Why are mostly only Hindi films sent in as India’s official Oscar Entries: Racial discrimination in India?
Well, until before last year (when Parasite won and broke the trend), the Academy Awards or Oscars were infamous for being racist and too partial or considerate of white movies, completely ignorant of movies made by those of colour. However, Parasite won and changed the narrative a little. But that’s that about the West. What’s happening in our own country?
In India itself, among the 50 Oscar entries that India submitted, 29 have been Hindi films and only 21 have been from other regional languages. Despite Kumbalangi Nights being an absolutely socially relevant, culturally rich and well-made Malayalam film, in 2019, Gully Boy (a close remake of the English 8-Mile) was sent as India’s official Oscar Entry. Why? Why is there still so much discrimination against regional cinema and regional art? People in India who blamed the Oscars for racism should f
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Despite other award ceremonies such as the Golden Globes and the Grammys going virtual this year, the Oscars will be an in-person event. Such was producers Steven Soderbergh, Stacey Sher, and Jesse Collins s unwavering insistence on physicality, they almost enforced a no Zoom rule but they have since loosened their stance. Among the frontrunners to win in the major categories include Chloé Zhao for Best Director, Viola Davis for Best Actress and Youn Yuh Jung for Best Supporting Actress.