Thaindian News

New Delhi, Jan 21 (IANS) Marathi film “Harishchandrachi Factory”, India’s official entry for the upcoming Oscars, has been voted out in the Foreign Language Film category but director Paresh Mokashi is “taking it in good spirit”.
“I’m not at all disappointed. I’ve taken it as any other competition result. Getting selected on the first hand is in itself is a big achievement for us,” Mokashi told IANS on phone from Mumbai.

“Being selected among 20 other languages as an Indian film was a huge thing for us. You have to accept any competition’s result and we’ve taken it in good spirit. It’s part of the game,” he added.

“Harishchandrachi Factory” is Mokashi’s directorial debut. The film is a biopic of Dadasaheb Phalke’s ordeals to wield the megaphone for India’s first motion picture “Raja Harishchandra” in 1913.

Nine films have been selected for the next round of voting for the 82nd Academy Awards, said a press statement; 65 had originally qualified in the category. The final list will be announced Feb 2, while the award ceremony will take place March 7.

The films competing for the next round are: Argentina, “El Secreto de Sus Ojos”, Juan Jose Campanella, director; Australia, “Samson & Delilah”, Warwick Thornton, director; Bulgaria, “The World Is Big and Salvation Lurks around the Corner”, Stephan Komandarev, director; France, “Un Prophete”, Jacques Audiard, director; Germany, “The White Ribbon”, Michael Haneke, director; Israel, “Ajami”, Scandar Copti and Yaron Shani, directors; Kazakhstan, “Kelin”, Ermek Tursunov, director; The Netherlands, “Winter in Wartime”, Martin Koolhoven, director; Peru, “The Milk of Sorrow”, Claudia Llosa, director.