Click to play videoNew Delhi: Director Vidhu Vinod Chopra's 2007 offering Eklavya - The Royal Guard has been nominated as India’s official entry to the to the Oscars.
Interestingly, this is not the director's first brush with Oscar-fame, his previous two outings include a short non-fiction film, An Encounter with Faces and 1989's Parinda.
Also last year, his production Lage Raho Munna Bhai was an unofficial entry to the Academy.
"I think it's a brilliant film and I wish Vinod and Mr Bachchan all the best,” said filmmaker, Om Prakash Mehra.
The Saif Ali Khan and Vidya Balan starrer features Amitabh Bachchan in the pivotal role of 'Eklavya' - a guard protecting the kings of Devigarh. But does it fit the bill for the big award?
"I've watched the film and completely enjoyed,” said filmmaker, Farhan Akhtar.
Karan Johar agreed with Farhan and said, “It's superbly shot, he's a visionary filmmaker and it's visually very good.”
So while cinematic splendour may have pleased some, not all industrywalas are convinced about the nomination.
"I don't think Eklavya is an exceptional film,” said filmmaker, Farhan Khan.
When Farah was asked if regional cinema was left playing second fiddle to popular Bollywood, she said, “Some regional, Tamil or Malayam movie must be very good but we don’t know about it. We live in a Bollywood pond.”
For now let’s hope that like the Twenty20 World Cup, the Oscar lady also comes home.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter and Google+)
displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of CNN-IBN does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them.