Rahul Rawail: Resigned from Oscars jury because of Amol Palekar's obnoxious behaviour
Rahul Rawal cited differences with Amol Palekar as reason for quitting the Oscars selection jury that chose Marathi film Court as India's official selection to the Academy Awards this year.
Filmmaker Rahul Rawail, who was a part of the selection jury that chose Court as India's official entry to the Oscars Wednesday (September 23) afternoon, has resigned from his post citing differences with chairperson Amol Palekar.
Rawail, however, clarified that he was not against the selection of the Marathi film and the decision to choose Court was unanimous, but was upset with the way Palekar behaved.
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"Just want to clarify that I am proud of Court and fully support its selection. I resigned from the Oscar jury because of Mr Palekar's obnoxious behaviour," Rawail tweeted just after the announcement about the selection of Court.
Jst wanna clarify tht am proud of Court n fully support its selection I resigned from th Oscar jury bcoz of Mr Palekars obnoxious behaviour rahul rawail (@RahulRawail) September 23, 2015
Palekar could not be reached for a comment but Supran Sen, secretary general of Film Federation of India (FFI), which selects the Oscar entry, called Rawail's claims "ridiculous".
"Court was a unanimous decision. You can manipulate one or two people, not all the members of the jury. I think they had a personal problem, and it does not have anything to do with Court. His statement is ridiculous," Sen told PTI when asked whether Rawail was angry at Palekar for pushing the Marathi film.
FILM REVIEW: Court is a compelling drama
Rawail is known for directing films like Love Story, Betaab, Anjaam and Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya.
Chaitanya Tamhane's Court was selected from a list of 30 films including SS Rajamouli's Baahubali and Koratala Siva's Srimanthudu. The film has been sent to the Academy Awards as India's official entry in the Best Foreign Language Film for the year.