The Vicky Kaushal starrer Sardar Udham is winning accolades from every corner of the nation. The film along with Vidya Balan’s Sherni was considered for India’s official entry in Oscars 2022. But the movie got out of the race. The Jury members of the Film Federation of India have now explained the reason behind not selecting one of the most popular contenders Sardar Udham.
They have said that it was not right to send the movie for Oscars as it ‘portrays our hatred towards Britishers’ and holding on grudges against the British is not fair.
Indraadip Dasgupta, a member of the jury that decided upon the official entry for Oscars this year while talking about Shoojit Sircar’s film told a leading daily, “Sardar Udham is a little lengthy and harps on the Jallianwala Bagh incident. It is an honest effort to make a lavish film on an unsung hero of the Indian freedom struggle. But in the process, it again projects our hatred towards the British. In this era of globalization, it is not fair to hold on to this hatred.”
He further added that the film’s production lives up to international standards and praised the cinematography of the film as well.
Another member of the jury, Sumit Basu, said, “Many have loved Sardar Udham for its cinematic quality including camerawork, editing, sound design and depiction of the period. I thought the length of the film was an issue. It has a delayed climax. It takes a lot of time for a viewer to feel the real pain for the martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.”
This decision of Jury members has attracted reactions from netizens. One of them wrote, “‘Not hold on to this hatred’? Of course we won’t, if you promise to not hold on to Kohinoor and the approximately $45 trillion that was robbed from India .” Another one wrote, “Suppression of the Truth! As always!” Another wrote, “Isn’t it casting reality. What if it was a movie on World War 1 or 2 …you would reject it because it depicts the reality of Hitler’s Germany?”
One fan penned an elaborate response and wrote, “Whether Sardar Udham deserves an entry or not is a different question, but to dismiss on such grounds displays nothing but racism and power dynamics. Globalisation doesn’t mean we cannot raise our voices against historical injustice anymore. So many sociopolitical movements around the world would cease to exist then. I guess “globalisation” hadn’t been an issue when Lagaan and Rang De Basanti were nominated.”
The film Federation of India is the official body that decides the country’s entry into the Academy Awards. This year, the 15-member jury headed by filmmaker Shaji N Karun selected Tamil drama Koozhangal (Pebbles) as India’s official entry for the 94th Oscar Awards. The film is directed by filmmaker Vinothraj PS and features newcomers Chellapandi and Karuththadaiyaan.
