Filmmaker R. Balki believes in entertaining films over Oscar Awards

Oscar Awards for Indians have remain a tasteless event ever since 1957 when eminent filmmaker Mehboob Khan’s MOTHER INDIA was declined the honour to Mani Ratnam's Kamal Haasan starrer NAYAKAN to Amir Khan’s masterpiece LAGAAN, for which Aamir Khan made all out attempt to grab the golden statue, but in vain. Nevertheless the obsession for Oscar Awards among the Indian film industry never ceases. 

Lambasting the craze for Oscar awards filmmaker R. Balki, said, “I fail to understand why Oscar Awards are our benchmark for excellence when the truth is that the jury at Oscar hardly understands the quality of movies we make.” He added, “The benchmark of our filmmakers must be movies that entertain their audiences with good content, rather than constantly trying to vie for the Academy Awards.


Citing example of Manmohan Desai’s all time masala hit AMAR AKBAR ANTHONY, he said, “Why can’t filmmakers’ make movies like AMAR AKBAR ANTHONY which entertained us phenomenally. Frankly saying I would rather not have one Oscar, and instead have five ‘AMAR AKBAR ANTHONY’ movies.” 

R. Balki who is from Advt World is quite aware about the importance of grabbing consumer’s pulse. Till date he has made two films CHEENI KUM and PAA and both had ample dose of entertainment despite tackling a serious subject. 

His recent release Amitabh Bachchan and Dhanush starrer SHAMITABH too is an offbeat film. R. Balki says, “SHAMITABH is based on an emotional tale of a struggling actor, who is marred by destiny as he is mute. How an alcoholic and failed actor reviews his dream to become an actor has been entertaining presented. I believe in entertaining films over Oscar!”

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