Oscar Oscar Bas-kar!!

So Slumdog......... won 8 Oscars, and the electronic media led the chorus to highlight the resurgent India theme. Last year, it was Dhoni's men and Abhinav Bindra, who were symbols of a resurgent India. This year, it is the Danny Boyle magic! I don't know what the term 'resurgent' means.

Somebody suggested that Rahman is the greatest ever composer in this country, now that he has won an Oscar. That to suggest that he has now achieved greatness after receiving the Oscar, is unfair on the maestro and his music. Rahman is a great composer, whose work in a certain international film has been appreciated and rewarded. Rahman winning an Oscar is not similar to Federer winning the French to be the GOAT (Greatest of all time).The maestro has enough in his body of work over the last 16 years to claim his rightful place in the sun. Who can forget his scores in Roja, Thiruda Thiruda, Gentleman, Indian, Jeans, Iruvar, Rangeela, Dil Se, Bombay, Duet, Taal, Rang De Basanti, Lagaan, Jaan Tu Ya Jaane Na, Minsara Kanavu, Kandukondein Kandukondein, Yuva, and so on. I am sure I have missed some. That's the point.

In the euphoria, we have forgotten the achievements of Shekhar Kapoor at the big stage. In 1999, his movie Elizabeth was the main contender at the awards with 8 nominations. That was incredible, because for a mainstream Hindi commercial movie maker to go and direct a Hollywood epic was incredible. Does that make Shekhar Kapoor, the greatest movie maker from our country. I am not sure. The greatest of them, Ray never got the recognition; he deserved and only got a Lifetime Achievement award.

On a different note, I thought Mani Ratnam's Nayakan has been the greatest film made out of India in the last 25 years. It is comparable with the best churned out by Hollywood. But those were different times and the movie was not marketed well.

Coming back to Slumdog....., the success (and my heartfelt congratulations) has nothing to do with 'resurgent India.' It is an underdog movie, which was released during the Holiday season. Normally, underdog movies work well during the Holiday season. I am reminded of the movie I saw recently, Luck By Chance. It's all about being at the right place at the right time!

I am tempted to say, Oscar, Oscar, Bas-kar!!