Wednesday, September 26, 2007

“Eklavya – The Royal Guard” is India’s official entry at the Oscars

Eklavya – The Royal Guard has been voted as India’s official entry to the Oscars. This is the third time Director Vidhu Vinod Chopra will be going to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. His short non-fiction film, An Encounter with Faces was one of the first Indian films to be nominated for an Oscar in 1980. In 1989, Parinda was sent to the Oscars as India’s official entry.

Commenting on this news, Director Vidhu Vinod Chopra said, “I’m elated by the news. But this was only the first battle. The real one is still ahead. I’m leaving for the US on 2nd October and will start my groundwork there. I’m banking on my previous experiences at the Academy and the overwhelming support the film has received in the West. I hope to make India proud.”

Eklavya – The Royal Guard has already received accolades in Hollywood. The film got a standing ovation at the Billy Wilder Theater in UCLA, where it was recently screened as part of the India Splendour Film Festival. Robert L. Friedman, the former President of Columbia Pictures and AMC Theaters applauded it as one of the great foreign films to have graced Hollywood in recent years. He further added, “The caring and most talented direction by Vidhu Vinod Chopra is worthy of maximum praise and awards. Mr. Chopra has created a masterpiece via this film, thanks to his genuine insight and love for his film vehicle. ‘Eklavya’ is a movie that transcends all geographical boundaries – a movie for all people, everywhere, it represents the very best that India’s great filmmaking community has to offer.”

Lionel Wigram, Producer of the Harry Potter films, said “It’s a masterpiece and I can safely say that it stands an excellent chance of winning India a much awaited Oscar in the foreign film category." Jeffery Silver, Producer of the film 300, found it to be “a thriller that elevates to the level of art.”

The critics have also been unanimous in their praise:

Something about "Eklavya: The Royal Guard" suggests a lost film by David Lean.
- LA Times

“… Gives any House of Flying Daggers set piece a run for its money.”
- Metro, UK

“Vidhu Vinod Chopra is a poet on celluloid”
- Times of India

“Far from typical. Very strong and very Shakespearean”
- The Sunday Telegraph, UK

“Robustly unassuming and entertaining”
- Guardian, UK

“This is robust storytelling, with blood and thunder pumping through its veins, and real whiskers on its face.”
- LA Weekly


“Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s propulsive ‘Eklavya – The Royal Guard’ has epic sweep.”
- LA Times

6 comments:

Simply Santosh said...

Congratulation to the eklavya team. True indian movie, great acting by legendary Amitabh Bachchan. This movie has a great technical advantage over other movies.

Shashank said...

This is for the best film production house in India.

A heartly felt congratulation to you success. It makes me proud as an Indian that a film like Eklavya gets chosen for our official entry for Oscar. I am positively confident that this is the only film after Lagaan that has the potential to get us the coveted recognition.

I wish you all the best luck.

Best Regards,

Shashank Kumar Singh (Toronto)

Business said...

This is rubbish.Eklavya for Oscar.Hahahahahahahaha.If Eklavya can go for oscar than i think any c grade movie can win the Oscar.

Too much politics in this film industry.Eklavya was rubbish,i guess only respected Mr.Vinod Chopra alone must have seen the movie as he claims he makes movie for himself.What about we public returns us our valuable 3 hours and 200 Rs for this Shitty movie.

Anonymous said...

Finally, a dream come true for me!
I had thought from the time I saw that Eklavya - The Royal Guard should be sent for the Oscars .
A big congratulations to Mr. Vidhu Vinod Chopra who had the guts to make such a beautiful, although very risky, movie so very well .
I salute him for believing in his own cinema, and not getting carried away by anyone.
I don't think that anyone else could have made this movie any better.

Hats off, Vidhuji!

All the best at the Oscars!
I hope this time Eklavya gets the shot, that has been there for amny many years.

Anonymous said...

Good luck for the team .. I hope they will throw out this silly court case .. sour grapes for the director for Dharm.

Anonymous said...

Congratulation to Vidhu Vinod Chopra, please please please bring us an oscar. Acting by legendary Amitabh Bachchan and a great Indian story, a great movie by none other than the guru of Sanjay Leela Bhansali, what else oscar community wants ??? They didn't gave Nobel Peace prize to Mahatma Gandhi and now they are repenting but it has lost the significance for we the indians. I hope that oscar community will not do mistake this time...:-) Vidhu ji, please one more movie with Amitabh Bachchan