'Bahubali' in fray to be India's entry for Oscars

HYDERABAD: Director SS Rajamouli's magnum opus 'Bahubali' will be in fray for India's nomination in the 'Best Foreign language film' category in the 2016 Oscars. The Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce has proposed 'Bahubali' to be among the films screened before a Film Federation of India (FFI) selection committee, which will then select India's official entry for the Oscars.
"We are encouraging other film producers also to send in their entries.But on behalf of the chamber, 'Bahubali' makers have been asked to apply," Telugu Film Producers Association honorary secretary Kodali Venkateshwara Rao told STOI.
The FFI will nominate a 17-member committee to watch all the entries received from across the country. "The films will be watched in Hyderabad and after that the Indian entry for the Oscars will be selected," FFI deputy secretary Anindya Dasgupta said. Amol Palekar will be the chairman of this committee.
Film producers have been asked to send their entries after following certain norms like preparing and arranging English subtitles as well as paying Rs 50,000 fee. The committee will watch the films from September 17 onwards and the final selection will be announced on October 1.
'Bahubali', which was released on July 10, reportedly collected Rs 540 crore in the first month of its run. The film was also released in Hindi, Kannada, Tamil and Malayalam as well as in countries other than India.
In the past, there have been controversies over nomination of films for the Oscars. The choice of the selection committee was criticized by producers of the 'The Lunchbox' in 2013 when it failed to get a nomination. The committee had instead chosen 'The Good Road'. The FFI did not take the criticism kindly and demanded an apology from Ritesh Batra, the film's director.
Asked if any measures were put in place to ensure that the Oscar selection committee's decision is not criticized, Anindya Dasgupta said the selection is always fair and if some section wants to criticize it, they will anyway.
We are encouraging other film producers also to send in their entries. But on behalf of the chamber, 'Bahubali' makers have been asked to apply - Kodali Venkateshwara Rao, honorary secretary, Telugu Film Producers Association