For my query to write an earlier blog (read it here), the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences responded on the short-listing process for the Best Foreign Language Film Award to which Malayalam film Adaminte Makan Abu has been nominated by India.
And here is how it works:
Entries from around the world pour in for the Awards. These submissions are then evaluated by the Academy’s Foreign Language Film Award Committee (s). They short-list five films, which are then voted upon by all Academy members for the Oscar Award.
Technically, for Adaminte Makan Abu to make it to the Oscar short-list, what it now needs is not the INR2 crores that the team says is imperative for a marketing blitzkreig.
The film only need to impress the Foreign Language Film Award Committee (s) members, who could be anyone from Colin Firth to Mike Leigh to Bryan Adams.
And there is very little room to influence them, simply because the Academy imposes its heavily guarded confidentiality on such matters. It would also be absurd at this point even to try to influence the 6,000 plus Academy members hoping that some of them could be in the concerned Committee (s).
In an emailed statement to this blogger, the Academy said that the number of voters in the Committee(s) “varies from year to year.”
As for the number of voters who will eventually seal the fate of the movie, this is what the Academy has to say: “We do not release that number in any case.”
“The nominees (for various Awards including the Foreing Language Film Award) are chosen by several different committees,” said the statement. “After the nominees are chosen, every Academy member who sees all five nominees may vote to choose the winner.”
For now, actor Salim Kumar and director Salim Ahmed must pray ardently that the committee members – whatever be their number – will love their movie.
Honestly, AMA stands a fair chance.
Films that touch a chord in the minds of viewers -and feel-good movies depicting the triumpho of the underdogs – always works with the members (Forrest Gump, The King’s Speech… and in Foreign Language Awards, Three Men and a Cradle – yes the mother of Thoovalsparsham; Amores Perros, Paradise Now, Yesterday, Joyueux Noel, Amelie and Life is Beautiful, among others.)
AMA might not have money for overseas marketing adventures; but it definitely has the support of some 30 million Malayalis.
We have the Beemapalli, Palayam Palli and Guruvayoor – no other country has such a diversity of potential providential influence and intereference.
So pray that the film impresses the Committee.
Until then, here is what Salim Kumar could do: Don’t give glib TV soundbites. You don’t have to exude sarcasm and venom just because you feel you are a comedian and you have not been respected enough. Kerala, truly, loves you Mr Salim Kumar. Show confidence in yourself.
(Photograph of Salim Kumar from The Hindu online; no copyright violation intended)
