Film Body Objects To 'Chhello Show' Being India¡¯s Entry For 2023 Oscars; Wants Jury Dissolved

On Tuesday, the Gujarati film "Chhello Show," a coming-of-age drama about a young boy's love affair with cinema in a village in Saurashtra, was announced as India's official entry for the 95th Academy Awards. The news was confirmed by the Film Federation of India (FFI).

However, the decision didn't go down too well with many people. Cinema fans were rooting for films like RRR and The Kashmir Files.

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People even expressed disappointment with Chhello Show being selected as India's official entry into the Oscars.

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And now, the film body, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), has raised strong objections to the decision.

The union asserted that Chhello Show is not even an Indian film and demanded that the Film Federation of India (FFI) reconsider its decision. Gujarati's coming-of-age drama film Chhello Show, released in English as Last Film Show, was directed by Pan Nalin.

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As per FWICE, India's entry for Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards is ineligible as it is a foreign film.

FWICE President BN Tiwari spoke to ETimes and shared,

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"The film is not an Indian film, and the selection process is incorrect. There were so many Indian films like RRR and The Kashmir Files, but the jury chose a foreign film that Siddharth Roy Kapur has bought."

BN Tiwari also questioned the Film Federation of India (FFI) jury, saying,

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"We want re-election of the films, and the present jury is dissolved. Half of them have been there for years, most don't watch the film, and voting is done. If 'Last Film Show' is sent, it will reflect badly on India, known to be an industry that makes the maximum number of films."

He shared that the FWICE will write to Information and Broadcasting minister Anurag Thakur to express their thoughts on the decision.

'Chhello Show' will represent the country in the best international feature film category at the Oscars, produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur's banner Roy Kapur Films, Jugaad Motion Pictures, Monsoon Films, Chhello Show LLP, and Marc Duale.

LAST FILM SHOW (Chhello Show)

The story is inspired by Nalin's memories of falling in love with movies as a child in rural Gujarat.

Set in a remote rural village of Saurashtra, the film follows the story of a nine-year-old boy who begins a lifelong love affair with cinema when he bribes his way into a rundown movie palace and spends a summer watching movies from the projection booth.

The last Indian film to the final five was the Aamir Khan-led "Lagaan" in 2001.

Lagaan

"Mother India" (1958) and "Salaam Bombay" (1989) are the other two Indian movies to have made it to the top five.

Salaam Bombay

The 95th Academy Awards are scheduled to occur in Los Angeles on March 12, 2023.

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