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i think this article suits up the situation PERFECTLY::
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Does Ash fit the bill for Cannes?
By: Mayank Shekhar
May 18, 2003
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A few years back, French actress Jeanne Moreau was invited to the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) — the New Delhi cottage equivalent of Cannes.
And the capital’s younger cine-addicts learnt to spell a new name, requested video libraries to get her films and that’s how Viva Maria! or Jules et Jim and many other movies made it to Delhi homes, eliciting suffused interest in Moreau and subsequently French cinema.
Such is the psyche of a festival junkie. And such the purpose a hook serves at film festivals to create neo interest.
Will 30-year-old Aishwarya Rai’s presence in her prime, photogenic finery serve as the same hook for Bollywood in the west? (If a self-sufficient industry of a half-a-billion audience does need any western interest) No.
And that’s because the only Indian actor in history to serve on the Cannes jury has no extensive body of appreciated works, even within the ‘exclusive’ three hours song-’n’-dance formula she represents.
She has three films in her kitty to write home about. And until six years back (Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam), was not even considered a serious actor in her home country.
God forbid, if her presence elicits any response among the French, the films to request DVD rental libraries for, among myriad duds, would be Albela, Dhai Akshar Prem Ke or worse, Jeans.
Nobody’s idea of Bollywood’s best foot forward, or a hook — unless we’re talking about Rai’s skyward looking bra on the show.
Which unfortunately has generated considerable response. A yellow sari accessorised by traditional jewellery on a four-horse carriage is expected of an actress walking up the premiere of her film (Devdas) at Cannes.
But should a jury member confuse the most serious job at hand in world cinema for a beauty pageant?
Consider pictures splashed across newspapers with Meg Ryan in her officious black that occasions her present celebral temporary employment (Doll dresses can be saved for the Oscars or a festival premiere).
Contrast this with Rai and her gaudy displays, and a never-ending interest in the 15 dresses on her wardrobe for the next 15 days.
No one seems to question in that din, what she will scribble on the sacred pieces of paper, after screenings and before parties.
Yes, we are probably acting like prudes. But thank God, we’re not Lars Von Trier who is getting his picture evaluated by a lady who probably can’t tell a dog from dogma.
Or Samira Makhmalbaf or Claude Miller or Kiyushi Kurosawa or even Clint Eastwood, whose fate at the Mecca of world cinema rests square on the shoulders of someone who is herself using the platform “to learn cinema.â€
Who is not even rated as the top five actresses in her own film industry, according to the last such poll (Outlook, May 15) and is unlikely to see her film in the competition section of Cannes ever.
The sole argument that supports Rai’s inclusion is that a multi-ethnic table brings a well-rounded perspective to a jury, a credo that similarly likens Meg Ryan or Sharon Stone (last year) to the same panel.
But 42-year-old Ryan with a dozen box office successes and three Golden Globe nominations, or Stone with four Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination are at best Hollywood equivalents of equally experienced Madhuri Dixit, Kajol, Manisha Koirala or even Urmila Matondkar.
Not Rai. No, this isn’t a case of the proverbial Indian crab pulling down the one crab that gets a chance to jump the tin.
For our measure of dissent would have been equable if Rai were to judge the National Awards and tell us the best Indian films of the calendar next year.
We are happy for Shilpa Shetty who gets to shake her leg at Cannes soon — a well-deserved move.
We were happy for Rai when she was invited last year for a photo-op at the last IFFI — to light the lamp (!), a chance the Bollywood glam-doll definitely deserved.
But this time, when she is judging for us the best of World Cinema, viewing from a short stool that can be put to question, we are not happy.
Like perhaps many more deserving contenders for that role, who weren’t considered for sheer western indifference to our cinema.
(“The Indian actress who looked so good at the Cannes cocktail party last year, let’s invite her to the jury!â€) We want to help you, Ms Rai.
Maybe cheat-sheets when you get down to the sacred job you don’t deserve?
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