12 October,2022 07:27 AM IST | Mumbai | Uma Ramasubramanian
A still from Chhello
In the weeks since Chhello Show was selected as India's official entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards, Pan Nalin's directorial venture has been at the centre of a heated debate. Many feel that SS Rajamouli's RRR, and Vivek Agnihotri's The Kashmir Files would have been stronger contenders for the golden statuette than Nalin's part-autobiographical drama, which tells the story of a young boy's love for movies amid cinema's transition from celluloid to digital. Producer Siddharth Roy Kapur, who is gearing up for the film's India release, is unfazed by the chatter. "The film is able to capture a unique part of India, [while] speaking a universal language. It speaks the language of innocence, and of a child coming of age. The way Nalin captured these [aspects] made us believe that it will speak to the entire world. That's why we wanted to throw our hat into the ring and see whether we could get a shot in representing our country," he states.
The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has raised strong objections over the movie's selection, alleging that it borrows heavily from the iconic gem, Cinema Paradiso (1988). What's his take on the allegation? "Film is such a subjective medium, and it's fair that everyone is voicing their opinions. But a lot of people haven't seen the movie, and have prematurely jumped to conclusions. Those who have watched the movie have loved it."
No Indian entry has made the nomination cut at the Oscars since Lagaan (2001). While RRR took the nation by storm upon its release, it also won hearts in the international market, owing to Rajamouli's ambitious storytelling and grand scale. Buoyed by the appreciation coming in, the makers have submitted the magnum opus in 14 categories at the Oscars, including Best Director. Kapur views this as a positive move. "If more films are representing India, it increases our chances of bringing the Oscar back home, or at least, of bringing a nomination back home. So, we should support every Indian film that [is in the running]."
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Rahul Koli, one of the child actors in Chhello Show, passed away on October 2 after a four-month battle with leukemia. The actor, 10, who hailed from Hapa village near Jamnagar, played the supporting role of Manu in Pan Nalin's Gujarati offering. His family held a prayer meeting on Monday, only days before his debut film is slated to hit the Indian screens.
