India at The Oscars: Why it took so many years for Indian productions to bring home the Oscars?

New Delhi: India is cheering. India is happy. And the credit goes to the incredible Indian filmmakers who made us proud at The 95th Academy Awards. The way we cheered for the RRR and The Elephant Whisperers team at the Oscars was nothing less than Virat Kohli knock against Pakistan at the 2020 Cricket World Cup. 

It was indeed a pride moment for India, as history was being created. For the first time ever, movie production from our homeland was bringing home the Oscars. India is the largest film-producing nation in the world. We produce almost 1,500 to 2,000 films a year in almost 20 different languages, and we are a more than 100-year-old industry, then why it took so many years for Indian productions to bring home the Oscars? 

Indian films vs global audiences

They say human pain and need are the same everywhere but the sensibilities are different. In a country like India where dialect changes every 100 meters, it took a while for Regional and Hindi to find a common ground. 

It was in the 90s when ace director Maniratnam bridged this gap when he came out with “Roja”. Though “Roja” worked as an ice-breaker it took a while for the cross-over cinema to become seamless for the wider audience to accept. Now imagine in such a scenario how is it possible to address sensibilities at the global level. 

But it's not like films made in India or on India have not made their mark on the global platform. In the past, Satyajit Ray's films, “Mother India” and “Salaam Bombay” were nominated for the Oscars but struggled to win.     

Political Controversies 

Politics plays a pivotal role in the lack of recognition for Indian films at the Oscars. In recent years, Indian films have been embroiled in political controversies and FFI refuses to consider them. For instance, “Barfi” was sent as an official entry when “Gangs of Wasseypur” was a strong contender. Due to its profanity and violence, the film was sidelined but won hearts at Cannes Film Festival. In 2019, “Gully Boy” was sent as an official entry and was competing with the likes of “Parasite” and “Pain and Glory” from the West. Similarly, recently the “Chello Show” looked heavily inspired by the 1988 classic “Cinema Paradiso.” The red tape and lobbyist culture at the FFI overpowers the value of content.  

Lack of Exposure

One of the main reasons for the lack of recognition for Indian films at the Oscars is the lack of exposure they get in the West. Though Indian cinema has a massive following in countries like China, Japan, Russia, and a few African countries, it has struggled to gain mainstream acceptance in the West. This is partly due to a lack of distribution channels and marketing efforts by Indian filmmakers outside of India. While Hollywood films are widely distributed and marketed all over the world, Indian films often struggle to find a release overseas. Even when they do, they are usually limited to niche art-house circuits and do not receive the same level of promotion as Hollywood films.

Lack of Funds

Another factor that hinders Indian films’ success at the Oscars is the lack of funds. While some Indian films have been successful at the box office, they may not have the budgets to compete with Hollywood films in terms of production values and special effects. Although Indian films have come a long way in terms of production values, they still lag behind Hollywood in terms of technical expertise and visual effects. This can make it difficult for Indian films to stand out in a crowded field of competitors.

In conclusion, Indian films face several obstacles in achieving success at the Oscars. From a lack of exposure and marketing to cultural differences, Indian films have a lot to overcome to be recognized on an international level. However, this does not mean that Indian films are not of high quality or deserving of recognition. As the global film industry continues to evolve and new technologies emerge, more opportunities for Indian filmmakers to showcase their work and gain recognition beyond their home country, and the same happened with the win of “RRR” and “The Elephant Whisperers”. Indian cinema will continue to be celebrated in its unique way, offering a diverse range of stories and perspectives to audiences around the world.