[Assam] From Tehelka

[Ram Sarangapani]

C'da,

 >The report was written by an Indian :-). I think.

Of course it was, and that should make all the difference:)

BTW: The Madhya Pradesh CM, in 1999 (during the filming of "Fire") in fact
invite Mehta to film there (he wanted to get back at the BJP) - but she
chose Sri Lanka. A number of other states also made that offer - but she
chose Varanasi (the lion's den of the BJP) initially.

Fire, of course did not go down very well with the Indians. The storyline
was touching upon sensitivities that only few Indians are willing to discuss
in public. Come to think of it - these are not comfy topics in the US
either.

--Ram



On 10/3/06, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
>
>  Ram:
>
>
> What would I know?
>
>
> The report was written by an Indian :-). I think.
>
>
> c-da
>
>
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> At 2:11 PM -0500 10/3/06, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>
> Well! C'da it can be true in any number of such situations. Countries (and
> even states within them) are filled with 'pride' when one of their sons or
> daughters get world recognition.
>
>
>
> >In 2000, Hindu fundamentalists stormed the sets of Water in >Varanasi,
> threatening to beat Mehta "black and blue". She >postponed production, and
> two films
>
>
>
> While this is true, what is NOT true is that she was hounded out of India.
> I have seen a number of interviews of her on desi TV, read columns on her in
> newspapers. So, when convenient to make it look like 'Hindu fundas' make up
> some Indian attitude is a bit much.
>
>
>
> >India supported Mehta with death threats, warnings of arrest, and
> >mutilated freedom of expression.
>
>
>
> What! Is Sonia telling us the GOI and its goons threatened Mehta all the
> way to Sri Lanka?
>
>
>
> >Water had neither a distributor nor a confirmed release date here.
>
>
>
> Wouldn't that be a business decision? Or should the GOI force some
> distributor to distribute?
>
>
>
> >Let's hope that any euphoria over Mehta's "Indian" achievement is
> >matched with equal support of her work being peacefully seen, >and that she
> understands and forgives our schizophrenic >reactions.
>
>
>
> Right! And lets hope Mehta doesn't make a beeline to Bollywood to collect
> some filmy award. She should really tell those pesky Indians off.
>
>
> --Ram
>
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> On 10/3/06,* Chan Mahanta* <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
>
> How true!
> cm
>
>
>
>
> REFLECTED GLORY
>
> After chasing Deepa Mehta out, India smells an opportunity to take credit.
>
> Sonia Faleiro
>
> India is never shy of claiming successful Indians - even those who
> hold citizenship elsewhere - as entirely her own. It's not surprising
> then that filmmaker Deepa Mehta's Water is seen by some as our best
> hope at the Oscars. Never mind that Mehta is Canadian, and that Water
> was literally chased out of, and blacklisted, in the nation that is
> now intent on bathing in its accolades. In 2000, Hindu
> fundamentalists stormed the sets of Water in Varanasi, threatening to
> beat Mehta "black and blue". She postponed production, and two films
> later, completed the final episode of her trilogy in Sri Lanka. India
> supported Mehta with death threats, warnings of arrest, and mutilated
> freedom of expression.
>
> However, now that it's time to revel in reflected glory, India seems
> to have forgotten that it failed Mehta when she needed it most.
> Should she win, as Canada's entry to the Oscars, there will be, no
> doubt, boasts of how Bollywood is conquering the world. Contrast that
> with the fact that until recently Water had neither a distributor nor
> a confirmed release date here. Let's hope that any euphoria over
> Mehta's "Indian" achievement is matched with equal support of her
> work being peacefully seen, and that she understands and forgives our
> schizophrenic reactions.
>
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