MovieChat Forums > Taare Zameen Par (2007) Discussion > Why TZP won't (unfortunately) win an Osc...

Why TZP won't (unfortunately) win an Oscar?

posted 15 years ago by Notebooks_on_Cinema
14 replies | jump to latest

In my personal view, TZP is a much better piece of cinematic work than Lagaan.
Still, I believe that its not going to hit the bull's eye. Why?
I offer two explanations that are worth inspecting because a film, ultimately, is never solely judged by its cinematic merit, instead viewers' cultural upbringing, context-specific attitude, ans a host of psychological elements influence their perception towards a film.

The two main problems with TZP, from this angle,unlike Lagaan are"

1. In Lagaan the villagers were fighting the British empire.Guess why its important? Because at some deep level americans always 'enjoy' it so much when a power from European culture is defeated. This,somehow,boosts up their morale about American values, only when contrasted and won against any country from Europe. Lagaan had that, TZP does not have that. Given the animosity between Americans and French, or Britons at a colloquial level, its very much expected that the judges would love Britons' ass to be kicked at the end. Unfortunately TZP does not offer that psychological boost factor.

2. A related idea is that Lagaan represented an India that is exactly the way Americans and westerm civilizations have been fed by the media to view it. Poverty, uneducated, nasty no-white creatures are fighting a colonial power. Again there is a reinforcement to their uninformed idaes about India. And again, TZP does not have it.

So, lets not feel bad about TZP's failure. Instead lets try to understand the important roles of various subtle factors that go into decision-making in general.

[–] trigger_jam 15 years ago

I would agree more with your second point than the first one.

[–] shortyrags 15 years ago

Your points definitely have some merit. I agree that those things, if not more, go subconsciously into their decision. The board really tends to look for cultural motifs in the foreign films. I'm not sure if TZP put enough forward.

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[–] kyzasoze2003 15 years ago

For all those complaining that TZP didn't make it, on NDTV I saw report with an Indian member of the Oscar jury named Krishna Shah and he said he's not surprised that TZP wasn't chosen. He said something like lesser songs would've been better. I personally thought Aamir's entrance song into the film was quite silly and overdone in an otherwise good film. I was loving it until that moment. Also they kept overdoing the theme music and that made it look just a bit too much soppy. If certain scenes were edited and Aamir's entrance not so overdone then maybe it could've stood a chance.

[–] jackson007 15 years ago

Even Lagaan was so long and had too many songs. But it made it to the shortlist. But Lagaan has an epic feel to it. TZP looks like a low budget movie compared to Lagaan. So probably, that's why.
Also TZP does not have poverty as it's premise which Lagaan had.
Those Oscar people love films which highlight poverty in India like Slumdog Millionaire.
So in my opinion, they are really biased and I don't care a f..k about them.

TZP is one of the greatest films made in India and Aamir Khan is one of the most wonderful actor, director and producer from india.
Nothing can take that away from him. Not even those f..king biased Oscar jury members.

[–] Blue_V 15 years ago

Details of movies that won "BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM" Oscar

2008: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Counterfeiters_(film)
2007: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lives_of_Others
2006: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsotsi
2005: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sea_Inside
2004: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Barbarian_Invasions
2003: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nowhere_in_Africa
2002: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Man%27s_Land_(2001_film)

Can we judge if TZP is better than these films?

[–] kyzasoze2003 15 years ago

Now that's a list! Looking at the type of films those are, I can only think that a film from India like Black Friday could've stood a chance. Last year Dharm would've been a better choice than Eklavya but still wasn't good enough to be nominated. TZP can't even scratch those films, so it was quite right for it not to be chosen as a nominee. It would've been embarassing if something like TZP was there. A Japanese film won this year (Okuribito). I saw all the other nominees except that one. If anyone has doubts they should check out the other films nominated and they'll see why TZP couldn't stand a chance. Aamir Khan should definately check it out to see what an Oscar nominated foreign film looks like - Lagaan was a good example.

[–] Serpico1988 15 years ago

Ghayal
Rang De Basanti
Yuva
Taal
Shool
Parinda
Raincoat
Gadar
Deewar
Sholay

These are my all-time favorite Indian films. I feel some of them were definitely Oscar worthy.

Danny Vinyard: Hate is baggage.

[–] sonal92 15 years ago

Mother India had no references to European culture and yet it was nominated.
The reason why TZP wasn't nominated is because it just wasn't good enough.

[–] nosybummer 12 years ago

it also portrayed india like foreigners wanted to seeit

[–] Shantanab-Lone-Voyager 12 years ago

also because the awareness about "special" children are more prevalent in Western society, that's why they can't really understand why the parents would force-feed education to a a dyslexic child in such a manner. The film was meant to educate a niche Indian audience - it may not appeal to those who are not familiar with the sociocultural circumstances.
Laagan was about weaker force struggling with a stronger force, and showcases the ultimate defeat of the tyrants - now this is a story of universal appeal...and most people can relate to it.

Happiness is only Illusion

[–] haroon-883-340294 12 years ago

I'm 100% agree with you.

[–] kothawade-amol 10 years ago

Oscar is given to movies based on understanding of judges of that country. Now, with the judges having western mentality, it is logical to get Slumdog millionaire chosen as best feature film, which many Indians could not relate to or found too flashy. Taare Zameen Par is a new age Indian cinema which professes that parents should let children choose what they like and should not make them indulge in the rat race. For westerners, these things are not new so they might not have found it that interesting.
A movie about differences among indian rich and poor, dreams, happiness would probably do better in Oscars. Aamir khan made Peepli live for the same reasons but then his desire to compete shahrukh, brought him in commercially successful cinema again. Nowadays, Aamir is utilizing (?) his talent by acting in movies like Dhoom 3.