December 15, 2017
Hindi film "Newton" has missed the bus for the Best Foreign
Language Film category for the 90th Academy Awards. But its team is feeling far
from defeated.
Amit V Masurkar, who directed the impactful tale, said:
"The Foreign Film Category is like the Olympics. We are competing with the best
in the world, so it's extremely tough. The response from Academy members to
'Newton' was very positive and we are grateful to everyone who supported us on
this journey.
"The experience has enriched us and has encouraged me to
push my limits each time I make a new film."
"Newton" was among 92
entries for the category, and only nine films have been shortlisted to move to
the next round of voting by the Academy Award members.
Featuring
Rajkummar Rao, Anjali Patil and Pankaj Tripathi in key roles, "Newton" revolves
around a young government clerk who is sent on election duty to a
Maoist-controlled town and how the ideological struggle puts him in an awkward
situation. It was shot in the interiors of Chhatisgarh.
Anjali said: "I
feel the film had done more than just being in or out of Oscar entry. All the
screenings we had in the US and all over the world struck genuine chords with
people. And the way it excelled back home in every strata of society, is way
more important.
"So it doesn't really makes me sad at all. A film comes
with its destiny and performs."
Pankaj, who has had an exceptional year
with "Gurgaon", "Fukrey Returns" and "Newton" is just happy they made the film
they wanted to with
"Newton".
"Dil se banayi hui film hai yahan tak
pahunchi, logon ne dekha, entire world ne saraha, itna kya kam hai? (It is a
film made from the heart, isn't it enough that the world loved it?)," he said.
Supran Sen, the Secretary-General of the Film Federation of India (FFI),
which selects the film to go to the Oscars each year, said: "I am aware we have
been eliminated. Very sad. We were quite hopeful considering all the
appreciation we had received. But it's fine. 'Newton' is a film we're all proud
of."