"it again projects our hatred towards the British."
It has been reported that Sardar Udham has been rejected by the Indian jury as India’s entry for the Oscars.
Days after the official entry for the Oscars were announced, Indian jury members explained why Sardar Udham was not selected.
Sardar Udham was shortlisted for India’s official entry to the Oscars alongside Vidya Balan’s Sherni.
However, Indraadip Dasgupta, a member of the jury, said that the film “portrays our hatred towards the British”.
Indraadip added: “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 globalisation, it is not fair to hold on to this hatred.”
However, Indraadip said that the production of Sardar Udham lives up to international standards. The jury member also praised the cinematography.
Sumit Basu, another member of the jury, 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.”
Directed by Shoojit Sircar, Sardar Udham traces the life and struggles of Sardar Udham Singh, a freedom fighter who is known for avenging the massacre.
In retaliation for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919, Udham shot Michael O’Dwyer at Caxton Hall in London.
The Indian jury’s decision to reject Sardar Udham as the official Oscars entry has led to passionate responses from social media users.
One user 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 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?”
Another user 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 decides India’s entry into the Oscars. This year, the 15-member jury was headed by filmmaker Shaji N Karun.
Tamil drama Koozhangal has been selected as India’s official entry to the 2022 Oscars.
The film features newcomers Chellapandi and Kariththadaiyaan.
Supra Sen, secretary-general of the Film Federation of India said:
“India’s official entry for Oscars this year is Koozhangal. It was picked by a 15-member jury, headed by filmmaker Shaji N Karun, in a unanimous decision.”
The official Oscars ceremony will take place in Hollywood, California on March 27, 2022.
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