This seemed a lot like India’s
year at the Oscars. No, Barfi!, India’s official submission for
foreign language, didn’t make it to the big night, but some noteworthy others
did. Bollywood was represented by three of its best in unassuming roles in two
of the year’s biggest films, and India itself was an integral part of one of
those films where an Indian voice also sang its way to nomination.Veteran Bwood actor Anupam Kher was there alongside such Hollywood brass as legendary Robert De Niro, Sexiest Man Alive Bradley Cooper and best lead actress Jennifer Lawrence. All, of course, part of the cast of Silver Linings Playbook, which was nominated for best picture.
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| *From 2009 Oscars, not this year's. |
It wasn’t too long a shot, considering he had a much more integral role in 11-time-nominee Life of Pi than Anupam Uncle had in eight-time-nominee Silver Linings and that it wouldn’t have been Irrfan’s first Oscars (he was there in 2009 for Slumdog). But alas, it seems that we were not treated to Irrfan in an awards-show-caliber tux this year. And to add to the sadness of that, there was no Tabu to be seen either. (Though given that her role is smaller, I had less expectation of her being there.)
Nor were we treated to a major win by either film this year, despite the fact that the odds were good. (Insert obligatory Argo-you-know-what-yourself remark here.)
