Thanks DVD-Collector that was some refreshing read. I guess I have to be careful in "branding" artists too quickly. Yet I sincerely wish/hope that he moves away from glossy productions.

black was rejected at cannes

coz it was a copy of 1962 Hollywood flick The Miracle Worker The organizers were alledgedly appaled at Bhansali's audacity at sending an inspired , unoriginal script for the awards.

Where did you get that info ?

Arsh...that is nonsense.

Not completely - according to this article, BLACK was rejected though no reason is given. i don’t think they rejected it because it was a remake ( Taxi driver won the 1976 Palme d'Or ) must be something else.

http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/05/06/stor ... 230400.htm

A Big boooo from me - most of the times foreign films compete in a category called "Foreign films" and i know for a fact that NO 'foreign film' featuring Bradd Pitt/Tom Cruise or Meryl streep has ever won. Maybe the simpler reason is that we just dont make good movies !!!! . I feel ashamed that such luminaries "talk" like this instead of making a conscious decision to "act" & "promote" better movies ( Khakee - for crying out loud). why bring race ( color !!!! ) – Cinema is a medium ( like all art-form) that can melt away any kind of boundaries – beauty is alas in the eye of the beholder. I mean we have not won a single award ( Cannes, Berlin, Venice ) in the last 20 years and that must say something about the quality of the films we make ! .


BTW The following are non-white winners !

1951 Rashomon
Directed by Akira Kurosawa, Japan

1969 Z
Directed by Costa-Gavras, Algeria

1976 Black and White in Color
Directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, Ivory Coast

1975 Dersu Uzala
Directed by Akira Kurosawa, USSR

1985 The Official Story
Directed by Luis Puenzo, Argentinia

2000 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Directed by Ang Lee, Taiwan

Even Iran produces films occasionally that get world recognition now and then. If Iran can do it, why not India? They have more stringent censorship and they surely have a less developed industry.

It all boils down to that BLACK was not the real thing!

Original, Copied or Inspired By, BLACK did the trick.

http://www.samachar.com/showurl.htm?rur ... es~of~2005

Not just a ‘noble weepie’: Black makes it to Time top 10


PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Posted online: Friday, December 30, 2005 at 0051 hours IST

NEW YORK, DECEMBER 29: Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Black starring Amitabh Bachchan
and Rani Mukherjee has been selected as one of the world’s 10 best movies
of 2005 by Time magazine.

An unofficial remake of the 1962 US film The Miracle Worker, Bhansali’s Black
has been placed at the fifth position by the magazine which put
Germany’s The White Diamond and Grizzy Man at the top.

‘‘This is an unusual film for India: no songs, a running time
under two hours, and most dialogues in English, yet it became a box office hit.
It could also be a test for western audiences unused to the fever pitch of Indian melodrama;
they may need a warning label— Caution: extreme sentiment (may be contagious),’’ the magazine said.

‘‘Everyone else can dive right into the bathos and savour the brave,
passionate performances of Amitabh, who harnesses gravity and humour
to his magisterial machismo in what may be his greatest role and the two
Michells ... who revere and adore their teacher as the one man who matters.

‘‘In so many Indian films the deepest searches are for romantic ecstasy
and for reconciliation with the father figure.
By addressing both these needs, Black is more than a noble weepie;
it is the ultimate Bollywood love story,’’ the magazine said.

What a Joke, Time Magazine!! followed by Paheli