipur Literature Festival > here. > > > > "Oscar has its own place...we do not disrespect it.... If they > wish to give us an Oscar they can do it...if not, it would be even better," he > said. > > > > India cinema has always stood first, stands first, is the best, > Oscar has its own place," Bachchan said at the interaction. > > > > However, > he added he was happy that the artists who were working behind the scenes were > finally getting their due recognition, also emphasizing the nomination of sound > director Rasool Pookutty for an Oscar was also important, besides that of Rahman > and Gulzar. > > > > "It is encouraging when we see that the media, which > conducts the film award ceremonies in India has started recognizing the worth of > background artists. Rasool, a sound engineer from India being nominated for the > Oscar awards is definitely wonderful news and makes me terribly happy for him," > Bachchan said. > > > > "Moreover, I hope that Rahman, who has already done > India immensely proud brings back a second Oscar to the country," he said, a day > after Indians bagged six Oscar nominations > > > > The 66-year-old legendary > actor also chose to clarify his remarks over Danny Boyle's film Slumdog > Millionaire that bagged 10 Oscar nominations. > > > > Bachchan said he > believed the film was an artist's creative presentation and everyone had the > right of expression. He clarified he had not in his blog said the film was > negative in depicting the poverty of India. > > > > "The words (criticizing > the film) were not mine. In fact, in my blog I had analyzed some comments on the > film put on my blog by the readers. I have since then spoken to both Anil Kapoor > and Danny Boyle and clarified my position," Bachchan said. > > > > On why he > did not attend a nomination function despite an invite from Anil Kapoor, he said > he was busy and conveyed his good wishes and congratulations to the entire team > of Slumdog Millionaire. > > > > Asked whether Indian movies were fulfilling > the aspirations of viewers and reviewers abroad, Bachchan said he was very happy > as Indian films were catering to amount 2.5 billion people. "Look at cinema from > the beginning, 50-70 years ago, it was not well respected... no one wanted to > join the film line then, now Indian cinema has grown tremendously, enveloped all > of us. > > > > "Criticism and cynicism at the > international level gives us a satisfaction of growing Indian cinema's standard. > We are a pioneer in film > creativity and talent is no way inferior...if given an > opportunity, we can make brilliant films for foreign competition, " he said. > > > > > "Indian movies have now got greater acceptability. .. more and more > movies are being screened in foreign countries like Japan, US and China," > Bachchan said. > > > > Praising the 10 Oscar nominations for Slumdog > Millionaire, Bachchan said Bhanu Athaiya, the costume designer of film Gandhi, > was the first to get the Oscar award > > > > "...there are people who work > behind the making of film... there was a time when they were not noticed... now > even my make-up man could get any award one day," he > said. > > > > Describing cinema as a uniting medium, the actor said there was > no better example of an integrated India than a cinema hall. > > > > On > question of violence being increasingly depicted in Indian movies, he said the > movies were only reflecting the reality. "Movie is a strong medium of expression > and creativity to depict what ever happening in the society. > > > > "Bihar > records the maximum crime but has less movie halls. Andhra Pradesh has the > maximum movie theatres. It is the movies that keep communal harmony as people of > all communities and religion sit together in the hall to watch a movie...where > they laugh together, weep together...tell me how cinema is promoting violence", > he asked. > > > > Asked whether Indian literature is moving in the right > direction, Bachchan, who is son of renowned poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, said, > "I do agree that the importance of written word the great literature > written in the past is being forgotten. > > > > "We not only need to > revive the interest of young generation, but we require an instrument, ideas, > inspiration and promote it". > > > > About how he has influenced son > Abhishek as an artist, Bachchan said he shared more of a friendly rather than > fatherly relationship with him and hoped Abhishek would imbibe the lessons of > life from his experiences. > > > > "When I had a son, I decided I would be a > friend to him rather than a father. I regularly speak to him about my > experiences as an artist and I hope he incorporates them in his life. In my eyes > he has remained a balanced and down to earth person. > > > > "However, both > myself and Jaya have never attempted to professionally promote him though we > even have the wherewithals to produce a film, lest he comes in for unnecessary > criticism or loses his confidence," Bachchan said. > > > > Asked about his > guiding force Bachchan said he had always admired Dilip Kumar and Waheeda > Rehman. "I was impressed by Guru Dutt... Kagaz Ke Phool was my best > choice...every generation actor of past like Rajendra Kumar, Dev Anand, Rajesh > Khanna, in directors' category Khwaja Ahmed Abbas, Manmohan Desai and Ramesh > Sippy, Saleem Javed... Tinu Anand of Agnipath... Adi Chopra, Karan Johar". > > > > > Young artists and directors were coming up with new dreams and > plans, he said, adding they were not in any way "less than Raj Kapoor and > Hrishikesh Mukherjee". >
