Like every year, the media is abuzz with who's going to take the Oscars home. Unlike every year though the focus is on who has not won an Oscar before (African Americans, Indians, Recent Divorcees etc.,).
First, the Oscars for all their exclusivity and glamour, are not the holy grail of human achievement; the work or the effort itself is. We know of great movie makers who received very late recognition (Satyajit Rai and Steven Spielberg come to mind) or none at all. But that didn't make their contribution any less or any more.
It is important to recognize the achievers, but the platform does not matter. The fact that a movie is nominated, got good reviews, was inspiring, or was a commercial success is by itself a recognition.
It is true that black actors and actresses do not get many roles to prove their worth. But throwing away Oscars at them is a wrong solution. I think that they should be given opportunities to excel, and more versatile roles in quality and in quantity.
The Bollywood Mania
I must make a special mention of this Indian movie Lagaan that is nominated for the Oscars under the foreign films. The whole of India has become paranoid about the movie and its chances. I haven't seen the movie (I don't like Bollywood), but I find this commotion distasteful. India has far greater concerns to worry about (like a brewing civil war, a border dispute, and other old problems such as poverty, unemployment, corruption, and deteriorating environment), and Lagaan winning an Oscar is not going to solve any of them.
The argument that Lagaan winning an Oscar validates Bollywood movie making, is absurd.
Lagaan Paranoia Links
• Lagaan team clean bowls
• Lagaan's Oscar Trail
• The Lagaan Religion Page
• Indian Prays for Lagaan
